Why Internship?
The Computer Science Professional Internship Program (CSPIP) is a formally recognized internship program for undergraduate students in the department. Eligible students can participate in networking and career readiness opportunities, and obtain 12 or 16 months of practical "on-the-job" experience with a sponsoring company prior to completing the final year of their undergraduate degree program. There are many benefits to participating in CSPIP, including:
- Strengthening your resume with practical training and valuable experience in your prospective career area
- Getting an "inside track" on full-time employment opportunities with the same company in which the student interned, through established professional contacts
- Earning an income to help finance the final year of your university education
- Retaining return eligibility to complete your degree after your 12-16 months in industry.
Did You Know?
- Employers estimate that 31% of their new grad hires had previous work experience in their organization. (As reported in the Canadian Campus Recruitment Outlook Report 2024 by Brainstorm Strategy Group)
- Between 2021 and 2023, 73% of CSPIP students reported receiving either part-time or full-time offers to continue working for their sponsoring company after they completed the internship program.
Overview
While participating in the Computer Science Professional Internship Program, students typically complete 12 or 16 consecutive months of supervised work experience with a sponsoring employer in addition to the requirements for a computer science program. Normally, the work placement commences after the student has completed three years of the B.Sc. Four-year degree program. Placements can start in May or September and be 12 or 16 months in duration. Only in exceptional circumstances (e.g. for medical reasons) will a shorter duration work period be considered a complete CSPIP experience.
Students should note that an internship is NOT a summer work program.
Eligibility
The Computer Science Internship Option is only available as an option on 4-year and Honours degrees in Computer Science and Applied Computing. Students must be declared in one of these majors to be eligible for the program.
In general, students will apply to the program when at the start of their third year. Students must meet additional academic criteria to be considered eligible for the program.
Full student eligibility details can be found on the Computer Science Professional Internship Page in the Computer Science channel on PAWS.
Admission Process
The program performs one student intake per year, accepting applications between September 1 and 30. Students who are accepted during the September intake will then pursue internship positions that begin the following May or September.
Admission into the internship program is decided by the Department of Computer Science, while hiring decisions for students who are accepted to the program are made by the employers.
Students should be aware that this is a competitive program. Admission capacity will be determined by assessing the quality of applicants and the resources available. Additionally, Being accepted into the internship program does not guarantee a placement.
To apply, eligible students must submit a completed application and pay a non-refundable application fee by the deadline. Students can access detailed application requirements and instructions on the Computer Science Professional Internship Page in the Computer Science chanel on PAWS.
Interested students can view full information regarding program eligibility and application requirements in the Computer Science channel on PAWS.
Program Requirements
Students securing an internship work placement must complete the academic requirements described below, in addition to the regular requirements of the B.Sc. degree, to receive the Professional Internship designation on the University transcript.
From the student perspective, it is important that there be formal recognition of the internship experience on the university transcript. The University has deemed that Internship students shall register in their placement as a course, and for the period of the placement they are considered to be full-time students of the University of Saskatchewan, with return eligibility following the placement to their College and program. The program itself is distinct from the regular program, in that it would require a longer period of study and the degree requirements would include successful completion of the placement.
The internship placement is made three or four 4-month work terms equalling the length of agreed upon employment. These work terms are associated with academic internship courses that enforce the link between the work placement and the student's education. Students must complete the originally agreed upon employment term length and all required assignments during this time to complete the program.
To this end, internship students register as full-time students in appropriately designated internship courses during the internship placement:
- CMPT 401.0 - Professional Internship Program I
- CMPT 402.0 - Professional Internship Program II
- CMPT 403.0 - Professional Internship Program III
- CMPT 404.0 - Professional Internship Program IV (for 16-month placements)
Each of these courses is four months in duration, to match with the requirements of the Office of the Registrar. The courses are non-credit courses, graded on a "Pass/Fail'' basis.
Students who successfully complete all required aspects of the internship program receive formal recognition of such on their university transcript. Students who do not successfully complete all requirements of the internship program may still receive the present B.Sc. degree in Computer Science, providing that all degree requirements of that program are met.
CSPIP students are required to register in the appropriate internship couse (CMPT 401-404) for each four-month work period.
Because of this registration, they are considered to be full-time students and are required to pay tuition and student fees for the sessions in which they are registered.
More information about tuition and fees can be found here.
It is important to note that student loans are usually able to be deferred during an internship placement. In addition, scholarships and bursaries can maintain their validity during a placement.
International students are welcome to apply to the Computer Science Professional Internship Program, as long as they meet the eligibility requirements (see the Program Admission section).
After admission into the program, international students are required to apply for a Co-op Work Permit from the Government of Canada in order to successfully pursue a 12-16 month internship in Canada.
It is important that international students submit their applications as soon as they are admitted to the program, as it may take several months to obtain your Co-op Work Permit from the Government of Canada. International students must have their Co-op Work Permit before the scheduled start date with their sponsoring company (i.e. before May 1st of the same academic year enrolled in CSPIP).
For more information about the application process, please contact the Internship Coordinator or the the International Student and Study Abroad Centre (ISSAC) at the University of Saskatchewan.
Important Notes
- An Off-Campus Work Permit is not a sufficient permit for an internship placement. Students must obtain a Co-op Work Permit.
- In order to work in Canada, students will need to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN). If an international student did not receive a SIN at the port of entry, they must apply at Service Canada.
Testimonials
- Christina Sitkowski, Past CSPIP Intern
- Mark Dick, CEO of ESTI
Companies
Following is a list of some of the companies and organizations that have hired student interns from the Computer Science Professional Internship Program.
