Career Center Internship Grants provide financial support for students doing unpaid or low-paid internships during the summer, with the goal of making internships accessible regardless of individual financial situation. These funds offer students the opportunity to explore career fields and gain experience. Selected students will receive $4,500. Students must secure an internship prior to the deadlines.
- Eligibility Requirements
- Internship Grants for Undergraduates
- How to Apply
- Important Dates & Deadlines
- Application Essay Questions
- Selection Criteria
- Requirements for Grant Recipients
- Internship Grant FAQs
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a currently enrolled Tufts undergraduate student in good standing with the university, with an intent to enroll for the following semester (graduating seniors or seniors entering into the graduate portion of a combined program are ineligible).
- Internship must be unpaid or low-paid ($1,500 or less)
- Internship must be full time, totaling 300 hours, and completed by Aug 31
- Internship must take place at a host organization and include formal supervision by a professional at host site at least once a week. Family members may not be supervisors
- Students can be funded for internship opportunities both within the U.S. and Internationally. All international trips must be registered in the Tufts Travel Registry and are subject to adherence with the university’s travel policy and approval of travel review for required destinations.
- International students selected to receive a grant for an internship must apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) through the Tufts International Center.
Important Considerations:
- Internship must be a new experience or position. If you’ve previously worked at the same site for which you are currently applying for funding, you must clearly explain how the responsibilities of this new internship position are significantly different from your previous position.
- Students may receive a Career Center internship grant only once.
- Student may not receive funding from any another Tufts affiliated program during the same summer (For example: Laidlaw, Summer Scholars, Tisch Summer Fellow, Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize, Ir Research Scholars, Lily Glidden Award, Polly Thayer Starr, etc.)
The following experiences are NOT eligible for grant funding:
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- Internships or research opportunities with Tufts University AS&E Faculty are not eligible. Students can apply for funding if they are doing research for Non-AS&E professors (Professors working at other Tufts schools/colleges — Medical, Nutrition, Fletcher, etc. — and not teaching undergraduate courses). See Summer Scholars Program for Tufts affiliated research opportunities.
- Internships involved in direct proselytizing for religious work (i.e. conversion to a religion, sect, or denomination) cannot be funded.
- Any international or domestic internship program where the participant is asked to Pay-to-participate, will not be funded.
- Host organization cannot be owned or run by a member of intern’s immediate family.
Internship Grants for Undergraduates
Tufts offers multiple grants to support summer internships. We consider applicants for all grants. Specialized Grants require additional “opt-in” and ask supplemental essay questions. Review the list below and consider which grants you qualify for before applying.
|
Grant Name
|
Description and Eligibility Requirements |
|---|---|
| Non-profit or Public Sector Internship Grants | Internships can be U.S.-based (non-profit or public sector) or international (non-profit only) |
| Tufts Diversity Internship Grants | Internships can be U.S.-based (non-profit or private sector) or international (non-profit only); Students must receive financial aid from Tufts |
| Entrepreneurial Internship Grants (Specialized) | For entrepreneurial internships. Internships can be U.S.-based (non-profit or private sector) |
| Bruce-Griffey Leadership (Specialized) | For internships in the non-profit or for-profit sectors; Preference will be given to students receiving financial aid, involved with the Africana Center, committed to leadership and diversity on campus and in the community, and invested in helping others and improving the life of Tufts’ dynamic and diverse community of students, faculty and alumni. |
| Norton Nickerson Grant for Internships in Environmental Studies | For internships in environmental studies; Preference will be given to Environmental Studies majors whose internship is in the field of environmental science. Internships can be U.S.-based (non-profit or private sector) or international (non-profit only). |
| Internships in Environmental Studies | For internships in environmental studies; Student must be Environmental Studies major whose internship is in the field of environmental science. Internships can be U.S.-based (non-profit or private sector) or international (non-profit only). |
| Sustainability Exploration Grant (Specialized) | For internships related to sustainability or resilience as defined by the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. Can be U.S.-based (non-profit or private sector) or international (non-profit only). Preference given to students from backgrounds not historically represented in U.S. environmental movements and those receiving financial aid from Tufts. |
| The Richard D. White, A76 and Family Endowed Internship Fund | For Internships that are innovative or create positive change on a large scale. Internships must be U.S.-based (non-profit, public sector or private sector). |
| Kim Family Grant | This grant supports a student currently enrolled in the Finance minor, and pursuing an internship in the finance sector. Preference will be given to students from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented within the Finance profession. |
| Gladys Brooks Foundation Fellowships (Specialized) | The Gladys Brooks Foundation Fellowship Grant offers BLAST Scholars essential financial support, empowering them to pursue internships that promote academic and professional development. Selection for these grants is based solely on educational achievements, leadership, and academic ability. This grant enables scholars to gain invaluable skills, expand their networks, explore diverse career pathways, and participate in experiential learning aligned with their academic and career aspirations. All funds awarded to the student are dedicated exclusively to the approved internship. |
| TUAA Summer Internship Grant |
The Tufts University Alumni Association (TUAA) Summer Internship Grant provides financial support to current students pursuing unpaid or low-paid summer internships. Funded through the TUAA Endowed Summer Internship Fund, these grants help cover essential expenses such as housing, transportation, and meals, ensuring that all students—regardless of financial circumstances—can access transformative career-building opportunities. Priority is given to internships involving Tufts alumni, creating meaningful connections between students and the alumni network. |
How to Apply
- Review eligibility requirements
- Secure internship and obtain offer letter from internship site*
- Prepare your resume
- Download/obtain unofficial transcript
- Review and plan for the application essay questions and learning goals [Sample]
- Register your travel (if you are applying to an opportunity that would take place outside the U.S.)**
*Offer letter: This should be on organization letterhead and include: 1) Confirmation of the position and title 2) Commitment to a minimum of 300 hours 3) Anticipated start/end dates 4) Frequency of supervision (how often will the intern meet with the supervisor) 5) Internship completion method (remote/hybrid/in-person). Employers should also familiarize themselves with the Tufts Employer Policies.
**Travel Review: Must be submitted by the grant application deadline of March 15, 2026. Please email your questions to sheryl.rosenberg@tufts.edu
Apply to receive a Tufts Career Center Summer Internship Grant
Important Dates
- Application Opens: Wednesday, Jan 14, 2026
- Application Deadline: Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST
- Award Notifications: Friday, April 3, 2026
- Acceptance Deadline: Friday, April 17, 2026
Essay Question Overview
-
Required Essay Questions
The application requires responses to the the following short answer essay questions:
- Describe your internship organization including size, mission, etc.
- Describe your internship responsibilities in detail
- What has led you to pursue this specific internship? How did you become interested in this type of work? (e.g., Tufts academic courses, previous work experience, volunteering, other)?
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Possible Supplemental Essay Questions
Based on the grants for which you’d like to be considered, or your previous experience, you may be asked to answering any of the following supplemental essay questions:
- If you have worked for the organization previously, you will be asked to discuss what distinguishes this opportunity as different from your prior experience with the organization
- For Bruce-Griffey Grant: Please describe the role of community leadership and diversity in your life
- For Sustainability Exploration Grant: For this grant, sustainability refers to practices that promote environmental health, climate resilience, and responsible resource use. Please explain how your internship aligns with these principles.
- Entrepreneurial Grants: What makes this internship a good fit for the Entrepreneurial Internship Program? How does the venture or role align with the program’s focus on early-stage companies and entrepreneurial work (e.g., new ventures under 10 years old, innovative roles in areas like product design, market research, or strategic planning)?
- In what year did this venture start? Would you also like to be considered for the Saul B. Hammond Fund for Social Entrepreneurship? This is for entrepreneurial internships with clear social impact missions and measurable outcomes. If yes, please describe the social impact mission of your organization along with a description of how outcomes are defined and measured.
Selection Criteria for All Internship Grants
Your essay responses, learning goals, and resume will be evaluated based on the following rubric.
The application process is competitive, and we do consider and prioritize financial aid status in the awarding of internship grants, however, you don’t have to be receive financial aid to apply for, or, receive the grant. All application materials should be thorough and complete. The proposal should demonstrate a clear relationship between a student’s planned internship and their career development goals.
Requirements for Grant Recipients
Students who receive a grant must complete the Summer Internship Grant Program, of which where are a number of required program components including:
- Attendance at mandatory pre-internship orientation
- Career Advising
- Informational Interview Report
- Resume Refresh
- Supervisor Evaluation
- Final Reflection Paper
- Internship Spotlight
- Additional requirements for donor-funded internship grant recipients through Tufts Advancement
- Possible additional requirements for international students receiving Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Failure to complete all 300 hours will affect compensation for this internship.
Please note: Student must contact the Career Center immediately in this case. Failure to complete the internship and outlined grant requirements, might be violation of the Tufts University Code of Conduct and could result in disciplinary action.
If you fail to complete the grant requirements or if you are terminated from your internship experience (or quit) you will be required to return a pro-rated amount of the grant to the Career Center.
