Internships

International Internships

The world needs people who understand the complex intersection of human activity and the natural world. As the effects of climate change on our world accelerate, and issues of food security, loss of biodiversity and urban development become more and more prevalent, the biological sciences, horticulture, and cultural studies are increasingly vital fields of study. UBC Botanical Garden is an ideal place to consider those issues and needs as they relate to the environmental realm, and we welcome students who display initiative, creativity and vigour to bring innovation to those studies. To help foster research in these areas, we have created two international internships in the Botanical Garden: The Asian Garden International Internship, and the Ian Gillam International Exchange Fellowship.

UBC Botanical Garden invites students who are currently registered in a university graduate program to apply for these internships. Students are encouraged to choose a research focus of their own invention. Crafting a research proposal and conducting research is an essential element of graduate education, and a fundamental skill in any academic career. This approach also provides an opportunity for the student to potentially explore a personal intellectual passion. Research projects conducted under the internship program are thus not established until after the students are chosen.

International internships at other institutions are typically funded by the visiting student or the student’s home institution. Successful applicants for Botanical Garden internships receive a stipend of up to $1,000 per month to offset the cost of living in the Vancouver area.

  • Asian Garden International Internship

This internship is to take place in the David C. Lam Asian Garden, the largest garden within UBC Botanical Garden and one of the world’s most important collections of temperate zone Asian plants outside of Asia. The internship is for a maximum of six (6) months.

  • Ian Gillam International Exchange Fellowship

The internship is to take place at UBC Botanical Garden including the Nitobe Memorial Garden and may include a practical horticultural component. The internship is for a maximum of six (6) months. Read about this year’s recipient.

Visiting International Research Student

The University of British Columbia recently created the Visiting International Research Student program.

A Visiting International Research Student (VIRS) is an international student conducting research full-time at UBC, under the supervision of a UBC faculty member. The student is either enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or graduate-equivalent program at another university or is a participant in a UBC-recognized (through Go Global) “bridging” program. UBC is a hub for outstanding researchers from around the world and welcomes Visiting International Research Students (VIRS) to participate in our community of inquiry.