Application information

Applications for the 2027-28 PIP cohort (September 1, 2027 to June 30, 2028) will open on December 1, 2026 and close January 31, 2027.

Eligibility

PIP is open to all candidates who as of the start date of the internship (September 1, 2027) will:

  • Hold Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status.
  • Have completed at least a bachelor’s degree (a CEGEP diploma alone is insufficient).
  • Be available full-time from September 1, 2027 to June 30, 2028.

Documents submitted in hard copy or in any other form will not be accepted. All applications are strictly private and confidential.

Candidates must provide the following information:

  • Contact details
  • Education, grants and scholarships
  • Employment experience
  • Extracurricular and volunteer activities

Each candidate will also be asked to submit the following documents to support their application:

  • Personal statement: Candidates must describe in 400 words or less how they anticipate contributing to and benefiting from the Programme.
  • Approach to teamwork: Candidates must describe in 400 words or less how they managed a situation working with colleagues who had different personal or professional priorities and perspectives from their own.
  • Transcripts: Candidates must upload accurate copies (in low resolution PDF or JPG formats) of each transcript (official or unofficial).
  • Letters of reference: Candidates must provide contact information for at least two referees who have agreed to write confidential letters of reference in support of their application. One referee must be academic and one must be from an employer. Candidates may identify a third referee at their discretion.

The academic reference MUST be from a Professor, Course Instructor, or Teaching Assistant who evaluated your performance in a university course. The professional reference MUST be from someone who has supervised your work in an employment or volunteer position. The application system will automatically request letters of reference for each referee. However, candidates are responsible for ensuring that the references letters are submitted. The application system will notify applicants once referees have submitted their letters.

Applicants must refrain from using artificial intelligence services to prepare the “Personal Statement” and “Approach to Teamwork” . All submissions will be reviewed for signs that they were prepared using artificial Intelligence.

Any candidate or referee having technical difficulties with the online application system should notify [email protected] as soon as possible. No eligible application will be refused because of technical difficulties if notice is received prior to the submission deadline.

Key details for applicants

  • Click on the button to begin your application or continue reading for more details on the selection process.
  • Applications close January 31, 2027 and cannot be changed after submission.
  • Referees have until February 4, 2027 to submit their letters.
  • Full bilingualism is an asset, but is not required to apply (please see the FAQ for further details).
  • Be sure to read both the “What is PIP?” page and the application information below before beginning your application.
  • There is no cost to apply, but those selected for the Programme must pay a $125 fee to the Ontario Universities Application Centre.

Selection criteria

Candidates are assessed on the basis of the following criteria. The criteria should be clearly addressed by the applicants. Candidates’ experiences should reflect these competencies. Referees are asked to address these criteria in their letters of reference.

  • Maturity (self awareness/respect for others)
  • Motivation
  • Research and writing abilities
  • Academic achievement and/or potential
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Leadership
  • Teamwork (ability to work with others)
  • Organizational skills
  • Knowledge of Parliament and Canadian politics
  • Language skills

Candidates are selected by a committee comprised of the Director and representatives from the University of Ottawa, the House of Commons, and the Parliamentary Internship Alumni Association.

Selection process

Candidates are selected by a committee comprised of the Director and representatives of the Canadian Political Science Association, the House of Commons, and the Parliamentary Internship Alumni Association.

The Selection Committee will review all applications submitted by the January 31, 2027 deadline. All supporting references must be submitted online by February 4, 2027 for an application to be considered complete. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure their application is complete.

A shortlist of 25 candidates will be invited for interviews in February or early March. The final selection of the interns will be completed in March, and all candidates will be notified about their application status by the end of the month.

The 12 successful candidates chosen through the PIP recruitment process must then finalize their places in the Programme by formally applying for admission to the University of Ottawa through the Ontario Universities Application Centre website (OUAC). Those who are selected will receive links to the OUAC website and must pay a non-refundable $125 application processing fee. Only those who have already been selected for the Programme will need to engage with the OUAC.

Have more questions?

If you still have technical questions about the Programme or the application process after reading the information below and the “What is PIP?” page, then please contact [email protected].

If you have further questions about life in the Programme, the opportunities it provides, and how to develop a strong application, then please contact [email protected] to connect with a volunteer from the Parliamentary Internship Programme Alumni Association (PIAA) who can speak about their experience as an Intern.