The below sections provide some additional information and answers to some frequently asked questions. If you don't find what you're looking for, join an information session or contact globalskills@langara.ca. 

General Program

Canadian students need to understand how to function and thrive within a global context. Participating in the Langara GSO experience will support students with personal interest and career exploration, build global competencies, their own global networks, experience new cultures and build self-confidence.
Finding a suitable international experience is challenging to set up logistically and financially. Many students, especially those from low-income, First Nations or the disability communities, would not consider a global internship for these reasons. This program will support students who might not have considered a global opportunity before and have this experience either online or in-person.
Student participants must be:
  • Canadian citizens or permanent residents, registered at Langara College
  • In good standing as defined and determined by Langara College
  • 18 years of age or older
The Langara GSO Program is open to all regular studies Langara students but will prioritize underrepresented students (Indigenous students, low-income students, and those with disabilities).
Note: International students are ineligible for GSO Program funding.
There are three types of internships available through the GSO funding:
  • 100 online internships open to all domestic students
  • 16 in-person internships open to all domestic students from one of the three underrepresented groups (low-income, First Nations and students with a disability)
  • 40 COIL-EX internships are for students who have been in a COIL VE course that has been selected for the COIL in-person extension option. Likely this will be open to four COIL courses to support 10 students each. Students will know if they are in a COIL course intending to do the COIL EX (GSO Program extension,) through their COIL instructors. Participation in this type of internship is by instructor invitation only.
Certain in-person internships may be considered as a co-op, with conditions. Please connect with your co-op instructor.
Yes. All students participating in the GSO internships will be registered in one of the new work-integrated learning WILX courses launching in Spring 2023.
Except for the students doing a COIL EX (GSO extension) of their COIL VE course, you will be doing to the internship on your own. Likely there will be the opportunity to connect with other students using the same third-party internship company and / or via your WILX course taken during the internship.
The goal of this program is to have students gain experience in a new country/culture they have not visited before. Langara College has contracted with a third-party global internship company to interview and match you with an opportunity, based on your personal/career/academic interests. Please note due to changing international travel restrictions, some countries may not be available for in-person travel.
It is possible to set up an independent GSO Program experience without the use of our Intern Abroad HQ partner. The Langara GSO Program has identified Asia and Latin America as preferred country locations. If you have a specific country / opportunity in mind, please identify this in your application. Note, students will not be able to do an internship in countries the federal government deems too high a risk.
We will provide a checklist of items for you to complete before, during and after your internship experience. You will also enroll in the appropriate WILX course which will assist in preparation for the GSO experience.

Eligibility

No – there is no pre-requisite course for the GSO internship participation, unless you are a co-op student who want to use this internship as a co-op work term (see "Can internship be counted as a co-op?"). However, you are required to enroll in the appropriate work-integrated learning (WILX) course during your internship, to receive academic credits. The tuition fees for this course will be covered by the GSO funding.

Good academic standing is the status of a student who is not on Academic Probation, Academic Suspension, or other suspension. See Langara Policy: E2008.pdf (langara.ca).

Students who are either:
  • Recipients of Canada Student Grants, or similar non-repayable student financial assistance offered by provinces and territories, or
  • Able to provide information to demonstrate their need for financial support to study or work abroad (information will be reviewed and verified by Financial Aid).

Financial

These internships are typically unpaid. However, depending on the generous funding through GSO and other supporting programs, students may have excess funds which can be considered an honorarium.  

For in-person internships, trip costs vary according to the location of the host organization. This program is designed to anticipate most costs involved with student participation. However, there are exceptions to this rule and this funding will not cover personal spending (extra side trips, souvenirs, etc.)

The GSO funding and related financial awards may cover expenses related to supporting of students’ participation in global internship, such as internship program fees, airfare1, accommodation, meals2, and transportation to and from work.
Costs that are not covered:
  • Souvenirs and leisure activities during your free time
  • Personal spending money to cover basic expenses such as drinks, snacks, laundry, public transportation, and any meals not included in your program fee
1. Economy class
2. For most destinations, the meals (3 per day) are included in the program fees. However, for destinations in which the meals are not included in the program fee, students may be responsible for their meals. The GSO funding and related financial supports can be used to cover the meal expenses in these cases. Please note that any extra meals or food expenses will be the responsibility of students.

Working part-time in the host country is likely not possible since the intent of the program is for students to fully experience the in-country experience. If students are doing virtual internships and the work expectations for the internship are being met, part-time work is a possibility.

The federal government has stipulated that receiving a GSO internship will not impact student loan applications.

The funding available to each Langara regular studies student will vary depending upon the type of internship (virtual or in-person,) and if you are a student from one of the federally designated equity, deserving groups (low income and / or, First Nations, Metis or Inuit and / or student with a disability.)

Funding for a student completing an in-person internship: 

  • This funding is only open to domestic Langara regular studies students in good standing from one of the equity deserving groups (average 6 internships available per fiscal year). 
  • GSO funding is $10,000 
  • GSO funding will be augmented by an additional application to One World Scholarship and student will potentially receive between $2,000-5,000. 
  • This funding of approximately $12,000-15,000 will cover the costs to:  set up a personalized internship with our partner organization Intern Abroad HQ; pay for the WILX 1102 three credit course; cover medical & cancellation insurance; flights; accommodation; food; VISA documentation fees; travel inoculations; and travel while in country, etc. These costs will vary considerably depending on the location of the internship.  
  • If there are left over monies, the remaining funds are for the student to spend at their discretion
  • The In-person internships of 420 hours or more could be used as a co-op work term for students from Langara co-op program areas.
  • It’s estimated that an average internship trip abroad costs $7,000-$13,000 but since the cost depends on the country and city or town that is chosen for the internship, these estimates are very broad.  

Funding for a student completing a virtual internship: 

  • This funding is open to all domestic Langara regular studies students in good standing (average 40 internships available per fiscal year). 
  • GSO funding for equity deserving students - $1,000; GSO funding for other students - $500. 
  • GSO funding will be augmented by an additional application to the Langara Global fund for an amount of $1,500 for both equity deserving and other students. Note the Langara Global fund is application based and not guaranteed.
  • Virtual internships will be facilitated through our partner organization Intern Abroad HQ. Funding will cover the majority if not all costs of setting up personalized internships with Intern Abroad HQ plus the WILX 1102 or WILX 1103 course fees.
  • Virtual internships of 420 hours or more, could be used as a co-op work term for students from co-op program areas.
  • Estimated costs will vary from $1,500 and up depending on duration of the internship. 

Funding for a student completing a COIL–EX internship: 

  • This funding is accessed by invitation only through a COIL VE instructor and is for regular studies domestic students (average 10 student internships available per fiscal year). 
  • Likely only one COIL group will go per year, maximum of 10 students. Additional students may also go on the trip with permission of the COIL instructor but may not receive any GSO funding. 
  • Costs vary according to location and duration of trip. Most COIL in person internships will be 7-12 days in duration.  
  • GSO funding is $5,000 for equity deserving students; $2,500 for other students.  
  • GSO funding will be augmented by an additional application to One World Scholarship for a potential $2,000-$5,000.
  • Average trip costs $4,000-5,000 per person – dependant on location. 

Other

Attend one of the GSO Program information sessions held in the first month of every semester. Applications and processing time vary according to the type of internship with most applications needing to be submitted 3-4 months prior to the start of the internship.
The Langara GSO Program runs from Fall 2022–Spring 2025 and will review applications each semester. Deadline to apply for Spring 2023 is September 30th, 2022.
Sign up for an info session to learn more!