For many LSA students, pursuing a spring/summer internship is an ideal way to gain valuable, hands-on experience in their field of interest. Combined with your degree from the College of LSA, a great internship experience can help you stand out from the crowd during your post-grad job search and arm you with the tools you need to succeed.
Thanks to generous donations from U-M alumni and supporters, the LSA Internship Scholarship can help make these life-changing opportunities a reality for students, regardless of their background. Whether you're planning to intern in the United States or abroad, read on to learn more about the LSA Internship Scholarship program.
What does the scholarship cover?
The LSA Internship Scholarship is awarded to help offset or cover the expenses incurred to participate in an internship and the tuition and fees associated with the required ALA 225: Undergraduate Internship Course.
Examples of eligible expenses include:
- Tuition and fees for the 1-credit course ALA 225: Undergraduate Internship Course
- Relocation expenses
- Commuting on work days
- Housing
- Food
- Professional clothing
Examples of ineligible expenses include:
- Personal travel, vacations or entertainment
- Car payments, auto insurance, medical expenses, credit card bills, etc.
If you aren’t sure whether an expense is eligible or not, include it on your scholarship application and we will determine if it qualifies.
Amounts and Duration
LSA Internship Scholarship awards vary in amount depending on factors such as the cost of a student's internship experience, ALA 225 course tuition and fees, and a student's level of financial need. We cannot award funds beyond what a student's aid package allows.
Application Deadline
The LSA Internship Scholarship application is open December 1 – May 6 (Please note: This is a change from the previous May 24 deadline). Completed scholarship applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with awarding continuing through the first week of June. Scholarship applications will not be reviewed until the student has registered their internship in the LSA Opportunity Network, registered for the ALA 225 course, and the Hub has approved the student’s internship for funding consideration.
While the final application deadline is May 6, we advise all students to register their internship well ahead of this date to allow the LSA Opportunity Hub time to complete their review of the students’ registration.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the LSA Internship Scholarship, a student must:
- Be pursuing a degree program (or MDDP) in the College of LSA
- Register for ALA 225: Undergraduate Internship Course offered by the LSA Opportunity Hub (Full 16-week Spring/Summer term recommended)
- Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (i.e. possess a green card)
- Apply for and receive need-based support through the Office of Financial Aid
- Have a FAFSA and CSS profile on file with the Office of Financial Aid (OFA)
- Return to LSA as an enrolled undergraduate student in the fall term following their internship
Financial assistance from all sources during the academic year (September thru August) factors into the ongoing review of your financial aid eligibility now and in the future. This includes periods when you may not be actively enrolled in courses, and includes the spring/summer term following graduation. If your total financial aid, including any new offer, exceeds your eligibility for financial assistance this academic year, your aid may be limited in a future term or reduced from previously received assistance. You can learn more about financial aid terms and conditions on the Office of Financial Aid's website.
Scholarship Requirements
Some of these activities must be completed before our office will disburse scholarship funding to recipients. Others will be required of students either during or after their internship experience.
- Enroll in and successfully complete ALA 225: Undergraduate Internship Course
- Complete Health and Safety Requirements—INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIPS ONLY
- Write a letter to the scholarship donor (if applicable)
- Notify LSA Scholarships staff of additional internship funding
- Ensure that the internship meets the following minimum requirements:
- Lasts a minimum of six weeks with at least 25 hours of work per week. Internships of 20-25 hours per week may be accepted on a case-by-case basis if the hours worked total at least 150 hours.
- Begins no earlier than May 3
- Concludes no later than August 29
Internship Registration
All LSA Internship Scholarship applicants must register their internship in the LSA Opportunity Network. This step must be completed before our team, LSA Scholarships, can review a student's LSA Internship Scholarship application.
If you have any questions about registering your internship or enrolling in ALA 225, please contact the LSA Opportunity Hub for assistance.
Post-Award Requirements
Health and Safety Requirements—INTERNATIONAL ONLY
All scholarship recipients interning abroad must complete U-M mandated health and safety requirements via the M-Compass Internship/Work Registry, including purchasing (and providing proof of enrollment for) GeoBlue U-M Travel Abroad Health Insurance for the entire duration of the internship.
After accepting their scholarship, recipients will receive an email from the LSA Travel Office outlining their next steps in this process. These steps must be completed before our office will disburse scholarship funds.
Writing a Thank You Letter
After accepting their scholarship award within the application portal, some students will receive a prompt from the system asking them to complete an additional form. This form serves as a thank you to be shared with the donor of the scholarship. This form must be completed before our office will disburse any scholarship funds to the student.
If a scholarship recipient is not prompted to complete this form after accepting their award, that means no further action is required.
Notification of Additional Internship Funding
LSA Internship Scholarship recipients who receive additional funding (grants, scholarships, etc.) towards their internship must inform the LSA Scholarships Office immediately. LSA Internship Scholarships are tied to an assessment of a student's financial need and failure to disclose anticipated changes to a financial aid package may result in negative impacts to a student's overall aid.
Informing us in advance of any anticipated aid you might receive will help us ensure our scholarship award does not exceed the funding allowed by your financial aid package, preventing unexpected charges on your student account.
How do I apply?
The application process has four steps.
Step one: Register your internship in the LSA Opportunity Network. Guidance for this process can be found through the LSA Opportunity Hub.
Step two: Sign up for ALA 225: Undergraduate Internship Course
Step three: Click the button below to access the LSA Scholarships application portal and complete the general application. When asked which scholarship program you are applying to, click the box for "LSA Internship Scholarship."
Note: If you have already completed the general application—this is common for students who apply for multiple scholarships each year—simply check the box for the LSA Internship Scholarship and save your application. Do not uncheck any of the other boxes or change any of your previous responses, as doing so may impact other active applications you currently have in the portal.
Step four: Once the general application has been completed and submitted, you will then be directed to complete the LSA Internship Scholarship application. Submit this application for full consideration.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will my scholarship disburse?
Scholarship funds are disbursed once a student accepts their award in the application portal and completes the necessary requirements listed above.
If, after you have accepted your award and completed all pre-disbursement requirements, you have specific questions about when your scholarship funds will be disbursed, you may contact our office.
Can I take the ALA 225 class in the Fall or Winter?
No – The Internship Scholarship can only be offered during the term of enrollment. It is mandatory that the class is taken in the Spring.
In addition to the ALA 225 course are there other courses that I can take?
We strongly recommend that you don't take any other courses because of possible negative impacts to your financial aid package.
I’ve already taken the ALA 225 course; do I have to take it again?
Yes – ALA 225 must be taken concurrently with your internship in order to be eligible for the scholarship.
Can I receive a LSA Internship scholarship and a Spring/Summer Study abroad scholarship?
Students considering multiple spring/summer experiences will need to make a choice to either pursue internship funding or to participate in a study abroad program.
If you have questions about funding multiple spring/summer experiences, please contact us or make an appointment with our office to discuss your options.
What if I do not qualify for this scholarship? Is there anywhere else I could look for support?
If you do not meet the qualifications for the LSA Internship Scholarship, we encourage you to check out the Opportunity Hub's list of additional funding sources. If you have declared a major, we recommend checking in with your home department to see if they have any funding options. The U-M Library's Funding Guide may also have additional resources.
