The University of Waterloo invites applications for its fourth Summer Internship Program for students at risk from Ukraine.
This program will run from May 5 to August 22, 2025, and is designed for students from Ukrainian universities whose studies have been affected by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Preference is given to students registered at Ukrainian universities in a fourth-year bachelor's and any level master's or doctoral programs for the current academic year (2024/2025). Applications are particularly encouraged from candidates interested in research fields associated with Engineering, Computer Sciences, and Mathematics, but all other specializations represented at the University of Waterloo will be considered.
The program will have a research and industrial stream. It will cover all travel expenses and will provide on-campus housing and a stipend.
About the University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is one of Canada’s premiere research universities. It is consistently ranked #1 in Canada for experiential learning and graduate employment. The University of Waterloo offers leading research expertise in engineering, computer science, and mathematics, among a diverse portfolio of other programs.
Program Details: All students will be housed on campus with a meal plan.
The research stream is designed for students interested in graduate studies, and the students enrolled in this stream will work as full-time researchers in university laboratories with leading scientists in their field of specialization.
The industrial stream is intended for students interested in gaining professional experience in a corporate environment, where enrolled students will work as full-time interns with our corporate partner WSIB. The core areas of specialization will include customer experience, digital transformation, robotic process automation, data and analytics, web development, cloud engineering, and applied AI. Specific project topics will be matched with the skill set and educational background of successful applicants.
Although participants will complete the program in one of the two specified streams, they will be able to explore different graduate studies and professional career options at the end of the program.
Eligibility:
- senior bachelor (3rd or 4th year), master or Ph.D. student as of Fall 2024
- enrolled in the current academic year (2024/2025) at a Ukrainian university
- specialization in Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, or other research area presented at the University of Waterloo
- must have an overall GPA of at least 80% in their undergraduate studies and 85% for their graduate programs
- strong English proficiency is required for efficient academic communications (approximate minimum levels: TOEFL ~80, IELTS ~6.5, Cambridge ~175, CAEL ~60, PTE ~60, EFAS ~75%, Duolingo ~110)
Duration: May 5, 2025 to August 22, 2025.
Funding: All essential travel, housing, and on-campus expenses are covered by the program. A stipend will be provided to all participants unless eligible external funding is available. The funding model will be the same for participants in research and industrial streams.
Application Process: After receiving the application for participation in the program, it will be reviewed by the program admin team. Those who pass the first selection stage will be invited for an online interview. Finally, selected participants will receive an acceptance letter and further instructions.
Documents required for submission (in English unless specified otherwise):
The documents listed below should be compiled in the specified order into one PDF file and uploaded as a single attachment.
- Resume / CV
- Academic transcripts for all programs (English or Ukrainian)
- Personal statement (up to 300 words explaining your relevant experience, your interest in the program, and its connection to your career plans)
- Academic recommendation letter
- A copy of your English proficiency exam score (if available)
- A copy of your Canadian visa/confirmation of visa application (if available)
You will be asked to provide the areas of research/industrial interest and, for research stream applicants, names of professors you would like to work with at the University of Waterloo. Please research this ahead of time to ensure a high success rate of matching with potential projects in the areas of your interest.
Timeline: Applicants are encouraged to apply at the earliest possibility as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The final application submission deadline is 9:00 am EST, Dec. 1, 2024. All applicants will be notified of the final decision on their application by Dec. 31, 2024.
Due to the current border crossing restriction in Ukraine, applicants should consult the current regulations to ensure that they can travel outside of the country.