Each summer we fund 40-50 undergraduate students doing unpaid internships for a minimum of 300 hours. 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.
- Internship Grants for Undergraduates
- Application Process and Deadlines
- Components of a Complete Application
- Selection Criteria for All Internship Grants
- Requirements and Restrictions for Applicants
- Requirements for Grant Recipients; Allocation of Funding
- Internship Grant FAQs
Internship Grants for Undergraduates
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Grant Name
|
Description and 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); Must receive financial aid from Tufts |
| Entrepreneurial Internship Grants | For entrepreneurial internships. Internships can be U.S.-based (non-profit or private sector) |
| Bruce-Griffey Leadership and Diversity Internship Grants | 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). |
| Sustainability Exploration Grant | 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 | 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. |
| SMFA Internship Grant | For internships in the non-profit or for-profit sectors that will advance a student’s career knowledge and/or skills. This grant supports a student currently enrolled in either the BFA or BFA/BA program at SMFA and pursuing an internship to expand career access or creative skill building. Selection for this opportunity is based on demonstrated consistency of effort and energy for a student that would benefit from the opportunity to pursue an internship that supplements their career goals. |
Application Process and Deadlines
Apply to receive a Tufts Career Center Summer Internship Grant
- Internships must be unpaid (or paid up to $1,500 maximum)
- All funding applications for internships must be submitted by the deadline: Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST
- Initial funding decisions will be made by the Career Center on Friday, April 4, 2025
- Please note that all funding for internship opportunities outside the US must have their trip registered in the Tufts Travel Registry. Additional travel review may be required for some destinations.
Components of a Complete Application
Complete all relevant sections of online application including:
- Essay questions (see below for details)
- Resume (uploaded)
- Unofficial Transcript (uploaded)
- Offer letter from internship site (uploaded)*
- Completed learning goals [Sample]
- Completed travel review (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 16, 2025. Please email your questions to sheryl.rosenberg@tufts.edu
Essay Question Overview
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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 and AS&E Diversity Grants: Please describe the role of community leadership and diversity in your life
- Entrepreneurial Grants: Please describe the entrepreneurial aspects of your internship
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. The internship should allow the student to grow personally and professionally aligning with the following internship program outcomes:
Career Exploration: Reflect on and explore interests, values, strengths and skills in the workplace
Liberal Arts Skills: Build essential competencies including critical thinking, problem solving, oral/written communication, collaboration, and leadership
Intercultural Fluency: Increase cultural competence by engaging productively in a work environment with others from diverse cultures, races, ages, genders, sexual identities, and religions
Connections and Community: Gain exposure to, and build connections with, a variety of working professionals who share professional interests
Career Management: Continue gaining clarity on desired career goals and becoming able to identify areas for necessary professional growth and opportunities in the workplace
Requirements and Restrictions for Applicants
Please read carefully:
Internship must be secured at the time of application (offer letter will be submitted as part of the application)
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Who is eligible to apply?
- 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.)
- All applicants must be in good standing with the university, currently enrolled with an intent to enroll for the following semester (graduating seniors or seniors entering into the graduate portion of a combined program are ineligible).
- 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.
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What are the selection criteria?
To be eligible for a grant, your internship must meet the following criteria:
- Internship must be full time, totaling 300 hours, and completed by Aug 31. Independent and unsupervised internships will not be considered; students must be interning for a host organization
- Internship must be unpaid (you may receive up to $1,500 from the host organization and still be eligible)
- Internship must include formal supervision by professional at host site is provided to intern (at least once a week). Family members may not be supervisors
- 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.
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Which experiences are not eligible for the Career Center Summer Internship Grants?
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.
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Requirements for Grant Recipients; Allocation of Funding
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.
