The vast majority of full-time programs offered at the ITHQ include compulsory internships placements. Find out about the main types of internships included in our programs and their remuneration, the requirements for an international internship, the costs involved, the financial aid available and much more.

Internships at the ITHQ

Internships in vocational and technical programs

Internships in university programs

International internships

Remuneration

Accommodation and food

Internship fees and scholarships

Role of the Internship Department

Internships in vocational and technical programs

Nearly all professional (DVS–AVS) and technical programs (DCS) at the ITHQ include a mandatory internship. A unique opportunity to gain professional experience, apply your skills, and ease your transition into the job market!

Types of internships offered

The two main types of internships included in ITHQ’s professional and technical programs are paid mandatory internships and end-of-program internships.

Paid mandatory internship

These internships are designed to provide students with hands-on professional experience.
They are typically completed during the summer, but may also take place in the winter, depending on the program.
They can take place in Québec, elsewhere in Canada or internationally (depending on the program and under certain conditions).
They are paid or rewarded, depending on their location.
They are not assessed by an instructor, but by the person supervising the work placement. The student must also complete an evaluation form at the end of their internship.

End-of-program internships

Also known as workplace integration internships at the vocational level, such placements enable students to put into practice all the knowledge and skills acquired during their training.
They usually take place in Québec, during the last session of the program.
They are not paid as they are regarded as a course.
They are assessed by an instructor as well as by the person supervising the work placement.

To learn more about the internship requirements for the vocational or technical program you’re interested in, visit the Hands-on experience and internships section of the program page.

Internships in university programs

The ITHQ offers 2 bachelor’s programs:

Applied Bachelor in Hospitality and Hotel Management (BAGAH), an exclusive program offered by the ITHQ.
Bachelor in Tourism and Hospitality Management (BGTH), a program offered jointly with ESG UQAM.

Both programs include industry internships:

In the BAGAH program, internships are mandatory.
In the BGTH program, the requirement to complete one or more internships depends on the chosen concentration and academic track.

Applied Bachelor in Hospitality and Hotel Management program (BAGAH) internships

The program includes 2 compulsory internship placements, both of which may be completed in Quebec, elsewhere in Canada, or abroad.
The internships take place during the summer months.
They are paid or rewarded, depending on their location.
They allow you to accumulate credits.
They are assessed by an instructor as well as by the person supervising the work placement.

Bachelor in Tourism and Hotel Management (BGTH) internships

As in the BAGAH program, BGTH internships are paid or rewarded, depending on their location. They are also assessed and allow students to earn academic credits.

However, unlike the BAGAH program, the requirement to complete one or more internships depends on the student’s chosen concentration and academic track.

Thus, for the 3 concentrations leading to a B.A.A. (Tourism Management, Tourism Destination and Organization Management and Hotel and Restaurant Management):

The regular or DCS-BAC tracks include a credited compulsory terminal activity. This activity may take the form of an internship, a research project, or a business start-up project.
However, if you choose the co-op track, you will have to complete 3 mandatory internship placements.

For the Cultural, Heritage and Indigenous Tourism Management concentration leading to a B.Mgmt.:

Students are required to complete a mandatory internship in a professional setting.

All BGTH internships are assessed, credited and paid or rewarded, depending on their location.

To learn more about the internship requirements for the bachelor’s program that interests you, visit the Hands-on experience and internships section on the program page.

International internships

Some ITHQ programs include a mandatory international internship, while others offer an international internship as an optional opportunity.

Whether mandatory or optional, all international internships are subject to the following conditions:

You must be at least 18 years of age.
You must meet the requirements to obtain any visa or other documents needed to complete an internship in the host country.

When an international internship is optional, the opportunity to complete one also depends on several factors, including:

Your profile
Your financial capacity
The alignment of your internship project with the competencies to be developed in your program

The ITHQ reserves the right to restrict student mobility for safety reasons, including based on information issued by Global Affairs Canada.

If a student wishes to carry out an optional international internship, they must submit the project to the Internship Department. The latter will evaluate the project and confirm whether or not it can be carried out.

Remuneration of internships

Internship remuneration varies according to the type and location of internship.

The end-of-program internships in vocational and technical programs are never paid, as they are considered a course.
As for other internships, their remuneration depends on the laws in force in the province or country where the internship is carried out:
- In Québec and Canada, internships are compulsorily paid.
- In France, internships of more than 2 months are compulsorily rewarded. So, even if they don’t have official employee status, trainees receive financial compensation of around 600 € per month.
- In other countries, internships are rarely paid, although they may be rewarded or with room and board.

Accommodation and food

Employers located outside the Greater Montréal area are strongly encouraged to offer free or low-cost accommodation to their trainees.
Internationally, it is not uncommon for employers to provide accommodation and meals in exchange for work. This is known as an internship with room and board.
Employer-provided accommodation is often shared or dormitory-style.

Internship fees and scholarships

Internships in Canada or abroad entail certain costs for the student, such as the following:

Transportation (plane tickets, train tickets, etc.)
Passport or visa, if required
Travel and liability insurance

Support scholarships offered by various organizations, including the Fondation de l’ITHQ, can help cover some of these costs.

To estimate internship-related costs for your program of study, consult the Program fee calculator.

Role of the Internship Department

It is the student’s responsibility to find a suitable work placement.

To assist them in this task, they will have access to internship offers pre-approved by the Internship department, exclusively available to ITHQ students. They will also be able to participate in networking activities organized by the Internship Department, where they will meet employers looking for trainees.

Throughout the process, students will also receive support from a technician from the Internship Department, who will be assigned to them. This is the type of support that will be offered: