Internship Funding
To support students in reaching their career goals and help offset cost of living expenses during the internship experience, Career Advancement offers a limited pool of funding for unpaid, student-sourced opportunities in industries that traditionally do not offer intern compensation. Funding is provided through the University’s Jeff Metcalf Internship Program.
The primary grant for summer internships is the Metcalf Summer Experience Grant, and there are several additional potential funding sources depending on the nature of your opportunity (see "Funding Sources by Opportunity Type" section below). Reference the Metcalf Summer Experience Grant application timeline for 2025-26 Academic Year.
In response to high student demand for summer funding and to support as many students as possible, the Metcalf Summer Experience Grant only funds summer experiences.
If you're interested in an academic-year position, our career advisers are happy to meet with you to discuss your career goals and explore strategies such as applying for paid on-campus employment positions and paid off-campus internships. Schedule an appointment on Handshake – we look forward to working with you!
As part of the University’s financial aid support of Odyssey Scholars, limited funding is available to support academic year, unpaid internships for Odyssey students. Learn more on the Odyssey Career Resource Center.
While all of these grants are highly competitive, career advisers are available to help you create a back-up plan. Your adviser can support you with finding paid opportunities and introducing you to potential employers.
Eligible Experiences
All currently enrolled, active undergraduates are eligible to apply for Metcalf grants. Students’ self-sourced opportunity should be a substantive, high-quality experience:
Work structure: Internships can be remote, in-person, or hybrid. Hybrid and in-person opportunities receive priority consideration.
Guided experience: Students should have a direct supervisor who will provide ongoing support, coaching, and mentorship.
Location: Metcalf grants support internships with off-campus employers. Limited funding is available for on-campus positions in healthcare, law, and STEM.
Length: a full-time experience during the summer is considered 320+ hours (or ~8+ weeks).
Pay: Students may request funding for experiences that are unpaid or where the compensation they receive from the employer is less than the University stipend for the same number of hours (see Internship Hours and Award Amounts section below).
Stipend award: A standard stipend amount for a full-time experience is $4,000. Odyssey Scholars, merit scholarship recipients, and students from specialized career cohorts are eligible to receive $5,000 for a full-time, summer experience.
Prior funding: Priority consideration will be given to students who have not previously received Metcalf funding to ensure that as many students as possible can benefit from a funded summer experience.
Ineligible experiences: Metcalf grants do not support opportunities with fee-based internship programs (including internships where the host organization charges a fee to participate) or with political campaigns. As a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, the University is prohibited from participating in political campaign activities.
Application for Metcalf Summer Experience Grant
The Metcalf Summer Experience Grant application timeline for 2025-26 Academic Year is included in the grid below.
Your application should clearly describe your intended plans, showcase alignment to your specific learning/career goals, and draw connections between experiences. Our career advising team is happy to meet with you and help you prepare your materials. You can schedule a career advising appointment via Handshake.
By applying to this internship grant, you agree to follow the Student Recruiting Guidelines. If awarded and accepted, you also agree to commit to and complete the internship experience for which you applied.
Open | Close | Rolling Decisions Released By |
Friday, January 16, 2026 (Winter Quarter, Week 2) | Monday, February 9, 2026 | Monday, February 16, 2026 (Acceptance Deadline: February 18) |
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 (Winter Quarter, Week 6) | Monday, March 30, 2026 (Spring Quarter, Week 2) | Monday, April 6, 2026 (Acceptance Deadline: April 8) |
Metcalf Fellowship Grant:
Sample Internship Lengths and Award Ranges
Hours per Quarter | In-Person U.S. Internships | In-Person Internships Abroad | Remote Internships |
0 - 100 | $250 - $1,250 | $300 - $1,500 | $200 - $1,150 |
101 - 220 | $1,500 - $2,750 | $1,800 - $3,300 | $1,400 - $2,650 |
221 - 320+ | $3,000 - $4,000 | $3,600 - $5,000 | $2,900 - $4,000 |
Odyssey Metcalf Grant:
Sample Internship Lengths and Award Ranges
Hours per Quarter | In-Person U.S. Internships | In-Person Internships Abroad | Remote Internships |
0 - 100 | $400 - $1,600 | $500 - $1,700 | $300 - $1,500 |
101 - 220 | $1,900 - $3,500 | $2,000 - $3,600 | $1,800 - $3,000 |
221 - 320+ | $3,800 - $5,000 | $3,900 - $5,000 | $3,600 - $5,000 |
Additional Funding Sources by Opportunity Type
Grant Questions?
For questions about the Metcalf Fellowship Grant, please contact erd@uchicago.edu.