VIU MBA Internship Student FAQs

Yes. It is mandatory to complete an internship in order to graduate from VIU’s MBA program.

Your work-integrated learning faculty member will help prepare you for getting an internship during the Work-integrated Learning Foundations course. This course is designed to provide you with the skills and tools essential to succeed in an internship and plan your career.

The student is in charge of determining the scope of their internship along with their mentor and work integrated learning faculty member; however, the internship scope must reflect the student's MBA Learning and must conform to the internship suitability criteria.  These criteria will be provided to you in your MBAA 552 course.

Yes. All internships need to be approved by the MBA work-integrated learning team and the business/organization the student will be doing their internship with.

No. It is the student’s responsibility to acquire and complete their internship in order to graduate. Students will be supported in their job search and will be expected to apply the knowledge they learn in their work-integrated learning foundations course. The course will teach you how to develop the tools, resources, and job search skills required to succeed in finding an internship.

Take advantage of the tools, resources, and opportunities provided to you throughout the MBA program including:

• Cover letter & resume feedback sessions
• Networking events
• Informational interviews
• Job search advising
• Experience Hub MBA job postings

You will be supported by the work-integrated learning faculty team to refresh your search.

If you are an international student and will be doing your internship in Canada then you must have a valid internship work permit when you start your internship. Your official MBA acceptance letter contains the information needed to apply for your internship work permit at the same time you are applying for a study permit. We recommend that you secure your internship work permit with your study permit when you enter the country. If you do not obtain your permit when you first enter the country it is recommended that you apply at least six months before your internship starts as IRCC wait times can be lengthy.

VIU’s Faculty of International Education offers drop-in advising sessions with an VIU immigration counsellor to help guide you and answer questions about the Canadian work permit requirements and process. For more information on these services, please visit the Department of International Education, Building 255. For information on how to apply, see: Government of Canada - Work as a co-op student or intern.

No. You can do your internship anywhere as long as you have done the proper paperwork and have the documents needed to do so.

Yes. Students planning on completing an internship abroad are required to declare their intention to do so at least one semester (minimum of 60 days) prior to their internship semester and are responsible for researching and obtaining the necessary documents required to complete an internship abroad.

Yes. Entrepreneurial internships will be presented to an exceptions committee for approval.  In addition to attending an exceptions committee, entrepreneurial internship students will also be required to complete all work term record submission processes and documents before they can commence their internship.

Your first course of action should be to communicate and discuss your concerns/challenges with your mentor and work-integrated learning faculty(WILF) member. Remember that your WILF is there to provide guidance and support you and your employer through any challenges you encounter.

Internships should be completed according to the agreements made in the work term record; however, we understand that there are unforeseen circumstances that may occur. Delays and changes in the internship must be discussed with your mentor and work-integrated learning faculty member.

Please note: Delayed internships may result in delayed graduation.

Yes. Some departments at VIU do offer internship opportunities.

VIU interns work in a variety of sectors including: small and medium enterprises, multinationals, non-profit, and government organizations. While some organizations may offer internship opportunities each year, the organizations tend to vary by term according to organizational needs and MBA candidate interests/efforts.

Compensation and remuneration is based on a variety of factors including: candidate skills and experience, employer size and structure, project scope, and employer/candidate negotiations.

Interns will be supported primarily by their work-integrated learning faculty member to facilitate a successful internship experience.

Yes. Internships are viewed as a contract agreement subject to performance evaluations. If you get fired from your internship you will have to start the internship process again with a new company.

No. All MBA courses, including the internship, must be completed in time for the graduation process.

There is the possibility that the employer may offer the intern a full-time position once their internship is completed depending upon the availability of work and the intern’s performance.  International students should meet with a Faculty of International Education Immigration Advisor prior to accepting a full-time position to ensure a full understanding of work permit requirements.

When you graduate, you may apply for the Post-Graduate Work Permit Program to stay and work in Canada. For more information, please visit the Canadian Immigration and Citizenship site or meet with a Faculty of International Education Immigration Advisor in building 255.

The requirement for the MBA internship is 16 weeks.  You may accept an internship that extends beyond 16 weeks but only the first 16 weeks will be considered your official VIU MBA internship.  After the required 16 week period passes you will no longer be on a VIU MBA internship.  International students that accept extended internship positions should meet with an immigration counsellor at the Department of International Education to discuss study permit and work permit issues around accepting an extended internship.