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, students bring fresh energy, valuable skills and future workforce potential.
This program is a collaboration between the Office of Community Engagement and SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation. It 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 practical 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.
We prioritize the knowledge and leadership of community organizations. Our program team is here to listen, support and grow together, while supporting community priorities.
Concordia is committed to supporting students to lead with care, courage and a deep understanding of community-rooted change.
*Dates are subject to change.
Hear from past students and host organizations
A wonderful experience that I would recommend to any of my Indigenous peers who want to get involved with Indigenous organizations in Montreal and expand their knowledge of Indigenous-informed methodologies.
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.
| Position | Organization | Priority community |
| Assistant Centre Coordinator | Amal Centre for Women | |
| Clinic Support Intern | Concordia Arts in Health Centre | |
| Communication and Field Management Intern | Hamidou Horticulture | |
| Communications Intern | Amal Centre for Women | |
| Communications Intern | Anikiwin Anishnabe Moose Studies | Indigenous community |
| Communications Intern (fall only) | Musique Nomade | |
| Creative Arts Therapies Intern | Welcome Haven | |
| Digital Communications Intern | Brique par brique | |
| Drop-in program coordinator | Harambec renaissance du collectif féministe noir | Black community |
| Fundraising Intern | Black Healing Centre | |
| Peer Support Facilitator Intern | Black Mental Health Connections | |
| Product Designer | Recycla | |
| Project and Field Management Intern | Hamidou Horticulture | |
| Urban Farmer and Construction Worker | CultivAction Solidarity Cooperative |
Deadline: August 10, 2025
Note: When applying to internships on our application form, please log in to Microsoft using your student email.
The program is open to Concordia students from all faculties who are passionate about community engagement and social justice.
To apply, students must:
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 to communityengagement@concordia.ca — we’re happy to support you.
Selected candidates will be contacted and interviewed by the host organizations.
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.
Internships span two terms — 12 weeks in the fall and 12 in the winter — with the option to extend into the summer. Students are awarded funding based on how many hours they commit to weekly. 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 | $2,400 |
| 15 hours/week | 180 | 360 | $3,600 |
| 20 hours/week | 240 | 480 | $4,800 |
You may be eligible to receive course credit for your internship. Please speak with your department directly to arrange this.
Students are supported throughout the experience with:
Would you like to be notified about future internship opportunities?
Organizations must meet the following requirements based on the type of internship they’d like to offer:
Must have received SHIFT’s Ongoing Connections Grant the year prior to the internship.
Must be an Indigenous-led registered non-profit organization in Montreal/Tiohtià:ke working towards social justice for Indigenous Peoples.
Must be a Black-led registered non-profit organization in Montreal/Tiohtià:ke, working towards social justice for Black communities.
Host organizations must:
Current partners of SHIFT and the Office of Community Engagement (OCE) may apply to host student interns during the summer term for the following academic year. See deadlines in the timeline section above.
Once your request is received, we will be in touch to discuss your organization's participation in the program.
Hosts do not pay interns directly — students receive payment through awards issued by the Office of Community Engagement. 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 |
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 ensuring a positive working relationship between interns and host organizations.
Associate Coordinator, Internships and Special Projects
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.
© Concordia University
