A First-of-its-kind in Canada, Experiential Learning Opportunity
Program Overview
The QDIUA program provides a unique opportunity for PhD candidates to learn more about the university administrative environment through an internship with an administrative unit at Queen鈥檚 University. During the program, doctoral students will strengthen and expand their professional skills by working alongside experienced administrators outside of their academic programs. Through a combination of mentoring and participation in meaningful projects and tasks, interns will contribute to the day-to-day operations of the university while expanding their professional network and exploring careers in academic administration.
The Internship experience will consist of the following:
- Supervision and Mentorship: Interns will be introduced to post-secondary administrative work environment by working alongside an administrative professional in a host unit at Queen鈥檚 (for example, the Faculty of Arts and Science office or Office of the Vice-Provost International). An identified administrative staff member assigns and supervises the intern鈥檚 work, inviting them to relevant meetings to maximize exposure to the university鈥檚 administrative structure, and include them in teambuilding activities. Mentorship and supervision will consist of both formal and informal conversations about skill development, professional workplaces, university systems and structures, and career development.
- Project Component with Skills Development Coaching: Interns will work on a meaningful project or administrative task identified by the host unit. Mentors will guide and supervise the intern鈥檚 work, explaining office procedures and process, introducing them to relevant team members within and outside of their unit, inviting them to meetings and providing feedback on the project or task as it evolves.
- Guided Reflection on Experience: To support interns in their career development conversations with their supervisors, and to help get the most out this experiential learning opportunity, the Experiential Learning Hub and the School of Graduate Studies will co-facilitate a series of workshops to prepare students for their internships and guide their reflective practice during the experience. Upon completion of the internship, students will be referred to additional professional development resources available through the School of Graduate Studies and their Faculties.
Internships will commence January each year to align with the academic calendar. Each internship will last 13-16 weeks (one academic term). Interns are expected to commit (flexibly) 10 hours per week to program components. Internships are paid.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Interns gain and/or develop professional competencies that complement their degree training
- Interns develop a more comprehensive understanding of how the administrative side of the university functions
- Interns collaborate with administrative professionals within the university, expanding their professional network
- Interns are exposed to career paths within the post-secondary sector
Host Unit Outcomes
- Host units gain a deeper appreciation of the range of skills Queen鈥檚 PhD students have and better utilize these talents in the context of their own offices
- Host units benefit from the diversity of perspectives and experiences interns bring to the project and team environment
- Host units explore alternate pipelines and applicant pools for staff recruitment and retention
- Host units receive supports from Career Services and the Experiential Learning Hub related to effective supervision structures, onboarding, guiding reflection and supporting student career development
Eligibility is limited to those in PhD programs in year two and above. To participate in the program, you must have completed all compulsory coursework.
It is also recommended that you speak with your supervisor about your academic requirements and progress in relation to taking on additional work commitments such as the internship within university guidelines. Note that students are able to take on an average of 10hrs/week of paid employment unrelated to their research.
To register, .
Student Information Session
Thursday, October 3 at 12PM via Zoom
Register . An email will be sent that contains the Zoom details in advance of the information session. If you cannot attend the Information Session, please email Heather Merla (heather.merla@queensu.ca).
Application Portal Open
Wednesday, October 16
Applications, including cover letter and resume, are accepted through .
Application Portal Closes
Tuesday, October 29
Host Unit Schedules Interviews
November 4 to 8
Candidate Interviews
November 11 to 22
Notification to Successful Applicants
Mid December
Internship Commence
January 2024
Exact start date to be determined by intern and host unit.
We highly recommend applicants utilize services and resources from to develop their applications. Career Services offers the following:
Faculty of Arts & Science -Curriculum Design Research & Support Intern (Description PDF 126KB)
Human Resources - E-Learning & Instructional Design Intern (Description PDF 147KB)
School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs - Academic Programming Intern (Description PDF 116KB)
Principal's Action Group on Gender and Sexual Diversity at Queen's (PAGGAs) - Administrative Intern (Description PDF 566KB)
Division of Student Affairs - Grief Programming Intern (Description PDF 40KB)
Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute - 4 internships (Descriptions PDF 208KB)
- Finance intern
- Special Events intern
- Education and Professional Development intern
- Communications intern
If you missed the information session, you can review the slides here.
If you have questions about the program, please contact QDIUA@queensu.ca.
The Queen鈥檚 Doctoral Internship in University Administration (QDIUA) was initially conceptualized by Queen鈥檚 staff members affiliated with the Queen鈥檚 Foundational Leadership Program (2021). For more information, see the following report:
Pedersen, A., Curzon, R., McAvoy, A., Mayer, M., Gopaul, I., Nomikos, D., & Zhang, Y. (2023, March 25). The Queen鈥檚 University Administrative Internship (QUAI): A First-in-Canada Experiential Learning Opportunity for Ph.D. Students. .