Why unpaid internship is giving major ick
March 10, 2025
Time is Money -
Don't Spend It for Free!
Students are expected to work for experience, but experience won’t pay the bills. Unpaid work is unfair and unsustainable. It’s time for change.
Students deserve compensation for mandatory work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities like placements, internships and co-ops. Working for free isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a major barrier. The Financial Post reports that 65% of students are financially unstable and 45% struggling to cover basic needs like food and housing.
IGNITE is calling
for change
from Humber Polytechnic and the University of Guelph-Humber;
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Share your Story
Your voice matters! Tell us about your unpaid or paid WIL experience. Good or bad, we want to know how your WIL impacted your overall student experience. You’re able to stay anonymous, too!
Compensated opportunities are essential for students to focus on their education without the constant worry about making ends meet.
IGNITE is working toward a future where every student is fairly compensated for their work
But we need your help.
Share how unpaid work has affected your finances,
workload or mental health.
We’re committed to compensation and we’re not
backing down until we see real change.
Confession of an Unpaid Intern
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Jessica Carrera
Program: Hotel and Restaurant Operation Management
Juggling unpaid internships, work, school and motherhood isn’t easy. Hear Jessica’s firsthand experience and why she believes students deserve better support.
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Onoriode Francis Osifo
Program: Bachelor of Child and Youth Care
Frustrated with unpaid internships? So is Francis. Watch as he shares his thoughts on the issue and why he’s calling on schools to secure compensated opportunities for students.
Play Video
Siddhi Lakshmee Rughoobeer
Program: Event Management
Unpaid internships took a toll on Siddhi’s finances and education. Listen to her powerful story about the struggles she faced and why institutions need to step up.
See What Other Interns are Saying
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Time is Money - FAQs
Accordion Content
Use the form above to share your story with us! Your voice helps magnify this major issue to the people in charge. Use #TimeIsMoney to continue the conversation online.
Work-integrated learning opportunities are experiential education opportunities that take students out of the classroom and into their industry. These include co-ops, internships and placements.
Compensation can include an hourly wage, salary or honorarium.
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