2023-2024 Academic Year Internship Funding
Students should apply for funding at least two weeks before the internship starts. Applications will be approved on a rolling basis and will be evaluated on the basis of merit and financial need. Funded students will be required to work with the Career Center to establish learning goals and participate in reflection activities during and after the internship.
We will award up to $2,000 to help students to defray the associated expenses of undertaking an unpaid or underpaid internship, such as travel to the internship site, daily transport, and housing. Please note that students are not eligible for funding beyond expenses; no savings goal will be awarded to non-summer applications.
Student Eligibility
- Currently enrolled first-years, sophomores, juniors or seniors who plan to return to Carleton for coursework following the internship experience.
- Students on official leave of absence (such as the required one-term leave of absence due to participating in a summer OCS program).
- Students who have already received an internship offer.
Internship Site Criteria
- Internship is at least six weeks in length and provides at least 240 hours of professional experience
- Unpaid or underpaid*
- *Underpaid definition: the estimated cost of living expenses during the internship exceeds the financial support (wages, salary, stipend) a student receives from an internship site.
- Benefits both the student and the internship provider
- Involves a high level of direct supervision, training, mentoring, and feedback
- Has clearly-defined and attainable learning goals set by the student
Internships that may not qualify
- Research based on Carleton’s campus or done exclusively with Carleton faculty to support their academic research
- Institutional research or an independent project intended for use only at and by Carleton employees and/or students, such as a comps project
- Internships with organizations owned or operated by immediate family members or current undergraduate students
- Internship or programs that incur significant costs for tuition and other fees
Funding Application Components
Preview the application form, including the short-answer prompts. The following materials are required for the application:
- Internship Host Confirmation Form
- Budget Form (budgeting resources)
- Budget Form
- Completed budget form examples
- Résumé (résumé guide)
- Essay response (can be up to 2 pages long, single-spaced; 1-inch margins)
- Please tell us about your internship organization and what you expect to be doing in your internship (including daily tasks and/or long-term projects).
- What motivated and/or inspired you to do this internship?
- What skills do you hope to learn?
- How does this internship relate to your academic pursuits, interests, and/or post-Carleton plans?
Requirements and Expectations for Funded Students
As a condition of receiving funding, students will be enrolled in the internship reflection and career readiness program. The program requires participants to complete the following, including but not limited to:
- Learning plan
- Reflection blog
- Feedback conversations with your supervisor
- Final reflection essay
Funding recipients must comply with all set deadlines and requirements. Students who do not fulfill their requirements will be charged up to $500 in the subsequent term of enrollment.