What is the Internship Awards Program?
The Internship Awards Program provides summer funding to master’s degree students at Brandeis International Business School who undertake unpaid or highly underpaid summer internships to help offset living expenses. Applicants that meet the application criteria usually receive awards ranging between $1,000 – $5,000.
The application is currently open in Slate and has a firm deadline of May 15, 2023, at 5PM EDT.
How do I know if I am eligible?
This program is open to all students at the International Business School. Students must meet the following criteria to be considered eligible:
- Accepted a Full-Time Internship
- Received an offer letter for a full time graduate-level internship opportunity and accepted the offer
- Must be in Good Academic & Community Standing
- Must be residing in the United States at the time of the internship
- If you are an international student, you must be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
- CPT is available for International Students who have been at the business school for 2 semesters and have been in-residence for 9 months
- See your ISSO advisor on questions relating to CPT
What do I need to apply?
The application requires three documents:
- Updated Resume
- Employer Verification Form
- Download and provide this form to your employer for completion
- Either the student or employer may directly upload this form via Slate
- Statement of Purpose
- Write a brief essay explaining why you have selected this specific internship opportunity, how it supports your career goals, and what you anticipate your summer experience will look like
- Please share any other relevant information to assist the committee with its decision-making
How will I get paid?
Awards are provided in the form of a lump sum payment through direct deposit and processed by the Workday student payroll system. Massachusetts and U.S. federal taxes may apply.
If you are an international student, you must be authorized to work through CPT. Payment requires that you have a social security number at the time of your application (SEE THE ISSO WEBSITE FOR GUIDELINES).
If you have any questions during the application process, please contact globalcareers@brandeis.edu. Also feel free to contact Debbie Berechman (dberech@brandeis.edu, Lemberg 249) or Victoria Tran and Ryan Olthoff in the CSE Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I have two part-time opportunities instead of a full-time opportunity?
The committee will consider your application (you must include information about both jobs); priority, however, will be given to students undertaking full-time opportunities.
What if my internship has flexible work hours, or the work hours are not mentioned in the contract?
The expectation is that students will work full-time, 35-40 hours per week for at least 8-10 weeks. If your contract doesn’t specify work hours, please ask your supervisor to include this information in the Employer Verification Form. If most work weeks are less than 30 hours, it will be considered a part-time position and priority will be given to students with full-time positions.
What if I have a paid internship, but it isn’t enough to cover my living expenses?
Our goal is to help as many students with summer internships as possible. As part of the application process, you would be required to outline your expected work experience, what the company is offering (this can be done in your statement of purpose), and your anticipated living expenses for the summer. The committee will take your application into consideration based on the cost of living at the internship location and the percentage of expenses covered by your earnings.
Priority will be given to students with unpaid internships, but if you anticipate financial hardship because of a low wage, you are encouraged to apply.
