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.
In the past, UChicago students have secured highly competitive experiences that enhance their career development and future opportunities, making the Metcalf Grant a very competitive process.
The Grants Funding Guide helps students review the grants and funding opportunities across campus.
Eligibility
All currently enrolled, active undergraduates are eligible to apply for the Metcalf Fellowship Grant. Students’ self-sourced opportunity should demonstrate quality and depth of the experience.
- Internship period: While limited amount of funding is available for academic year positions, applications for summer opportunities receive priority consideration.
- Work structure: Internships can be remote, in-person, or hybrid. In-person opportunities receive priority consideration.
- Guided experience: Students should have a direct supervisor who will provide ongoing support, coaching, and mentorship.
- Length:
- Academic year: students may work for a maximum of 20 hours a week per quarter.
- Students working more than 20 hours a week during the academic year must submit a petition to the Dean of Students in the College.
- If you expect to exceed 20 hours a week, please contact Ken Leng at kenkeo@uchicago.edu.
- Summer: a full-time experience during the summer is considered 320+ hours (or ~8+ weeks).
- Academic year: students may work for a maximum of 20 hours a week per quarter.
- 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.
Application
- Summer opportunities: apply using the timeline below - for Summer 2024 internship opportunities, please apply here
- Academic year opportunities: apply using the timeline below - for academic year internship opportunities, please apply here
First-year Odyssey Scholars (Class of 2027) should apply for summer funding using this form by Friday, May 10, 2024.
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 and help you prepare your materials: schedule a career advising appointment via Handshake.
By applying to this internship grant, you agree to follow the Student Recruiting Guidelines.
Summer 2024 Internships: Application Timeline
|
Cycle |
Application Open |
Application Closes |
Decisions Released |
|
Fall Quarter 2023 Cycle |
September 18 |
October 27 |
November 6 |
|
Winter Quarter 2024 Cycle |
January 8 |
February 16 |
March 1 |
|
Spring Quarter 2024 Cycle 1 |
March 11 |
April 5 |
April 19 |
| Spring Quarter 2024 Cycle 2 | April 8 | May 10 | May 24 |
Academic Year Internships: 2023-2024 Application Timeline
To ensure students can plan ahead, applications for academic year opportunities will be due just before the start of each quarter.
|
Academic Year Cycle |
Application Opens |
Application Closes |
Decisions Released |
|
Fall 2023 |
September 5 |
September 25 |
September 29 |
|
Winter 2024 |
December 4 |
January 2 |
January 5 |
|
Spring 2024 |
February 26 |
March 17 |
March 22 |
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 Fellowship: 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 |
Questions
For questions about the Metcalf Fellowship Grant, please contact metcalfgrant@uchicago.edu or Isaiah Spears at ispears@uchicago.edu.
Jeff Metcalf Fellowship Grant for Graduating Students Applying for Visas Post-Graduation
Career Advancement will offer a limited number of grants for undergraduates who will be graduating during the 2023-2024 academic year and plan to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) or work authorizations outside the U.S. following their graduation.
Grants will be used to offset the cost of living if students secure unpaid internships once their OPT or work authorization has started, enabling them to confidently accept unpaid internships and research opportunities that can give them more experience to build a bridge to their career.
Note: If you have already acquired funding for this role and/or have applied for funding through other sources, please disclose this in your application as we make every effort to provide equitable access for students. This includes any research scholarships, fellowships, and/or grants offered through Career Advancement, the College Center for Research and Fellowships (CCRF) and the Institute of Politics (IOP).
Career Advancement offers 2-3 cycles in Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters for graduating students applying for OPT or work authorization.
|
Autumn Quarter 2023 Cycle |
Application Opens |
Application Closes |
Decisions Released |
|
Autumn Cycle 1 |
September 22 |
October 8 |
October 18 |
|
Autumn Cycle 2 |
November 24 |
December 10 |
December 20 |
|
Winter Quarter 2024 Cycle |
Application Opens |
Application Closes |
Decisions Released |
|
Winter Cycle 1 |
January 12 |
January 28 |
February 7 |
|
Winter Cycle 2 |
February 2 |
February 18 |
February 28 |
|
Spring Quarter 2024 Cycle |
Application Opens |
Application Closes |
Decisions Released |
|
Spring Cycle 1 |
March 8 |
March 17 |
March 27 |
|
Spring Cycle 2 |
March 29 |
April 7 |
April 17 |
| Spring Cycle 3 | April 26 | May 5 | May 15 |
QUESTIONS?
For questions about the Jeff Metcalf Fellowship Grant for Graduating Students Applying for Visas Post-Graduation, please contact Grace Beckman at beckmang@uchicago.edu.
Grant Questions?
- For questions about the Metcalf Fellowship Grant, please contact metcalfgrant@uchicago.edu.
- For questions about the Jeff Metcalf Fellowship Grant for Graduating Students Applying for Visas Post-Graduation, please contact Grace Beckman at beckmang@uchicago.edu.