Connecting students with social change organizations for meaningful, relationship-driven experiential learning.
Community-based internships connect students with organizations leading social change across Tiohtià:ke/Montréal. More than placements, these experiences offer students a chance to build relationships, contribute meaningfully, and grow through shared learning. For host organizations, they bring fresh energy, skills, and future workforce connections.
Organized by the Office of Community Engagement and SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation, the program was created under one shared vision: that learning happens best when it’s grounded in community, care, and collaboration.
This program is made possible thanks to the deep, ongoing relationships that our team has nurtured with our community partners across Tiohtià:ke/Montréal. Our partners include Indigenous and Black community organizations, as well as other organizations committed to social transformation. These partnerships are at the heart of Concordia’s community-based internships.
Students gain hands-on experience in real-world settings, developing skills, empathy, and insight that can’t be taught in a classroom. Host organizations not only gain capacity to work toward their mission but also gain supervisory skills by nurturing the future workforce.
This program is deeply committed to prioritizing the knowledge and leadership of community organizations and projects. Our program team is here to listen, support, and grow together, while supporting community priorities.
Concordia is committed to supporting students who are ready to lead with care, courage, and a deep understanding of community-rooted change.
*Dates are subject to change.
A wonderful experience that I would recommend to any of my Indigenous peers who want to get involved with Indigenous organizations in Montréal and expand their knowledge of Indigenous informed methodologies.
-2nd year Film Animation student
This internship opportunity provided our organization with new ideas and fresh perspectives on our communication activities. We would repeat the experience as it provides an alternative to accomplish our goals as a non-profit organization.
-Montreal Indigenous Community NETWORK
The application period is not open currently.
To give you a idea about opportunities that may be available, here are a few examples of community-based internships from the past.
| Host organization | Position(s) | Priority community |
|---|---|---|
Hamidou Horticulture |
Field Production Management Intern | - |
| Black Healing Centre | Program Assistant Coordinator | Black community |
| Montreal Indigenous Community NETWORK | Communications Assistant | Indigenous community |
The program is open to students from all faculties who are passionate about community engagement and social justice. Students must be registered in an undergraduate or graduate degree program during the internship period, have a social insurance number, and have a bank account with a Canadian institution.
We especially encourage students from marginalized communities to apply. For the internships with Indigenous and Black community organizations, priority will be given to students who identify with those communities. If any part of the application process feels like a barrier, please reach out at communityengagement@concordia.ca - we’re happy to work with you.
Look at our opportunities list above, or subscribe to our mailing list to get notified when internships are posted.
Host organizations will contact and interview selected candidates directly.
The internships are hosted by partners of the SHIFT Centre and the Black and Indigenous community partners of the Office of Community Engagement. They are all located in and around Tiohtià:ke/Montreal. Please read each internship description carefully before applying.
Internships span two terms - 12 weeks in the fall and 12 in the winter - with the option to renew into summer. Students are awarded funding based on the number of weekly hours they commit to. Payment is issued in two instalments per term.
| Weekly hours | Hours per term | Total hours (24 weeks) | Student award (total) |
| 10 hours/week | 120 | 240 | $2400 |
| 15 hours/week | 180 | 360 | $3600 |
| 20 hours/week | 240 | 480 | $4800 |
You may be eligible to receive course credit for your internship through your degree program. Please speak with your department directly to arrange this.
Through our program, students have opportunities to connect with and be supported by community professionals, mentors, and peers and to receive culturally-relevant support, guidance, and collaboration opportunities while gaining valuable work experience. Our team is also committed to supporting all interns throughout the internship process, including hosting regular intern events and workshops, providing check-in calls and additional resources as needed.
To be eligible for the specific opportunities:
SHIFT internships |
Indigenous community internships | Black community internships |
The host organization must have received SHIFT’s Ongoing Connections Grant the year prior to the internship. |
The host organization must be an Indigenous-led registered non-profit organization in Montreal/Tiohtià:ke working towards social justice for Indigenous Peoples. |
The host organization must be a Black-led registered non-profit organization in Montreal/Tiohtià:ke, working towards social justice for Black communities. |
Host organizations must have the capacity to offer onboarding, training, and consistent support to interns. They should also have policies and/or established practices to provide a culturally, physically, and emotionally safe working environment for interns.
Current SHIFT and OCE partners may apply to host student interns during the summer term for the following academic year (relevant deadlines in the timeline section above). Once we receive the request, we will be in touch to discuss your organization's participation in the program.
Internships run for two academic terms: 12 weeks in the fall and 12 in the winter, with the option to extend into the summer term.
Hosts do not pay interns directly — student awards are issued through the program. However, hosts are responsible for providing support, supervision, and a meaningful learning experience throughout the internship period.
| Partner type | Number of interns | Hours per intern (per 12 week term) | Total hours per intern |
| OCE partners | 1 | 120 or 180 hours | 240 or 360 hours |
| SHIFT partners | 1-2 | 120, 180, or 240 hours | 240, 360 or 480 hours |
Note for SHIFT partners: The maximum combined hours per host is 480 hours. For example: A SHIFT partner could host two interns for 240 hours each (120 hours/term), or one intern for the full 480 hours (240 hours/term).
Beyond remunerating the intern directly through student awards, our team is available to offer host organizations individual advice, support, and guidance throughout the internship process. This includes onboarding calls, regular check-ins, and additional resources as needed to ensure a successful internship experience.
If any issues arise, please contact us immediately. We are committed to providing support and mediation, and ensure a positive working relationship between interns and host organizations.
Shin Ling Low is a grateful settler from Malaysia who has been living, working and loving in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal for close to a decade. They are committed to building meaningful, grounded and accessible experiential learning opportunities for Concordia students.
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