Hire an OAC Graduate Student Intern
Need help solving a challenge in your organization? Leverage the skills and expertise of OAC by hiring a master's student intern.
If you're looking for unique insights from tomorrow's leaders in food, agriculture, communities and the environment, connect with OAC and put our driven graduate students to work at your organization. OAC's master's-level internship program offers organizations like yours a chance to have masters students apply their knowledge, skills and expertise to support your next project.
Students are prepared to apply their knowledge and skills to a variety of projects. For example, they could complete a sustainability audit, review operating processes, or investigate emerging technologies or more.
Graduate Student Internship Program
Hire OAC masters students with advanced expertise in agricultural economics, plant science, sustainability, animal science, extension and more. The paid internship ranges from 12 to 16 weeks after students complete 2 academic semesters.
Details about the Graduate Student Internship
| Student Type | Graduate Students (Course-based masters) |
| Student Availability | Summer (May-August) |
| Work Term Duration | 12-16 weeks (can be extended) |
| Employer Compensation Req. | Hourly wage will be set by employer. Note: graduate students have a higher level of training than a typical undergraduate student, who on average are paid $19/hr for co-op terms. |
| Application Process | Post your internship on the Experience Guelph portal for students to apply. Select the students you'd like to interview and hire. |
| Employer Posting Process: Contact Boris Martin | |
Participating programs:
- Master in Animal Biosciences
- Master in Capacity Development and Extension
- Master in Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Master in Plant Agriculture
- Master in Sustainable Agriculture
Benefits to Employers:
- Have your business challenge addressed by a graduate student with up-to-date knowledge in the field.
- Access to motivated, knowledgeable, and skilled professional students.
- Fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.
- Excellent trial for a future employee – as the internship is in the last or second last semester of the program, you can hire the student right away.
- Expose students to your unique line of business.
- Contribute to the education and training of professionals in your field.
Other ways you can put OAC students to work for you:
This course content is designed to support students in understanding the agriculture, food, environment, and capacity development sectors, and how to best position themselves professionally. As part of the course, students complete a 40 hour internship with a partnering business.
Key Benefits to Businesses:
- Short-term and flexible.
- Cost-effective way of trialing a potential new employee – students complete the internship for course credit, not a wage.
- Great first step for businesses looking to start hosting students.
- Excellent opportunity to expose students to your business or sector.
Student Academic Level: Undergraduate students in years 3 or 4.
Student Availability: Fall (September – December), Winter (January – April), or Summer (May – August)
Work Term Duration: 40 hours; can be short weekly shifts or intensive week.
Employer Compensation Requirements: None (unpaid experience)
Student Application Process: Students submit applications to postings; partners interview candidates and make offers.
Partner Posting Process: Contact Boris Martin (boris@uoguelph.ca) or post directly through Experiential Learning Opportunities section of ExperienceGuelph.ca.
Participating Academic Programs:
- Animal Science
- Crop, Horticulture, and Turfgrass Sciences
- Ecology
- Environment and Resource Management
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Sciences
- Food, Agriculture and Resource Economics
- Food and Agricultural Business
- Food Science
- Plant Science
Students complete 4-5 full-time work terms in a field related to their degree. Work terms and academic semester alternate through the students’ degree program. Learn more about U of G’s Co-op Program.
Key Benefits to Employers:
- Hire a skilled student to tackle projects that don’t have full-time resources.
- Cost-effective way to trial a potential new student – students are hired on short-term, finite contracts.
- Students are actively supported through the U of G’s Experiential Learning Hub while they work with you.
Student Academic Level: Undergraduate students in years 3 and 4.
Student Availability: Fall (September – December), Winter (January – April), or Summer (May – August)
Work Term Duration: 12 – 16 weeks (minimum 420 hours) of full-time employment; some programs offer 8-month and 12-month work term options.
Employer Compensation Requirement: Wage – partner must pay at least minimum wage. We encourage consulting our Salary Guide and Hiring Incentives for guidance.
Student Application Process: Students submit applications to postings; partners interview candidates and make offers. Employer Posting Process: Contact the EL Hub (recruit@uoguelph.ca) or post directly through Co-op Job Postings section of ExperienceGuelph.ca
Participating Academic Programs:
- Environmental Sciences (Course terms: 8 | Work terms: 4)
- Animal Science (Course terms: 8 | Work terms: 4)
- Plant Agriculture/ Co-op Plant Science (Course terms: 8 | Work terms: 4)
- Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (Course terms: 8 | Work terms: 5)
- Food and Agricultural Business (Course terms: 8 | Work terms: 5)