Current Southwestern students have the opportunity to apply for funding through the Funded Internship Program to help offset the costs of unpaid and low-paying internships. This program requires students to complete a rigorous application process managed by Internship Programs in the Center for Career & Professional Development.

Funds for the Funded Internship Program are provided by generous philanthropic support from alumni, parents, and friends of the university, who give students the opportunity to complete high impact intellectual experiences while enrolled at Southwestern. 

The Opportunity

Students may apply to receive up to a maximum of $5,000 during the summer semester. Amounts vary based on multiple factors, such as if the internship is unpaid or low-paying, internship length, and the number of hours worked during the semester. An internship experience is considered low-paying if payment is less than $15/hour. Students whose internship pays less than $15/hour are encouraged to apply for the Funded Internship Program.

Please note: Students participating in the Capitol Hill Internship Program (CHIP) and New York Arts Program (NYAP), as well as Garey and Snodgrass Scholars may apply for funding through the Funded Internship Program during the fall and spring semesters. SU London Program students are eligible to apply during the fall semester. The maximum award amount during the fall and spring semesters is $1,500.

The Application Cycles

All students whose internship pays less than $15/hour may apply for funding for the summer semester. There is one application cycle for the fall semester, and one application cycle for the spring semester. For the summer semester there are two application cycles for funding. Completed applications submitted by the deadline are evaluated by a committee of staff members from across campus who determine awards and allocate funding. 

Spring 2027 Application Dates

Application live: Monday, November 9, 2026

Application deadline: Friday, December 4, 2026

Student award notification: Monday, January 11, 2027

Summer 2027 Application Dates

Cycle 1 Application: 

Application live: Monday, February 8, 2027

Application deadline: Friday, March 5, 2027

Student award notification: Monday, March 22, 2027

Cycle 2 Application:

Application live: Tuesday, March 23, 2027

Application deadline: Wednesday, April 21, 2027

Student award notification: Wednesday, May 5, 2027

The Application

STEP-BY-STEP APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

The application consists of three required essay questions that may be accessed in Handshake’s Career Center Experiences section. Students are strongly encouraged to give detailed responses tailored to each prompt.

Students are not required to have their internship secured before applying for funding. They may apply for funding for multiple internships, so long as they have already applied directly to the opportunities and are waiting to hear back regarding an internship offer. Please note: Funding awards are tied to the internships for which the student applied. If the student decides to switch internships to an opportunity not included in their application, they will forfeit their award. Therefore, it is recommended that students include information for EACH internship site for which they have applied in their application.

Students may apply by submitting an Experience form in Handshake. On the Experience form, be sure to select “Funded Internship Application” for the Experience template. For the term, select the semester for which you are applying for funding.

For clarification on the application scoring process, please reference the rubric here. 

Funded Internship Program Information Sessions

The Funded Internship Program Information Session is held each semester. It is advised that students attend an information session or watch the following video before applying, but it is not required. 

The next Funded Internship Program Information Session is Wednesday, October 14, at 12:30 pm (CT) in the Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD), Prothro #147)

Please watch the following video to learn more about the Funded Internship Program and the application process.

For additional guidance on your application, please schedule an appointment with the Debby Ellis Writing Center. The Writing Consultants are trained to assist students with their Funded Internship applications. Please make an appointment here. 

Have any other questions about the Funded Internship Program? Contact Internship Programs in the Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD) or make an appointment here.

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International Internships

Domestic students may receive funding through the Funded Internship Program for international internships if they are participating in an approved internship abroad program. All students must apply for internship abroad programs through Via and be approved by the Office of Study Abroad and International Student Services if they want to receive funding or academic credit. Please note: International students are not eligible for Funded Internship Program support for international internships.

International Students and Work Authorization

International students on an F-1 visa must have employment authorization, such as Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT) before beginning any off-campus activity—including paid or unpaid internships, shadowing, or research.

For eligibility to receive funding through Southwestern University’s Funded Internship Program, international students (F-1) must have approved CPT or Pre-Completion OPT, and meet academic requirements, such as enrollment in the University’s Academic Internship Program, and complete the experience within the United States. Students must consult the Office of Study Abroad and International Student Services and Internship Programs in the Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD) for guidance throughout this required process.