Application guidelines
Program information
- duration: May 1 to August 15, 2024
- project Hours: 250 hours, part-time work
- compensation: UVic Research Assistant rate
Program eligibility
To participate, you must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- current UVic graduate student
- in good academic standing
- graduating after August 15, 2024
- confirm work hours align with graduate funding guidelines
- have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- valid student visa/work permit for international students
- physically located in BC throughout the program
- available during standard business hours
Student commitment
Successful candidates commit to:
- attending an April program orientation
- completing specified project hours
- developing a Project Plan with the mentor
- fulfilling deliverables by the project end date
- participating in mandatory workshops and the end-of-program event(s)
- completing an exit survey
An orientation package with further details is provided upon hiring.
Application process
Once you click on the ‘Apply here’ the application form will ask you for the following details:
- Contact details, preferred pronoun, program of study and eligibility.
- Upload one PDF file per project with a cover letter, resume, and references.
- file format: Project number-First name-Last name.pdf
- cover letter: clearly state your interest and alignment with the project
- resume: keep it under three pages
- references: include one academic and one professional contact
- Apply for up to three projects.
- Optionally, if you wish to be considered for other projects in case you are not shortlisted for your top three choices, identify up to three additional projects that you feel you are qualified for (no documents needed for these).
Frequently asked question
Yes, international students are encouraged to apply. However, international students are responsible for ensuring all work permits and authorizations are in place prior to accepting any positions. Contact the International Centre for Students (International Centre for Students) to consult an International Student Adviser as soon as possible.
The mentors are from the partner organizations, not UVic. Each partner organization designates one or more mentors committed to overseeing the project and providing supervision and guidance to the Scholar.
- To be eligible for this program, graduate students must be currently enrolled and cannot have graduated before August 15.
- If you have a defense planned, please raise this matter during your interview or early in the scheduling discussions with your mentor or the partner organization.
Scholars are employed by the partner organizations. While they are formally appointed as Research Assistants (RAs) by UVic for payroll purposes, their day-to-day supervision and reporting occur under the mentorship of individuals ('mentors') within the partner organization. Separate from that, Scholars will have specific obligations to the Sustainability Scholars Program Manager including orientation, meetings, check-ins, and evaluations.
Involving your supervisor is not a requirement for the Sustainability Scholars Program. Applicants may want to inform their supervisor about their summer plans, but the supervisor will not be directly involved in the project.