The Scholarship for Unpaid Internships provides financial support to students who would not be able to participate in an internship experience in their chosen field without it.
Preference is given to students seeking their FIRST internship/career experience in their chosen field of interest and demonstration of financial hardship incurred by taking on an unpaid internship experience. Students may receive up to $1000 during the fall and spring semesters and up to $3000 during the summer term.
The Scholarship for Unpaid Internship is open to all Mason students (undergraduate and graduate) pursuing an unpaid internship in an upcoming term and that meet the criteria listed below.
- Minimum 2.0 GPA
- Currently enrolled, degree-seeking student
University Career Services receives applications through Handshake during separate application cycles for each academic term the scholarship is available (fall, spring, and summer). Students do not need to have secured an internship at the time of application.
The application cycles for the academic year are as follows:
- Fall Internships: June 1 - July 15
- Spring Internships: November 1 - December 1
- Summer Internships: March 1 - April 1
⚠️ Check your Mason email or follow us on social media to get notified when we announce the scholarship each semester!
1. Responses to the following questions:
- Will this be your first internship in your preferred field?
- If you are still seeking an internship, name five employers where you want to intern and the experience you hope to gain. If you've already committed to an internship, why did you apply to this employer, and what excites you most about the internship?
- How do you expect this internship to contribute to your career goals? What professional skills do you want to develop (ex., communication, critical thinking, teamwork, etc.)?
- Describe any financial challenges hindering your ability to complete an unpaid internship and how receiving this scholarship would alleviate those obstacles.
2. Current Resume (should be up to date)
Undergraduate Student Veterans with a minimum 3.0 GPA:
Please indicate your military status and what branch you served in your application. Additional funding for undergraduate veterans (DD-214 required) has been provided by a generous donation from the Colonel Tom Johnson Family Scholarship for Veterans Endowment.
This scholarship is considered financial aid and receipt of an award may have an effect on your existing financial aid package.
Important Information:
- Students are responsible for securing their own unpaid internship.
- Awardees will be required to provide proof they have secured an unpaid internship before any monies will be disbursed.
- Funds will be applied to awardees’ Mason student account at the beginning of the term when the student will be completing the internship and must be applied to any outstanding balance on the account before being disbursed directly to the student.
- Students who wish to earn academic credit for their internship experience must work with their academic department.
- Additional details will be provided to selected applicants.