Fund Unpaid Summer Internships

We aim to support as many students as possible, but funding is limited, so awards are made through a competitive review process. We encourage you to have a backup plan in case you don’t receive funding.

All applications are reviewed after the deadline. Funding decisions are typically shared by email about one month later (late April/early May).

What makes a strong application?

Strong applications clearly explain why this internship is a great fit for you and how it supports your goals. In your essay, be sure to:

• Describe what you hope to learn and the skills you’ll gain
• Connect the experience to your academic interests, values, and future plans
• Show that you’ve thoughtfully planned your internship

Start early. Don’t wait until the last minute. Taking time to reflect and write a clear, focused essay makes a big difference.

Résumé approval is required.

All applicants must have their résumé approved by a Peer Career Advisor (PCA) at Quick Questions before submitting their application in MiddApply. We strongly recommend doing this before you start applying for internships to give yourself the best chance of success. Résumés approved last year are still valid as long as you’ve added new experiences.

What the committee considers

Applications tend to be more competitive when students:

• Demonstrate financial need or receive financial aid
• Have longer internships (typically 8 weeks or more)
• Are juniors or seniors
• Submit a clear, compelling essay
• Have met with a CCI or CTLR advisor to discuss their plans

Any combination of these factors can strengthen your application.

Please note: internships should be one continuous experience, not multiple short experiences combined into one application.

Not receiving funding is not a judgment on the value of your internship. The committee makes difficult decisions due to limited funds. Applications focused primarily on offsetting lost summer wages (rather than supporting unpaid or low-paid internships) are generally less competitive.

Remote, hybrid, and in-person internships are all eligible for funding.

International internships are allowed for College-funded or College-sponsored experiences, but they require advance approval by the Global Operations Committee and travel registration, even if you’re traveling to your home country or doing a remote internship while abroad.

Below is what you need to do, step by step.

Step 1: Get travel approval (if required)

If you are traveling outside the U.S. (including to your home country), your destination’s U.S. State Department Travel Advisory level determines what approval is needed.

Check your destination’s travel advisory on the State Department website.

• Level 2 country with a Middlebury School Abroad
  → No additional review required
• Level 2 country without a Middlebury School Abroad
  → International Activity Review Form required and check the State Department Travel Advisory page
• Level 3 or Level 4 country (including your home country, whether your internship is in-person or remote)
  → International Activity Review Form required and check the State Department Travel Advisory page
  → Funding may be denied based on a College risk assessment

Important:
Submit the International Activity Review Form at the same time as (or earlier than) your funding application so the Global Operations Committee has time to review your request.

Step 2: Register your travel (required for all students)

If you are traveling outside the 48 contiguous U.S. states, including international locations, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico, you must complete the MANDATORY Travel Registration Form.

This allows Middlebury to:

• Know where students are located
• Communicate with you in an emergency
• Provide assistance if needed

Review 4 Simple Steps for Safer Travel for guidance.

Additional things to plan for

Plan ahead

International internships often take more time to arrange, especially if:

• A visa is required
• You’re coordinating travel after a study abroad experience

These internships can be a great way to explore careers in international development, business, teaching, languages, and more, but early planning is key.

Health, insurance, and registration requirements

If you receive internship funding and your internship is outside the U.S., you must:

• Register your travel online
• Have health, medical evacuation, and repatriation insurance

Insurance details:

• If you don’t already have coverage, you must enroll (approx. $75/month)
• International students interning in their home country do not need to purchase the insurance, but must still register their travel

You’ll receive specific instructions with your funding award notification.

Health & safety reminders

• Check CDC travel guidance
• Consult Parton Health Center and/or your health care provider about recommended vaccinations

If you’re unsure where your destination falls or want help planning next steps, reach out early, we’re here to help you navigate the process.

International students should stay up to date on ISSS Travel, Regulatory, and Information Updates, as changes to immigration or travel guidance may affect your summer plans.

Below is an overview of what to know, especially if you are in F-1 status.

Students on an F-1 visa may participate in paid or unpaid summer internships. If the internship is unpaid, you may apply to receive internship funding from the College. If participating in a paid or unpaid internship in the US or with a US employer, you will apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). To be eligible for CPT, you must have been lawfully enrolled as an F-1 student for a minimum of one full academic year,  the internship must be related to your major (or intended major), and you must also enroll in the field work course through the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey to earn credit that will allow you to be eligible to apply for CPT. Please see scenarios below to evaluate whether you need to apply for CPT and visit ISSS’ web site for more information about CPT.

International students in F-1 status:  Please see scenarios below that will indicate whether you need to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization. If applicable, follow the steps to obtain CPT as outlined below.

Internship scenarios and the need for CPT:

• International students who are inside the U.S. and have an internship with a U.S.-based organization need CPT authorization.
• International students who are outside the U.S. and have an internship with a U.S.-based organization might need CPT authorization (the organization would make this determination) *Consult with ISSS.
• International students who are inside the U.S. and have an internship with an organization based outside the U.S. are advised to obtain a letter from the organization confirming that no compensation is being provided. (CPT will not be issued in this situation.) *Consult with ISSS, if needed.
• International students who are outside the U.S. and who have an internship with an organization based outside the U.S. do not need CPT, which is a U.S.-based authorization. (Students should follow guidelines of the host country.)

Please see here for more information about the summer credit option.  

Please see instructions in previous FAQ (#2 in the list) about international internships if you plan to do an internship in your home country or anywhere outside of the US.  

A First-Year Explore Grant supports students who want to explore a career interest or field through a summer experience with an organization. Students receive a $1,000 grant from CCI to help support their internship.

Program basics

• Grant amount: $1,000
• Length: At least 4 weeks
• Time commitment: Minimum of 25 hours per week
• Format: Remote, in-person, or hybrid internships are allowed

Who is eligible?

• First-Years and First-Year Febs
  → Eligible for the $1,000 First-Year Explore Grant
  → Not eligible for the $4,000 competitive grants
• Sophomore Febs
  → May apply for either a First-Year Explore Grant or a $4,000 grant
• All First-Years and Sophomore Febs
  → Eligible to apply for CCI-Select or cohort internships (including MiddWorks for VT internships), which come with guaranteed funding

Required advising before you apply

Before submitting a First-Year Explore Grant application, you must complete both of the following:

1. Meet with a Peer Career Advisor (PCA)
   • Attend Quick Questions to have your résumé approved
   • Required: have your résumé reviewed and approved, before applying to positions
   • PCAs can help you create a résumé or strengthen one you already have
2. Meet with an advisor
   • Schedule an appointment with a CCI advisor via Handshake
   • For Health Professions or Science Research experiences, email Mary Lothrop or Hannah Benz at CTLR to schedule an appointment

After you’re awarded

• Students who receive a First-Year Explore Grant are required to attend a pre-internship training meeting in early May (date TBD)

If you’re not sure which funding option fits your class year or goals, CCI advisors are happy to help you think it through. 

Generally, no.

CCI does not fund self-directed projects or independent research where you are working on your own rather than for or with an organization.

If you’re pursuing one of these options, check out:

• The Innovation Hub for funding related to self-directed summer projects
• CTLR’s website for funding related to research experiences

Exception: Medical shadowing (limited cases)

In some cases, CCI may fund a medical shadowing experience if all of the following criteria are met:

• The experience meets internship length requirements:
  • 8 weeks at 30 hours/week, or
  • 4 weeks at 25 hours/week (Explore Grant)
• You have one physician or healthcare provider who:
  • Serves as your primary supervisor
  • Agrees to oversee your learning for the entire experience
• You can provide a compelling reason why:
  • The experience cannot be completed on your own time
  • You need funding to participate
    (Note: saving time to study for the MCAT does not qualify as a compelling reason)

Before applying for funding:
Once you have secured a shadowing experience, schedule an appointment with Hannah Benz, Pre-Health Advisor, to discuss whether your experience may be eligible.

If you’re unsure whether your experience counts as self-directed or organization-based, reach out early. We’re happy to help you figure out your best funding options.

Yes. You must have:

• Received an internship offer
• Accepted the offer
• Committed to completing that internship

You should only apply for funding for an internship you are confident you want to do.

Professional expectations

CCI expects students to conduct themselves professionally during the internship search. Once you have accepted an internship offer, you should:

• Withdraw applications from other employers or organizations
• Avoid continuing to interview for other positions

If you later change your mind:

• You cannot revise your funding application or submit a new one
• You will need to forfeit your funding

Exception:
An exception may be granted if an employer rescinds your internship offer.

Because we expect a large number of applicants, CCI generally does not accept late funding applications. Planning ahead and starting your internship search early is essential.

What you can do before the deadline

If you are applying to internships with later hiring timelines, consider the following:

• Let employers know you have the opportunity to apply for internship funding with an April 2 deadline
• Ask whether:
  • You might receive a decision by April 2, or
  • They can indicate whether you are a strong candidate

If you don’t have an internship by April 2

If you need funding and do not have a confirmed internship by April 2, you should plan for alternative options, which may include securing a paid position.

Limited exception for late applications

This exception is very limited.

If you are reading this after April 2, 2026 and expect to receive a confirmed internship offer by April 21, you may submit one late funding application only after your internship is secured.

Important details:

• No applications will be accepted after April 21
• Late applications will be placed in pending status
• Applications will be reviewed only if funding remains available (no guarantees)
• You will be notified of a decision by mid-May
• Late applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis, depending on remaining funds
• The process is more competitive than the original application round
• If awarded, funding will be deposited mid–to–late June

Before submitting:
Be sure your résumé has been approved prior to submitting your application.

For questions about late applications, contact Jillian MacArthur.

If you’re unsure about your timing or want help strategizing, connect with a CCI advisor as early as possible.

Yes. There are several types of experiences that CCI typically does not fund, along with a few limited exceptions outlined below.

Experiences CCI typically does not fund

• Classes, trainings, or fee-based programs
  (except Arts Grants), including:
  • Third-party internship providers
  • Retreats, workshops, or programs that charge a participation fee (e.g., yoga retreats)
• On-campus summer undergraduate research with Middlebury faculty
  → These positions are funded through the Undergraduate Research Office (CTLR)
• Paid internships
  → Exception below for very low-paid internships
• Internships supervised by a family member
• Experiences funded by another Middlebury office or program
  → Exception below for Cross-Cultural Community Engagement grant

Limited exceptions to be aware of

Fee-based experiences (limited cases)

CCI may consider funding only if:

• The majority of the experience is an internship, and
• The internship portion alone meets minimum time requirements:
  • 8 weeks at 30 hours/week, or
• The participation fee is primarily to cover housing costs

Low-paid internships (supplement grants)

CCI does not fund fully paid internships, but may provide a supplement grant for very low-paid internships, defined as:

• Less than $4,000 total compensation for an 8-week (or longer) experience
• Not available for Explore Grants

How this works:

• You must apply using the $4,000 grant application
• Explain your compensation clearly in your application narrative
• If selected, CCI may award a supplement so your total summer compensation equals $4,000

Example:
If your employer pays $2,000, CCI may award a $2,000 supplement.

**IMPORTANT

Any compensation you receive, such as:

• Housing or transportation stipends from your employer, or
• Support from organizations like Posse

will be deducted from your CCI grant to ensure equity across awards.

For questions about low-paid internships, contact Jill MacArthur.

Except for Arts Grants, CCI typically does not fund classes, trainings, or experiences with organizations that charge a fee for participation, e.g. third party internship providers, yoga retreats, etc. We may make exceptions if the majority of the experience is an internship and the internship portion itself, without the curricular portion, meets the minimum time requirements for funding (8 weeks long and 30 hours per week) or if the fee is charged mainly to pay for housing.  

CCI does not fund on-campus summer undergraduate research positions with Middlebury faculty because these positions are funded by Middlebury’s Undergraduate Research Office in the CTLR.  

We do not fund paid internships unless it is a very low-paid internship (i.e. less than $4000 for an eight-week experience or more). In this case, we may choose to provide a supplement grant to bump you up to the equivalent of $4000 (not available for Explore Grants).  For instance, if you are receiving a $2000 from your employer, you may apply for CCI funding and if you are selected for funding, we might award you a $2000 supplement grant so that your total compensation for the summer would equal what other students are receiving from CCI. Students in this position should use the $4000 grant application form and explain your situation and financial compensation in your narrative. If you are receiving any compensation from your employer such a housing or transportation stipend, or from an organization that supports you such as Posse, you can expect that CCI will deduct that amount of money from your internship grant in order to make your award consistent with what other students are receiving.  Contact Cheryl Whitney Lower at clower@middlebury.edu if you have questions about a low paid internship. 

CCI does not generally fund students who receive funding by another Middlebury program or office. The exception is if you are taking part in an intercultural experience that benefits the community, it is possible to combine a CCI grant with a Cross-Cultural Community Engagement grant through the Center for Community Engagement. 

CCI does not fund experiences where a family member is serving as your supervisor.

An affiliation agreement is a written contract detailing the legal obligations of both the school and the experiential learning site to facilitate experiential learning for students. Middlebury College does not enter into such agreements, meaning you would not be able to accept an internship that requires an affiliation agreement for participation. 

No. You do not need to submit a budget as part of your funding application.

However, CCI strongly recommends using the Budget Planning Template (see next FAQ) to estimate your summer expenses and determine whether the grant amount you’re applying for, typically $4,000 or $1,000, will make the experience financially realistic for you.

Why budgeting matters

Using the budget template can help you:

• Understand the true cost of your internship
• Decide whether an unpaid internship is feasible
• Determine whether a paid internship or summer job might be a better option

Some students use the template and realize that an unpaid internship is not financially workable for them and that’s an important insight before applying.

How grant amounts work

CCI offers set grant amounts, which gives you flexibility and decision-making power over your summer plans.

Keep in mind:

• If your costs are higher than the grant, you’ll need to cover the difference (for example, through savings or a part-time job)
• If your costs are low (e.g., living at home or completing a remote internship), the grant may help offset lost summer wages

**IMPORTANT note on competitiveness:

Applications from students not receiving financial aid who are applying primarily to offset lost wages tend to be less competitive.

Think of CCI grants as support to help make your internship possible, not necessarily full funding for all summer expenses. If you have questions about planning or affordability, a CCI advisor can help you think through your options.

Yes! Creating a summer budget and thinking carefully about how much money you’ll need, is an important part of planning your internship and a valuable learning experience in itself.

Use the Budget Template to plan your expenses and estimate your total summer costs.

Budget planning guidelines

Below are general guidelines to help you think through common expenses. Actual costs will vary based on your location and situation.

Food

• A typical food budget is approximately $75–$125 per week
• Costs may be higher in major cities or if you eat out frequently

Housing

Housing costs can vary widely and often make up the largest expense of a summer internship.

• University-sponsored internship housing (e.g., NYU housing in NYC) can be very expensive and may exceed your entire funding allocation
• At the same time, plan for safe and reasonable housing, not sleeping on someone’s floor

Tips for finding housing:

• Start your search early
• Explore options like Airbnb, short-term sublets, or house-sitting
• Use your networks, including Middlebury Alumni Communities in various cities

**Typical housing costs range from $800–$2,000+ per month, depending on location.

Transportation

Be sure to budget for:

• Travel to and from your internship location
• Local transportation, such as:
  • Subway or bus passes
  • Train fare
  • Gas and tolls
  • Daily commuting costs

Other funding and support

It’s okay if your internship provides limited financial support, such as:

• A subway or transit pass
• Help with housing
• Daily lunch passes

You must disclose all forms of support in your funding application so CCI can calculate your award accurately and equitably.

If you’re unsure how to estimate costs or want help thinking through your budget, a CCI advisor is happy to help you plan.

Once you’ve reviewed all the information on this page and completed the steps in the Quick Guide, you’re ready to apply.

Before applying, make sure you have:

• A CCI-approved résumé (Visit Quick Question drop-in hours)
• A completed essay
• Any additional paperwork required for international internships (see the International Internships FAQ)

All required forms and templates are linked on this page.

How to submit your application

Applications are submitted through MiddApply.

• Log in to MiddApply using your Middlebury username and password
• Select CCI Application for Funding/Credit
• Complete all required questions
  • Copy and paste your essay into the application
  • Upload your CCI-approved résumé
• Carefully read the Internship Funding Agreement
  • This document outlines important conditions you must follow if you accept funding
  • Sign the agreement only after reading it in full

Important communication reminder

• All application-related communication will be sent via email
• Check your inbox, clutter, spam, and junk folders daily
• Failure to respond to emails may result in your application being declined

If you run into issues or have questions before submitting, reach out early so we can help you stay on track.

Below is what to expect after you apply, including notification timing, payment details, and required next steps.

When you’ll hear about funding

• Funding decisions will be sent via Handshake email by end of day (TBD)
• Be sure to check your Middlebury inbox, spam, junk, and clutter folders, as application emails may be filtered

**IMPORTANT: Failure to respond to emails by stated deadlines may result in your award being withdrawn.

When you’ll receive your funding

If you are awarded funding and complete all required steps on time:

• Funds are typically deposited in early to mid-June
• Make sure your direct deposit information is entered correctly

Plan ahead:
Because funds may not arrive until mid-June, you may need to:

• Budget carefully at the start of the summer, or
• Arrange to start your internship later to align with the payment schedule

Direct deposit & payment issues

• Incorrect or missing direct deposit information will result in delayed or withheld payment
• If you do not see your funds by early to mid-June, contact the Accounts Payable Office at ap@gmhec.org

Important notes for international students

• All funded interns must attend a mandatory pre-internship training meeting Monday, May 4th at 7:00 PM in Dana Auditorium 
• Attendance is required and will be recorded
• Students who do not attend risk losing their funding or sponsorship

If you have an extenuating circumstance (such as study abroad), contact Jill MacArthur in advance.

Grant requirements

All grant requirements are outlined in the Internship Funding Agreement.

• You will be asked to read the agreement carefully as part of your funding application
• Accepting funding means you agree to all terms and conditions in the agreement

If you have questions after receiving your award, reach out early. We’re here to help you stay on track.

Do I still need to submit a funding application if I’m selected?

Yes. If you are selected for a CCI-Select, MiddWorks for Vermont, or other Cohort internship (all posted in Handshake), your internship includes funding from CCI but funding is not automatic.

Funding is contingent on:

• Submitting a funding application in MiddApply
• Completing all required paperwork
• Meeting eligibility criteria (outlined below)

Eligibility requirements

To receive funding, you must:

• Be in good academic and judicial standing
• Be an enrolled student in Spring 2026 and Fall 2026
• Have at least one semester remaining after the summer
• Not be planning to transfer in the fall

A final eligibility check is completed with class deans and other administrators.

Funding timeline

• Funding will be deposited in your account by approximately June 6, pending final eligibility confirmation
• You will receive an award email from internships@middlebury.edu with instructions on how to submit your funding application

**IMPORTANT: Please wait for your award email before applying, or contact internships@middlebury.edu if you have questions.

Housing eligibility (select cohorts only)

• MiddWorks for Vermont cohort interns working in-person or hybrid with Vermont-based organizations may request:
  • Middlebury campus housing or
  • Burlington-based housing (after accepting the internship offer)
• Vermont Business Strategy and Consulting Cohort interns are also eligible for on-campus housing

More information about Summer 2026 housing fees and dining plans will be posted separately.

**Note: CCI provides Residential Life with a list of confirmed, funded students approved for summer housing.

Program requirements

All funded students are expected to:

• Attend the mandatory pre-internship training meeting
• Complete a mid-internship reflection
• Submit final evaluations
• Complete a Career Readiness Inventory
• Submit a photo and a donor update letter

MiddWorks for Vermont and diiVe interns may have additional required meetings or activities.

If you’re unsure whether your internship qualifies as a CCI-Select or cohort experience, or if you have questions about next steps, contact internships@middlebury.edu for guidance.