Group of interns in front of the Parliament

Parliamentary Internship Programme (PIP)

Every year since 1970, the Parliamentary Internship Programme (PIP) has brought a group of recent university graduates to Ottawa to work and study on Parliament Hill from September through June.

Inside Canada's PIP

2026-27 Parliamentary Intern cohort

The non-partisan Interns are selected through a national competition to spend 10 months at Parliament. Each Intern complete work placements with two Members of Parliament – one from the government and one from the opposition. During the Programme, Parliamentary Interns meet with senior policymakers, diplomats, journalists, scholars, politicians, and leaders in civil society. They take part in academic seminars, write innovative academic research papers, and undertake legislative study tours within Canada (Nunavut, Ontario, Québec) and abroad (Brussels, the United Kingdom, and the United States).

The Parliamentary Interns are enrolled as graduate students at the University of Ottawa and are awarded a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration upon completion of the Programme. The Interns receive a scholarship of $35,000 to support their studies and have access to the full range of student services at University of Ottawa.

Learn more about the programme

Director’s message

It is my pleasure to welcome the 57th Parliamentary Internship Programme cohort to Ottawa! You can see the Interns’ biographies on the website and follow their experiences through the PIP’s Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn accounts.

The more than 560 PIP alumni, who include four Order of Canada recipients and three sitting MPs, demonstrate both the fantastic learning experience offered by the PIP and its role as a foundation for careers in academia, the private sector, and the public service. 

The PIP could not operate without the dedication of its core partners, the House of Commons and the University of Ottawa, the mentorship offered by host MPs from all parties, and the financial and in-kind support as Programme sponsors. Thank you for your commitment to developing leaders who understand the operation and importance of Canada’s democratic institutions.

Thank you for visiting our website!

Dr. Paul Thomas, Director
September 2026

MP James Bezan and Parliamentary Intern Amy Topshee

Interns are valued

“The Parliamentary Internship Programme is an exceptional program that offers a work-study experience for university graduates while at the same time providing Members of Parliament with the highest qualified assistants. These non-partisan interns participate fully in the parliamentary process and contribute to our Canadian democracy. I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with many of the interns during my time as a Member of Parliament and cannot stress how valuable an asset this program is to Members’ offices.”

James Bezan, MP
Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman

student sitting in the stairs, working on her laptop

Application information

Applications for the 2027-28 PIP cohort (September 1, 2027 to June 30, 2028) will open December 1, 2026. Visit the application page to find out more about the Programme's eligibility requirements and application process.

Meet our people

Group of interns in front of the UK Parliament

Interns

The significant contributions of former interns to Canada and the international community through academia, public service, and industry are a lasting testament to important role the PIP plays in developing the potential of promising young Canadians.

Group of host MPs

Host MPs

All Members of Parliament representing officially recognized parties are eligible to host a Parliamentary Intern except for cabinet ministers, party leaders, and the Speaker.

Group of PIP Alumni

Alumni

The record of achievement built by PIP alumni in the public service, academe, business, civil society, journalism and the legal profession is testament to the important role that PIP plays in developing the potential of exceptional young Canadians.

Parliament tour

Supporters

A shared commitment to developing future leaders and enhancing the quality of Canadian democracy is what inspires the private and public sector organizations that sustain the Parliamentary Internship Programme.

Former MP Arif Virani at a podium

PIP alumni experience

“As a former Parliamentary Internship Programme intern from the class of 1994-95, I am personally familiar with the benefits and opportunities that this program gives young Canadians while working for Members of Parliament here in Ottawa.  I have long been a supporter of PIP and since being elected in 2015, I’ve had the benefit of having 2 PIP interns work in my office.  Both interns provided me with invaluable, professional and unmatched non-partisan research, writing and office support.  The quality of the candidates who become PIP interns, selected through a highly competitive national process, means that only the “cream of the crop” are selected.  This is evidenced by the work I’ve seen them perform in my office but also in the research projects they undertake and that I have been happy to support and promote.  PIP was essential to my education and training, and allowing me to get where I am today and I would encourage all MPs to participate in this program and would encourage all young Canadians with an interest in Government to apply.”

Honourable Arif Virani
Former MP for Parkdale-High Park

News

View more news
Parliament building

Call for Interest for a new PIP host organization

The House of Commons has developed a Call for Interest in order to identify an accredited Canadian university that can serve as the new host organization for the Parliamentary Internship Programme.
The House of Commons has developed a Call for Interest in order to identify an accredited Canadian university that can serve as the new host organization for the Parliamentary Internship Programme.

February 26, 2024

Contact

Staff

Dr. Paul Thomas, PhD

Director
[email protected]

Dr. Thomas has served as the PIP Director since 2020. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Toronto, and is an Adjunct Professor with the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa, as well as an Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Political Science and the Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management at Carleton University. He first became involved with the Parliamentary Internship Programme as an intern in 2005–06. Before his appointment as PIP Director, Dr. Thomas served as a Senior Research Associate at the Samara Centre for Democracy. He has published multiple articles and book chapters on parliamentary democracy in Canada and the UK, and is the co-author of the book Religion and Canadian Party Politics.

Cynthia Verner

Programme Assistant
Senior Administrative Assistant (House of Commons)

Contact

To contact PIP staff, please email [email protected].

You may also contact us by mail at:

Parliamentary Internship Programme

131 Queen Street, 4th Floor

Ottawa, ON

K1A 0A6
Canada