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Funding Support

SIS helps students secure funding for their career and overall professional development from a variety of sources, including in-house SIS Internship Funds for unpaid and underpaid summer internships and external funding students can receive during and after school for language study, research, and professional projects.听

SIS Summer Internships

Learn more about our internship opportunities!

Do you have an internship planned for this summer that鈥檚 unpaid or underpaid (less than minimum wage)? Apply for funding through the SIS Office of Career Development to help cover expenses! We have three funds available to current SIS students. A general SIS Internship Fund, the Fleischmann Fund for undergraduates, and the Heravi Fund for graduate students.听聽

The strongest applications will demonstrate how the internship relates to the student鈥檚 career goals and represents an important step forward for them. We encourage international students, part-time students, online students, nontraditional students, first-generation students, and students of color to apply. Applications will be accepted February 17th through April 11th, 2024.听

SIS Internship fund awards will be announced and all students will hear back by聽5pm on April 19th. Please do not reach out before this date to ask when you will hear back.听

If you have any other questions, you are always welcome to email us at siscareer@american.edu.听

The Alan H. Fleischmann and Dafna Tapiero Fleischmann Internship Fund is awarded annually by the SIS Office of Career Development to support SIS undergraduate students who secure summer internships.听

To be considered, students must:聽

  • be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at SIS at the time of the internship;聽

  • have at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA;聽

  • have an internship secured for summer 2023 that is unpaid or underpaid (less than minimum wage)聽

Applicants to the Fleischmann Fund will automatically be considered for the SIS Internship Fund as well. Both the Fleischmann Fund and the SIS Internship Fund are intended to cover living expenses and other costs related to an internship, not tuition. Awardees will be required to submit a budget for how they plan to use the award before the funds are disbursed.听

To apply students will be asked to submit the following:聽

  • proof of their unpaid or underpaid (less than minimum wage) internship which includes:聽

  • employer name, supervisor name, location, how many hours, duration (number of weeks), start date, end date, the modality (in-person, remote, or hybrid), and any compensation you will be receiving聽

  • Proof may be an offer letter from the employer or an email from your supervisor detailing the above information.听

  • Proof must be submitted in PDF format to be accepted聽

  • Description of your financial situation, including any funds you are receiving as compensation for this internship, any prior internship funds you鈥檝e received from AU, and any financial aid you receive from AU.听聽

  • A 500-word personal statement answering the following questions:聽

  • Why are you pursuing this internship opportunity and why is it important to you? How does this internship relate to your career goals and interests?聽

All applications must be submitted by 12pm ET (noon) on April 11th. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.听

The Mehdi Heravi Internship Fund is awarded annually by the SIS Office of Career Development to support SIS graduate students who secure summer internships.听

To be considered, students must:聽

  • be enrolled in a graduate degree program at SIS at the time of the internship;聽

  • have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA;聽

  • have an internship secured for summer 2023 that is unpaid or unpaid (less than minimum wage)聽

Applicants to the Heravi Fund will automatically be considered for the SIS Internship Fund as well. Both the Heravi Fund and the SIS Internship Fund are intended to cover living expenses and other costs related to an internship, not tuition. Awardees will be required to submit a budget for how they plan to use the award before the funds will be disbursed.听

To apply students are asked to submit the following:聽

  • proof of your unpaid or underpaid (less than minimum wage) internship which includes:聽

  • employer name, supervisor name, location, how many hours, duration (number of weeks), start date, end date, the modality (in-person, remote, or hybrid), and any compensation you will be receiving聽

  • Proof may be an offer letter from the employer or an email from your supervisor detailing the above information.听

  • Proof must be submitted in PDF format to be accepted聽

  • Description of your financial situation, including any funds you are receiving as compensation for this internship, any prior internship funds you鈥檝e received from AU, and any financial aid you receive from AU.听聽

  • A 500-word personal statement answering the following questions:聽

  • Why are you pursuing this internship opportunity and why is it important to you? How does this internship relate to your career goals and interests?聽

All applications must be submitted by 12pm ET (noon) on April 11th. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.听

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question not answered here? Email us as聽siscareer@american.edu.

Awards can range from $1,500 -$6,000, depending on the location, modality, and hours of internship, as well as funding available that year.听

No, all applicants to the Heravi or Fleischmann Funds will automatically be considered for the SIS Internship Fund as well.

  1. Be sure you have the following:聽聽

  • proof of your unpaid or underpaid (less than minimum wage) internship which includes:聽聽

  • employer name, supervisor name, location, how many hours, duration (number of weeks), start date, end date, the modality (in-person, remote, or hybrid), and any compensation you will be receiving聽聽

  • Proof may be an offer letter from the employer or an email from your supervisor detailing the above information.听聽

  • Proof must be submitted in PDF format to be accepted聽聽

  • Description of your financial situation, including any funds you are receiving as compensation for this internship, any prior internship funds you've received from AU, and any financial aid you receive from AU.听聽聽

  • A 500-word personal statement answering the following questions:聽聽

  • Why are you pursuing this internship opportunity and why is it important to you? How does this internship relate to your career goals and interests? 聽

  1. Please plan to spend at least 30 minutes completing the application form and ensure that you have your proof of internship prior to filling out the application.听聽聽

  1. Applications that are missing components or are otherwise incomplete will not be considered.听聽

SIS Internship fund awards will be announced and all students will hear back by early to mid-May.

Please do not reach out before this date to ask when you will hear back.听

The internship funds are intended to cover living expenses and other costs related to an internship, not tuition. Awardees will be required to submit a budget for how they plan to use the award before the funds will be disbursed.

Yes, students must have been offered an unpaid or underpaid internship prior to the application deadline of April 5th. You do not need to have accepted the offer of employment in the unpaid/underpaid internship, but you should be prepared to demonstrate proof of your internship offer in your application.

Applications will be assessed based on the internship's relevance, its potential for professional development, the clarity of the application, and institutional considerations including previous academic/professional achievement, whether the internship will fulfill a requirement, and other sources of financial support. The strongest applications articulate clear, logical career or academic goals, draw a strong relationship between those goals and the internship, and demonstrate how the internship would be an important step forward professionally.

More SIS Funding Opportunities

Please review the following opportunities for internship funding for specific populations of SIS students.听

The Millidge P. Walker and Irene Tinker Endowed Graduate Fellowship聽provides awards of up to $5,000 each to current International Development and Development Management students pursuing research projects, practicum research, internships, and co-ops. Students will be notified via email when each application cycle opens. Email the ID Program Coordinator with questions.

The Tom and Mary Snitch Fund for First Generation Success supports expenses related to (but not limited to): study abroad and other overseas studies and experiences, research projects, and unpaid internship opportunities, for eligible first generation undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in a degree program in SIS. Email the SIS Office of International Programs with questions.听

The SIS Davenport Scholarship Fund was established in recognition of the values and initiatives important to the formation of the SIS Davenport Lounge, such as but not limited to social justice, environmental justice and sustainability, social enterprise, and community development. The purpose of the fund is to provide financial support for expenses related to experiential co-curricular activities for SIS undergraduate (majors and minors) and graduate students who, in accordance with the University鈥檚 financial aid policies, demonstrate financial need. Eligible activities may include unpaid internships, attendance at academic conferences or competitions, study abroad programs, etc. Awardees must be in good academic and judicial standing with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Email SIS Undergraduate Programs with questions.听

Career Funding in School

Career funding is also available through various fellowships, scholarships, and other programs that you can apply to before school (graduate level) as well as during and after school (undergraduate and graduate levels) to help fund language study, research, pathways into the Foreign Service, and more.听

Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program

is a program funded by the U.S. Department of State, administered by Howard University, that attracts and prepares outstanding young people for Foreign Service careers in the U.S. Department of State. It welcomes the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the State Department, women, and those with a demonstrated financial need for graduate school. Based on the fundamental principle that diversity is a strength in our diplomatic efforts, the program values varied backgrounds, including ethnic, racial, social, and geographic diversity.听聽

The Pickering Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to promote positive change in the world. Upon successful completion of a two-year master鈥檚 degree program and fulfillment of Foreign Service entry requirements, fellows work as Foreign Service Officers in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy, serving in Washington, DC and at a U.S. embassy, consulate, or diplomatic mission around the globe. Fellows also agree to a minimum five-year service commitment in the Department of State鈥檚 Foreign Service. The five-year service commitment begins upon entry into the Foreign Service.听聽

The Rangel Graduate Fellowship

aims to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State. Applicants must be seeking to start a two-year graduate program in the upcoming fall semester. The Rangel Program supports Fellows through two years of graduate study, internships, mentoring, and professional development activities. This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need.听聽

Donald M. Payne International Development Gradudate Fellowship

The seeks to attract outstanding individuals who are interested in pursuing careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Applicants must be seeking to start a two-year graduate program in the upcoming fall semester. Candidates can be graduating seniors or college graduates. The Payne Fellowship, which provides up to $104,000 in benefits over two years for graduate school, internships, and professional development activities, is a unique pathway to the USAID Foreign Service.听

David L Boren/National Security Education Program (NSEP)

The David L Boren/National Security Education Program (NSEP)聽is an opportunity for聽undergraduates and graduates. fund study abroad, research, and language study proposals by U.S. undergraduate and graduate students in world regions critical to U.S. interests.听Undergraduates can apply for a scholarship through the program. Graduates can apply for a fellowship through the program. It pays up to $25,000 for up to 2 semesters of language learning. You 鈥減ay back鈥 government by working for the government for one year.听

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program

is an immersive summer opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America's engagement with the world.听

Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship

聽pays expenses for study abroad up to $5,000.

Killam Fellowships Program

(Fulbright Canada) pays $6,000/semester or $12,000/academic year to study abroad in Canada.

Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA)

is a not-for-profit that has been supporting efforts to increase diversity in public service for more than 40 years. PPIA believes that our society is best served by public managers, policy makers, and community leaders who represent diverse backgrounds and perspectives. To achieve this goal, PPIA has a focus on students from groups who are underrepresented in leadership positions in government, nonprofits, international organizations and other institutional settings. Furthermore, international affairs are increasingly mixed with local concerns. Addressing such global issues to make diversity a critical goal in professional public service. Additionally, PPIA Fellows alumni has the opportunity to get at least $5000 in funding for graduate education at select univerisities.听

Fulbright U.S. Student Program

The is an opportunity to travel abroad. This program pays expenses to teach English, conduct research, or carry out professional projects in participating countries, among other benefits.听

Additional Funding

These additional funds support students with other career and professional development, including research, small grant, and study abroad.

Matthew C. Schlonsky Memorial Award

The School of International Service Matthew C. Shlonsky Memorial Fund for the District of Columbia was established by Dean James Goldgeier in 2015 in memory of Matthew C. Shlonsky, SIS/BA '14. The fund will support SIS faculty and students who wish to draw on their international affairs research to address challenges facing the District of Columbia and will be administered by the SIS Office of Research. Contact SIS Research for more information on how to apply.听

Steven Arnold Innovative Small Grant Fund

The Steven Arnold Innovative Small Grant Fund provides students in the International Development and Development Management programs with small grants for an innovative idea that is helpful to communities, to the student鈥檚 professional development, to the International Development program, and/or the field of development as a whole. Students will be notified via email when each application cycle opens. Email the EDH Program Coordinator with questions.听

SIS Undergraduate Study Abroad Support Fund

The purpose of the SIS Undergraduate Study Abroad Support Fund is to provide financial assistance to support non-tuition study abroad expenses to 麻豆视频作品degree-seeking undergraduate students in SIS. Awardees must be in good academic and judicial standing with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Grants may be used toward a single semester, summer, winter break, or alternative break program abroad. Preference will be given to students with financial need. Students will be notified via email when each application cycle opens. Email with questions.听

Millidge P. Walker and Irene Tinker Endowed Graduate Fellowship

The Tinker Walker Fellowship provides awards of up to $5,000 each to current International Development and Development Management students pursuing research projects, practicum research, internships, and co-ops. Students will be notified via email when each application cycle opens. Email the ID Program Coordinator with questions.听

Tom and Mary Snitch Fund for First Generation Success

The Tom and Mary Snitch Fund for First Generation Success supports expenses related to (but not limited to): study abroad and other overseas studies and experiences, research projects, and unpaid internship opportunities, for eligible first generation undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in a degree program in SIS. Email the SIS Office of International Programs with questions.听

*Open to international students (not just U.S. citizens)聽