Center for Career Design Internship Funding

Application Process

We have reached our funding cap for Winter 2026. Occasionally, additional funds become available. If you would like to be added to a waiting list for consideration if we have a change in fund availability, please complete this survey.

Important Dates

  • Application for SP26 funding opens in mid-January.
  • Priority deadline for Spring 2026 funding: February 8.
  • Application form Summer 2026 will open at the beginning of Spring term.
  • Priority deadline for Summer funding: May 3.

Funding Guidelines

  • This funding is open to all undergraduate Dartmouth students during a leave term or interim. 
  • Applicants must be currently enrolled Dartmouth students and enrolled at least one term following the internship. 
  • Applicants must be in good standing with the College and eligible to participate in College-sponsored programs.
  • Students must meet with a coach prior to submitting an application.
  • Students who have received Center for Career Design funding in the past may apply; however, priority consideration is given to those who have not received funding before.
  • Awards are intended to offset the costs of an unpaid or low-pay internship experiences and are not compensation.
  • Award amounts will vary based on a number of factors, including the MIT Living Wage calculator for your specific internship location and any wage or stipend you receive. (The average award for Fall 205 interns was $4,850.)
  • International students in F-1 or J-1 status should consult with their OVIS advisor before accepting any internship offer to determine whether the proposed activity is permissible under the F-1 or J-1 rules and before accepting any funding that might jeopardize status.
  • Students who are receiving financial aid are encouraged to talk with their financial aid officer about the impact of an internship and any funding on financial aid status . 
  • Applicants whose proposal is accepted by more than one department or program will be required to choose only one grant.
  • If you have not fully secured your internship by the application deadline, you may still apply for funding. If approved, you will need to provide documentation for your experience (i.e., employer letter) before we can disburse funds.
  • Your application and your written proposal must be your own work and conform to Dartmouth College’s Academic Honor Principle.

  • Schedule a meeting with a coach. (This is a prerequisite to funding.)
  • Prepare your budget and proposal .
  • Communicate with your internship host. To complete your application, you will need an offer letter, although you may apply before you have secured this letter. Here is a sample template you could share with your internship host, if needed. Your letter should be on company letterhead or from the official email address of your hiring manager and must state:
    • Internship Position Title
    • Start Date & End Date
    • Hours per week
    • Wage/Stipend or statement that internship is unpaid
    • Duties and learning objectives (or attach description).  
  • If your internship will take you outside the US, there are extra preparation steps you will need to take before applying. Please see International Internships below.

Internships that entail travel outside of the United States have additional considerations. Students who receive of Center for Career Design funds for international internships must review the following:

  • Applicants must indicate acceptance of the award by signing and returning a Funding Release. (Release is provided with the decision notification.)
  • Once the Center for Career Design has received the Release, the disbursement process is initiated with the Finance Center. The estimated time for the processing to complete is 1-2 weeks.
  • Funds are disbursed by direct deposit unless student requests a check payment. If you request funding by check, checks should be deposited within 90 days of receipt. Checks will not be reissued after they have expired.
  • All awards are considered taxable income. 

  • Recipients are responsible for conducting themselves in accordance with acceptable standards of behavior in the place or places where the proposed activities are to be conducted and, if required, for securing governmental or other approvals needed to conduct the proposed project.
  • Recipients must notify the Center for Career Design immediately if there are any changes to the timeline or nature of the project.
  • Recipients will be asked to share thoughts and expertise about their experiential learning activity with the Dartmouth community. This may include participating in general information sessions, contributing to promotional items (i.e., newsletters, TV screens, social media, marketing materials), debriefing with a career coach, etc. Information may be used in annual reports and/or shared with donors.
  • Recipients are expected to complete the number of weeks as listed in the funding application unless other arrangements have been made.

Can students receive funding for an on-term internship?  

Funding is intended to offset the costs of taking on an internship and is not intended to be in lieu of compensation.  In an on-term, living expenses for an internship will not be considered. If there are additional costs incurred as a result of taking on the internship these may be considered. e.g. mileage for driving to and from the internship site or protective clothing needed for outdoor or lab work.

Can students receive funding for on campus research?

Center for Career Design funds are not available for research activities during an on-campus term. Please reach out to SURFD or your academic department for ideas on funding your research. Research internships during a a leave term will be considered as funding allows.

Can a student apply retroactively?  

No.

Can a student apply after the start of the internship? 

The Center for Career Design will occasionally consider funding once an internship is under way if there are extenuating circumstances. 

Is there a min/max number of weeks the Center will fund? 

Funds are usually for 8-12 weeks. We will not fund for weeks that fall in an on-campus term. (e.g. we can fund weeks that fall before classes start or after classes end in the leave term, but not weeks that on-term is in session. )

My internship host says they can only offer me an internship if I can demonstrate that I have $XXX in funding. Will Center for Career Design provide that?

Center for Career Design internship funding is intended to offset the cost of taking on an unpaid internship and is not in lieu of compensation. As such , we cannot match a specific required pay rate. The amount you would be eligible to receive takes into account a number of factors in your application, such as cost of living in the city where the internship takes place, your housing costs, and transportation needs. Each award is different, but our average award in recent terms has been $4,800 for 10 weeks.

What if a student changes their internship plan after receiving funding?

The student must notify the Center. If an internship is incomplete, students will be expected to return a prorated portion of the funds.