Internship
International Economics and Finance Internship Program
The International Economics and Finance Internship Program provides all students with practical work experience prior to graduation. Past students have secured positions with a wide variety of banks, insurance companies, investment firms, government agencies, and NGOs.
Below, students can find an FAQ outlining the policies and procedures for the Internship Program.
The internship can be completed at any point prior to graduation. However, students should understand that taking a reduced course load during either the Fall or Winter semester may have implications for their OSAP status; we encourage students to connect with an OSAP Advisor at the Service Hub to discuss further.
Internships are normally one semester (4 months) in length but may be longer.
Students completing an internship stretching over subsequent Fall and Winter semesters will be enrolled in the two-semester work term course WKT 77A/B in those Fall and Winter semesters; otherwise, they will be enrolled in the one-semester work term course ECN 900 during either the Fall semester (in the case of an internship beginning May 1st or later in the calendar year) or the Winter semester (in the case of an internship beginning April 30th or earlier in the calendar year). Below are some examples:
- A student beginning a 16-month internship in May 2024 would be enrolled in WKT 77A in the Fall 2024 semester and WKT 77B in the Winter 2025 semester (they would not be enrolled in any work term course during either Spring/Summer 2024 or Spring/Summer 2025).
- A student beginning an 8-month internship in January 2024 would be enrolled in ECN 900 in the Winter 2024 semester (they would not be enrolled in any work term course during Spring/Summer 2024).
- A student beginning an 8-month internship in May 2024 would be enrolled in ECN 900 in the Fall 2024 semester (they would not be enrolled in any work term course during Spring/Summer 2024).
- A student beginning an 4-month internship in May 2024 would be enrolled in ECN 900 in the Fall 2024 semester (they would not be enrolled in any work term course during Spring/Summer 2024).
In summary, students must choose between enrolling in (a) ECN 900 in any Fall semester, (b) ECN 900 in any Winter semester, or (c) WKT 77A/B in any subsequent Fall and Winter semesters. Students are not permitted to enroll in ECN 900 after WKT 77A/B (or vice-versa), nor can they enroll in either of these work term courses more than once.
You may continue to work if you choose to do so, but you will not be enrolled in any additional work term courses.
Students are not permitted to enroll in both ECN 900 after WKT 77A/B (or vice-versa), nor can they enroll in either of these work term courses more than once. You can always search for additional employment opportunities after completing your first internship, but they would not be recognized as part of your academic program.
Starting in the second year of the program, students engage in various preparation activities including resume writing workshops and practice interviews. Job postings are regularly shared with all students in the Internship Program, who then apply for positions directly with the employers.
If students find internship opportunities on their own, they will need to receive approval from the Internship Coordinator prior to starting their placement. Please reach out to the Internship Coordinator at econ.ugrad@torontomu.ca.
For OSAP advice, please reach out to the Service Hub directly. There may be OSAP-implications for students who are completing an internship placement during the Fall/Winter term and taking a reduced course load.
Typically, students apply to 50 or more job postings before being successful in securing an internship placement. We encourage students to take advantage of the resources available through Career, Co-op and Student Success to assist with the job hunting process. Students can also reach out to the Internship Coordinator for assistance.
Internship and Posting Questions?
Please send an email to econ.ugrad@torontomu.ca.
Success Stories
Internships and Alumni Success
Year of Graduation: BA International Economics and Finance, 2022
Name of High School: Galaxy International School Uganda in Kampala, Uganda
The IEF program was challenging to say the very least. The way the course was designed was to push its students, but it was just the right amount of technical/non-technical to prepare one for life post-graduation. It taught me so many different skills although my time in person was cut short due to COVID. My favourite part of the program was the fact that it had a mandatory co-op which set me up for success once I graduated. The program itself has some wonderful courses and it provides students with the opportunity to potentially work in multiple different industries including but not limited to Economics and Finance.
Year of Graduation: BA International Economics and Finance, 2021
Name of High School: Lester B Pearson Collegiate
The IEF program offers a great opportunity to complete a mandatory internship. Throughout my internship, I was able to develop both personal and professional skills in a corporate working environment. My internship experience allowed me to secure a full time position after graduation with the same corporation.
Year of Graduation: BA International Economics and Finance, 2022
Name of High School: Dr. J. M. Denison SS (Canada)
The IEF program provided me with deep insight into multiple fields of study including but not limited to, economics, finance, statistics, and mathematics. The additional elective courses offered by TMU gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge in law, psychology, geography and more. The mandatory internship component of the program meant I was able to spend a full year working with State Street Corporation as a Pricing Analyst in a part-time role while simultaneously completing my studies. Throughout my professional work experience as a pricing analyst, I was able to further develop both my technical and soft skills and utilize my IEF knowledge in the workplace. Lastly, the smaller class sizes across all four years of my bachelor’s experience ensured I was able to effectively network with both fellow students and professors. Gaining knowledge in multiple fields of study, professional work experience, refined technical and soft skills, and networking experience allowed to me graduate TMU prepared for professional success as a consultant at EY-Parthenon.
Year of Graduation: BA International Economics and Finance, 2021
The things I learned in the IEF program were invaluable to my current career path and accomplishments. I am grateful for the education and training I received over the course of my studies, and most of all for the internship requisite. It was essential in preparing me for the hardships of job hunting and bridging the nuances between academic and professional environments. Finding relevant work experience was a difficult journey, but with the help of program faculty and some perseverance, I managed to complete a year-long internship before graduating. My time in this program was worth it for all the skills I developed, the connections I formed, and the friends I made along the way. I can say that obtaining my degree in IEF is my best and biggest achievement thus far.
Year of Graduation: BA International Economics and Finance, 2022
The IEF program really allowed me to gain a very well-rounded educational experience with the small class sizes which made it easier to interact with the professors, and the mandatory internship allowed me to gain an insight on what to expect in the work place and helped prepare me for my new role.
Year of Graduation: BA International Economics and Finance, 2021
The IEF internship program prepared me for my career after graduation through the connections and work experience that I gained from it which shaped the building blocks for what I wanted to accomplish after school. I was fortunate enough to obtain an internship with the government as a Business & Finance Assistant. I was invited back the following summer, where the connections I made during my internship also continued after graduation, as one of the managers from a different team reached out to me for my first job after graduating. I cannot emphasize enough how the internship was such an amazing experience that allowed me to get ahead in my career. The hands-on experience from one of the IEF classes that focused heavily on using the programming code R also assisted in securing a job as many employers in finance deem coding experience an asset. I always felt supported in the IEF program, as my program counsellor was fantastic and allowed me to make my own choices while always offering guidance throughout the journey.