Internship Funding

CentreTerm 2025: November 11, 2024
Summer: April 10, 2024

To apply for funding, complete the Internship Learning Agreement  and Internship Funding Application. DO NOT complete the Internship Learning Agreement form until you have secured your internship with an assigned on-site supervisor as well as a faculty mentor.

Please review the Internship Funding Guide before submitting your application for more information about application and internship learning agreement requirements.

Who is eligible for internship funding?
Any current Centre sophomore, junior, or senior with an unpaid or low-paid internship is eligible.  You are eligible to apply the summer after your first year.

Do I have to receive financial aid at Centre to receive funding?
No.  While financial need is a consideration in the application review process, it is not a requirement to receive funding.

I received funding last year.  Can I apply again this year?
Yes, you may apply in multiple years. 

Can I receive funding for an internship abroad?
Yes, however, the CCPD may not fund an experience in an area that is under U.S. State Department Travel Advisory level 3 or 4.  If your internship is located in a country at these levels, please contact Sharon Duncan to request an exemption before applying for funding.  Students pursuing international travel are strongly encouraged to review the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory and the Centers for Disease Control Travel Health Notice online for their destination country and to follow the State Department’s Traveler’s Checklist.

Are internships around Danville considered for funding?
All internships are considered for funding, but internships with higher costs associated with them are given priority.

I have secured an internship for the summer that is paid—can I still apply for internship funding?
You may apply for additional funding if you will receive less than $5000 in salary and if the expenses for the internship exceed the amount you will be paid.

Can internship funding be used to support research with Centre faculty?
No, internship funding cannot be used to support research with Centre faculty.  The Faculty Development Committee supports research with Centre faculty.  See a faculty member for details.

Applying for Funding

Completed the non-credit or academic-credit internship learning agreement and an online funding application that includes basic information about you and the internship, an essay section that addresses the relevance of the proposed internship to your career interests and a description of steps you have taken to explore this career field, a resume (upload), and a proposed expense budget.

All paperwork must be on file with the payroll office before funding application is reviewed

After Submitting a Proposal

You should receive an email once you’ve submitted your internship funding application with a copy of all of your answers, and you will receive an email that will allow you to check the status of your internship learning agreement throughout the process. 

Approval Process

Once the CCPD pre-approves your internship learning agreement, the system will automatically send approval request emails to your supervisor and faculty mentor, in that order.  They will approve the ILA through DocuSign with a special link they receive.  You can track your ILA’s approval process using the link in your initial email.

How Proposals are Evaluated

All proposals are evaluated on the quality of the materials submitted, how connected the internship is to career exploration so far, the expected quality of the experience, the costs associated with the internship, and the quality of the academic component and/or required readings (academic-credit internships only) or the quality of the assigned readings by the internship supervisor (non-credit internships).

Decisions are finalized 2-3 weeks after the deadline.

Internship funds

Applications and requests for funding consistently outweigh available funds. Last year, 35 students received an average of $2700 to support their funding experiences. Each summer, funding levels differ.  Check with your career coach to find out how many awards we expect to give out this year.

Academic credit for Summer Internships

You can receive academic credit for your summer internship. A three-credit internship in the summer costs $375.

Help

If you need help, make an appointment with your career coach or stop by the CCPD for a drop-in appointment with a peer educator. Students studying off-campus can email their career coach with questions.

Late Proposals

Late proposals will be considered only after on-time proposals are reviewed (and only with the approval of the CCPD). Typically, there are no funds available after initial decisions have been made.

When to Apply

You must apply for internship funding by the deadline to be considered. The internship funding application should be completed to the best of your ability and submitted by the deadline. DO NOT complete an internship learning agreement until you have secured your internship. You should also email a letter that explains the circumstances and why the proposal is incomplete (in pdf or Word format) to sharon.duncan@centre.edu.

You should apply for funding for just one internship, even if you are waiting to hear back from several.  If you don’t end up getting the internship you originally applied with and would like to apply with another, you must provide new and updated information for the final internship you select. Your application will then be reconsidered with this experience in mind. There is no guarantee that funding will still be awarded based on this new experience. 

Applying for more Than One Internship

You cannot apply for funding for each internship, but you can apply for a summer experience that includes two internships.  You must complete one funding application that includes all details for each internship and an internship learning agreement for each internship separately. We will require confirmation from both internships if awarded funds. Only one award would be granted even though you are doing two internships, and the total received cannot exceed $5000.

Changing Internships

Contact Sharon Duncan at sharon.duncan@centre.edu immediately for the new internship to be reconsidered for funding. It is not guaranteed that the new internship will receive the same level of funding or funding at all. It is rare that funding can be increased after final decisions have been made.

There is no minimum amount a student can be awarded. You may not receive more than $5000 combined (internship salary/scholarship funding plus Centre internship funding) for your summer experience. Typical awards range from $250-$5000. The average award in summer 2019 was about $2700. The maximum award for CentreTerm is typically $1000. Please note that all awards are considered taxable income. Internship funding is subject to applicable federal, state, and local income taxes and FICA. Students are responsible for correct tax reporting.

This year, the CCPD expects to award about $175,000 through the internship funding process.

Summer funds are typically distributed in May and/or August, depending on the source of the funds. Your award letter will give specific details for each award.

Shepherd Consortium Internship Program

Description: An eight-week internship with an agency working in a disadvantaged community. Each student works with Internship Director and Consortium Director to determine an internship that fits his or her intellectual interests and/or a potential area of professional interest. The agencies represent many fields of interest, including education, healthcare, legal services, housing, social and economic needs, and community-building efforts.
Eligibility: Students with a minimum of 2.5 GPA. Sophomores and juniors (rising juniors and seniors). Students must have taken or intend to take a course related to poverty studies at Centre College. (Contact Dr. Ellen Prusinski for a list of available courses.)
Award: $1000 food and commuter stipend; housing during internship; opening and closing conference travel, attendance and housing.
Deadline: Contact the organization

Black Girl 44 Scholarship

Description: This private and independent initiative awards three $1,500 scholarships to Black/African-American women college students who have earned a Washington, D.C. internship that relates to policy, community engagement, community service, advocacy, global relations or politics.
Eligibility: Black/African-American women college students who have earned a Washington, D.C. internship that relates to policy, community engagement, community service, advocacy, global relations or politics.
Award: $1500
Deadline: Unknown

LatinX 44 Scholarship

Description: The program will award at least 10 scholarships to Latinx students to help fund an unpaid or underfunded public service oriented internship in Washington, DC or virtually (given the pandemic). In addition, scholarship recipients will be paired with a mentor and professional development opportunities throughout the program and beyond.
Eligibility: Be a current college or graduate student or 2020 or 2021 graduate (college includes community, technical, online, and other educational programs), identify as Latinx/a/o, secured an identified public service internship in Washington, DC for summer.
Award: $1500
Deadline: May 1

EPSCoR Internship Program

Description: KY NSF EPSCoR provides financial support for Kentucky postsecondary undergraduate students to sponsor their internship experience with science and tech companies with an operating presence in Kentucky.
Eligibility: Student must be current undergraduate student enrolled in a Kentucky institution. The internship organization must be located in Kentucky.
Award: Up to $15/hour
Deadline: June (for the following summer)

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

Description: The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards for undergraduate study abroad and was established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000. This scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Eligibility: The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is open to all U.S. citizen undergraduates, in good academic standing, who meet the following criteria: 1) The applicant must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant or provide proof that they will be receiving a Pell Grant at the time of application or during the term of his/her study abroad program or internship. 2)The applicant is applying to or has been accepted into a study abroad program or internship eligible for credit by the student’s accredited institution of higher education in the U.S. 3) The applicant is studying or interning abroad for at least four weeks in one country. Programs going to more than one country are eligible if the student will be in one country for at least four consecutive weeks. 4) The applicant is studying or interning abroad in any country except Cuba or a country on the U.S. Department of State’s current Travel Warning list.
Award: Up to $5000
Deadline: October 2 (summer early application deadline); March 6 (summer application deadline)

The Kentucky Society of Washington, D.C. Henry Clay Scholarship

Description: The internships provide an outstanding opportunity for promising students from Kentucky colleges and universities to be placed in an office of a member of the Kentucky congressional delegation or an office of the executive branch for a six to eight week summer internship.
Eligibility: The program is open to students at Kentucky colleges or universities who will be rising juniors or seniors at the time of the internship. They must have a serious interest in pursuing a career in public service for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Award: $4000
Deadline: contact the organization

Google Policy Fellowship

Description: The Google Policy Fellowship program offers undergraduate, graduate, and law students interested in Internet and technology policy the opportunity to spend the summer contributing to the public dialogue on these issues, and exploring future academic and professional interests.
Eligibility: Students from all majors and degree programs who possess the following qualities are encouraged to apply: demonstrated or stated commitment to Internet and technology policy; excellent academic record, professional/extracurricular/volunteer activities, subject matter expertise; first-rate analytical, communications, research, and writing skills; ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and efficiently, and to work smartly and resourcefully in a fast-paced environment.
Award: $7500
Deadline: March

Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership Scholarship Program

Description: CAPAL’s Public Service Scholarship Program awards scholarships to undergraduate or graduate students who will be serving in unpaid public service internships (nonprofit or government) this summer in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region. The scholarships are intended to enable outstanding students with leadership potential to intern full-time and learn about ways to influence public policy in their local communities and the APA community. Recipients of the CAPAL scholarships are responsible for securing their own public service internships.
Eligibility: Demonstrated commitment to public service, including service to the APA community; Demonstrated leadership and potential for continued growth in leadership skills; Washington, DC internship relevant and consistent with overall public sector goals; Academic achievement; and Financial need.
Award: $3500
Deadline: March

National Institute of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program

Description: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) offers competitive scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research. The program offers scholarship support, paid research training at the NIH during the summer, and paid employment and training at the NIH after graduation.
Eligibility: U.S.A. citizen or U.S.A. permanent resident. Enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time student at an accredited 4-year undergraduate institution located in the United States of America. Undergraduate University Grade Point Average of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0-point scale or within the top 5 percent of your class. Having ‘Exceptional Financial Need’ as certified by your undergraduate institution financial aid office.
Award: The NIH UGSP will pay up to $20,000 per academic year in tuition, educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses to scholarship recipients. Scholarships are awarded for 1 year, and can be renewed up to 4 years.
Deadline: March

The Getty Foundation

Description: The Getty Foundation supports more than 100 internship positions at organizations throughout Los Angeles County. Students apply directly to the participating organizations. A list of all available positions will be posted on their website in late March 2013.
Eligibility: Students must: Be of African American, Asian, Latino/Hispanic, Native American, or Pacific Islander descent; Be currently enrolled undergraduates. Students must have completed at least one semester of college by June 2013. Students graduating in Spring 2013 are also eligible. (Students who are enrolled in a second BA or BS program are not eligible.); Reside or attend college in Los Angeles County; and Be a United States citizen or permanent resident.
Award: $5500
Deadline: February

Christianson Grant

Description: The Christianson Grant is awarded to individuals who have arranged their own work abroad programs. Proposed programs must be at least six months in length and emphasize a work component. The grant program does not support independent research projects or academic study abroad programs.
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents; between the ages of 18 and 28; participating in a work, internship or volunteer program abroad; committed to a program duration of at least 6 months; willing to submit a written report upon completion of the program.
Award: $2500-$10,000
Deadline: March, July and October