Sewanee considers internships and research fellowships a valuable and integral part of a field of study—an important way to gain insight into a career field, obtain valuable professional experience, and develop new skills. Sewanee's internship funding program is funded by 50 endowed internship funds established by very generous donors and through donors' annual gifts.
More than 200 students receive funding from Sewanee annually to participate in meaningful internships and research fellowships in Sewanee, all over the United States, and abroad.
Currently enrolled, degree-seeking Sewanee students are eligible to apply for a portion of more than $600,000 in funding for unpaid internships and research fellowships.
In 2022, The Princeton Review named Sewanee #9 for “Best Schools for Internships.”
ACE (A Career Exploration) internships are hosted by alumni, parents, and friends specifically for Sewanee students. Some ACE internships are paid while others are unpaid; many of these internships have been offered for more than a decade. ACE Medical Internships require recommendations from professors and transcripts in addition to the cover letter, resume, and list of references typically required to apply for ACE Internships.
Internships cover a wide variety of industries, including the arts, conservation and environmental issues, finance, medical, legal, medical, public affairs and civic engagement, and more. Currently enrolled, degree-seeking Sewanee students are eligible to apply on Handshake by February 15.
Career Readiness + Student Success works with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship to sponsor the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) program that offers on-campus research opportunities with Sewanee faculty. Email the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship for additional questions.Currently enrolled, degree-seeking Sewanee students are eligible to apply for opportunities on Handshake by March 1.
Funding for the Sewanee Internship program began with the Tonya Fund for Public Affairs in 1981, and funding is now available from 50 endowed funds and support from individual annual donors and foundation grants. More than $600,000 in stipends is awarded for students to complete unpaid and under-funded internships and research opportunities each summer. In addition to the inaugural fund in public affairs, donors have established internship funds in the arts, business and economics, conservation, environmental studies, medicine, ministry and service, mathematics and the sciences, and international studies. You're invited to support this priority.
To apply for funding, students find an existing internship OR dream up their own at an organization of their choice, secure it with a sponsor at that organization, and then apply for funding through Career Readiness (details are on Brightspace). Students offered unpaid internships or research fellowships are eligible to apply for University funding by April 1.
Browse Brightspace for resources from cover letters to job searching and everywhere in between. Find us on the Brightspace Discover page and click "Enroll in Course" to get started.
Call us at 931-598-1121 or email our office with questions.
Schedule an appointment with a Student Success and Career Readiness Coach.
Sewanee typically provides more than 250 students with nearly $600,000 in funding for otherwise unpaid internships and research fellowships each summer. This support allows Sewanee students to gain the experience, the skills, and the connections they need to help them succeed right out of college. In fact, our graduates often secure positions as a direct result of their position or through a network developed during the summer. What’s more, as part of the Sewanee Pledge, every new Sewanee student is provided access to one summer opportunity during their four years.
Meet a handful of Sewanee students who gained valuable experience through Sewanee-supported internships.
The Office of Civic Engagement supports multiple summer and academic year internships for students to invest in community and deepen their leadership and professional skills.
Experiences both within and outside the classroom contribute to preparing students for life after Sewanee. Through the development of career competencies and readiness, Sewanee students are ready to enter the workforce or graduate/professional school successfully. The National Association of Colleges and Employers has identified eight career competencies.
Supported by the Canale endowment, students pursue a community service internship of their choosing. The internships are student-submitted projects that benefit the greater Sewanee community, while also developing the individual intern’s leadership, communication, emotional, and analytical skills.
