Internship and Other Funding

Student during political internship

Internships are an integral part of many students’ Cornell experience as they provide significant hands-on learning in a professional work environment. Typically, internships take place during the summer when most employers offer formal internship programs. However, it may be possible to arrange block internships with advance notice. These are usually arranged directly with the employer, not posted online, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to inquire about availability and make arrangements with potential employer sites. 

Internships may offer a paid salary (which is typical of formal programs), while other internships may be unpaid. For unpaid internships, funding to cover some expenses is available through Ingenuity in Action (InAct), but you should plan ahead to save enough of your own money to cover initial expenses before that funding comes through. You can choose to do your internship for academic credit and/or InAct transcription, but if receiving funding, you must receive academic credit for your internship. The details for applying for funding, credit, and/or InAct transcription are listed below and are also explained in this how-to document

Although the majority of this funding is awarded to students pursuing internships, research opportunities, and off-campus study; there are many activities that could be approved for funding, including conference attendance where students have been asked to present or share research, as well as certifications that provide professional credentialing.

Check out previous and current Cornell student internship experiences.

 Internship Blogs

Apply for funding through the InAct Portal.

InAct Portal

Deadlines for funding requests:

  • Blocks 1-8: Day 15 of the block prior to your block internship or other experience (e.g. if you start your internship Block 6, you must submit your application by day 15 of Block 5). Note: if you are requesting funding, you will likely not receive this funding until the middle of your internship block if you submit it on or after this date. We strongly recommend that you submit your application 30-60 days before your internship begins.
  • Summer: Day 1 of Block 8. Note that Dimensions competitive internships usually have priority deadlines in Blocks 5 and 6. If you apply for internship funding after the deadline, your application will be considered, but you are not guaranteed to receive funding.

Maximum award amounts:

  • U.S.-based experiences: An average of $3,400.  Note that exceptions may be made for higher awards on a case-by-case basis, up to $5000.
  • Internationally based experiences: An average of $4,100.  Note that exceptions may be made for higher awards on a case-by-case basis, up to $5o00.

More resources: