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Internships

Real-World Experience

SURP internships are a key part of the student experience, giving you the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to real planning challenges. Through 3–4 month placements, typically in the summer after first year, you will gain hands-on experience working on meaningful projects in professional settings.

Build In-Demand Skills

Before starting your internship, students complete a strong core curriculum in planning theory, law, analytic methods, and research. Combined with technical training in tools like GIS, data analysis, and CAD, this ensures you enter the workplace ready to contribute from day one.

Explore Diverse Career Paths

Internship opportunities span municipal, provincial, and federal governments, as well as consulting firms, non-profits, and community organizations across Canada. With strengths in land use and real estate, health and social planning, and environmental services, students can explore a wide range of interests and career directions.

Photo credit: Greg Black

Learn from Professionals

During your internship, you’ll work alongside experienced planners and professionals who provide mentorship, guidance, and industry insight. You’ll be treated as part of the team, contributing to projects, developing professional relationships, and building confidence in your abilities.

Create Opportunities for What’s Next

SURP internships don’t just build experience, they open doors. Many students make valuable connections, clarify their career goals, and even secure future employment through their placements.

A Bridge to the Planning Profession

By integrating academic learning with hands-on experience, the SURP Internship Program helps you graduate with the practical skills, professional network, and confidence needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving planning field.

The School of Urban and Regional Planning offers a rigorous internship program with placements across all three levels of government, as well as in the civil society and private sectors, both in Canada and internationally.

Through this program, students have the opportunity to work as paid interns with a wide range of public and private organizations in Ontario and other regions of Canada. In most years, a limited number of placements have also been available in China. Internships typically take place during the summer between the first and second years of the program and usually last three to four months. Students may work with community-based organizations, corporations, government agencies, consulting firms, public interest groups, district health units, and planning departments at all levels of government, among other potential employers. While the School cannot guarantee an internship for every student, supporting students in securing meaningful work experience is a key priority. In recent years, the program has been highly successful in matching students with employers, creating strong benefits for both.

The internship experience is designed to immerse students in their chosen field and connect them with professional planners who bring a high level of expertise and experience. It enables students to build practical skills while applying emerging theories and analytical techniques to real-world planning challenges. SURP interns consistently report that their placements are engaging, educational, and rewarding. Some previous internship placements from recent years include:

  • City of Calgary
  • City of Kingston
  • City of Toronto
  • Department of National Defence
  • Government of China
  • McIntosh Perry
  • MMM Group
  • Ontario Ministry of the Environment
  • Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
  • Ottawa International Airport Authority
  • Parks Canada

If you are international student, you can accept volunteer for unpaid positions relating to their planning education with off-campus agencies. International students can also accept paid on-campus employment relating to their planning education, subject to some conditions. Other international students take courses and do fieldwork for their reports and theses in the summer.

For further information, please contact:

Kristina Fennell, Graduate Programs Coordinator
Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6
kristina.fennell@queensu.ca - (613) 533-6000 ext. 77056