The Graduate School’s Careers Beyond Academia initiative invites applications for Summer 2026 Internship Funding.

We are offering two awards of up to $3,000 to support Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences PhD students pursuing an unpaid or minimally paid, 8-week, part-time summer internship (up to 20 hours/week) between June and August.

This program is designed to support doctoral students seeking to gain professional experience beyond traditional academic pathways and outside their student’s home department while continuing to advance their scholarly and career development goals.

Eligible employers may include:

• Community organizations
• Government agencies
• NGOs
• Cultural institutions

Internships at for-profit organizations are not eligible at this time.

Students are responsible for securing their own internship, but Careers Beyond Academia is available to help with internship search strategies, career advising, and application materials. Schedule an appointment with MJ Mosereiff at Bookings.

Award Details

• Funding Amount: up to $3,000 per student to support eligible internships
• Number of Awards: 2
• Internship Duration: 8 weeks (between June–August)
• Time Commitment: Up to 20 hours/week total, including the internship and any other Graduate School employment or assistantship commitments.

Funding situations vary across fields, so selected applicants may be asked to coordinate with their Graduate Field Assistant (GFA) to confirm eligibility.

Purpose

This funding supports doctoral students in pursuing internships that:

• Provide meaningful professional experience beyond dissertation research
• Develop transferable skills for roles in industry
• Expand professional networks
• Clarify career interests and opportunities

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be enrolled in a Cornell Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Ph.D. program and be enrolled in the semester before and after the internship.
• Not have full summer funding from other sources (summer fellowships and assistantships).
• Have a confirmed internship offer prior to the funding deadline.
• Be in good academic standing.

Application Materials

Applicants must submit:

1. Letter of Support from Primary Faculty Advisor
   Indicating how the proposed internship will enhance the student’s professional development.
2. Current Resume
3. Narrative Statement (maximum 600 words)
   The narrative should:
   • Describe the proposed internship activities
   • Explain how the experience aligns with the applicant’s academic, research, and/or professional goals
   • Demonstrate how the internship will build skills beyond those typically developed through dissertation research and writing
   • Briefly describe how the funding would support their ability to participate in the internship
   • If remote, explain why the format is appropriate and beneficial
4. Letter from the Host Organization
   The letter must:
   • Describe the anticipated internship activities
   • Identify the student’s supervisor and contact information
   • Explain the nature of engagement with staff
   • Compensation (if any)
   • Confirm an 8-week engagement (June–August), up to 20 hours per week
   • If remote, explain how the arrangement will function effectively

Timeline

• Application Opens: March 16
• Application Deadline: May 1
• Funding Decisions Announced: By May 8

Expectations of Awardees

Recipients will be required to:

• Enroll in GRAD 9045: Graduate school internship program for fields in the arts, humanities, and social sciences | 4 credits, NG, no cost
• Enroll in GRAD 9016: Summer Research | 6 credits, NG, no cost
• Complete the 8-week internship as proposed
• Submit a short post-internship reflection or public-facing summary describing their experience and professional takeaways (e.g., blog post, newsletter feature, or written reflection) highlighting skills gained and career insights

Click Here to apply for the summer internship funding opportunity.

Questions may be directed to:
MJ Mosereiff
Graduate Career Exploration Specialist
mm2478@cornell.edu