This year we’d like to inspire you to apply for a funded summer fellowship. ProFellow lists a wide range of summer fellowships for enrolled students and recent graduates to gain professional and academic experience in the U.S. or abroad. Our top 10 list includes several newly added opportunities in our fellowships database as well as trending favorites. Bookmark these professional summer fellowships representing opportunities in fields as diverse as law, environmental conservation, social justice, business, public policy, journalism, and international affairs.
National Parks Business Plan Internship (BPI)
The National Parks Business Plan Internship (BPI) is a highly-selective, 11-week paid internship open to graduate students who are currently enrolled in business, public policy, environmental management, public administration, and related programs. Selected candidates bring their world-class finance, operations, and strategy talent into some of the most beautiful and culturally significant sites in the world, bringing strategic recommendations and analytical insight to park leadership to promote sustainability and innovation within the parks. Interns take on projects in consulting pairs, housed and working within or near the park sites themselves for the summer (after an awesome week-long Orientation at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia). Apply by December 12, 2016.
Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF) Program
The Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship Program provides undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students with opportunities to gain hands-on research experience with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy. The goal of the MLEF program is to improve opportunities for women and minority students in STEM majors, however, all eligible candidates are encouraged to apply. Selected candidates will train under the mentorship of program officials and scientists on focused research projects. During the 10 weeks, Fellows will receive a stipend and some may be eligible to receive housing and a travel allowance. Apply by December 30, 2016.
Humanity In Action Fellowship
The HIA Fellowship programs bring together international groups of college students and recent graduates to explore national histories of discrimination and resistance, as well as examples of issues affecting different minority groups today. This 5-week summer fellowship in Europe is highly interdisciplinary, and features daily lectures and discussions with renowned academics, journalists, and activists. Eligible applicants are students and recent graduates (including international students) of universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine and the United States. HIA covers the costs of participation and accommodation. Deadlines vary by country. U.S. applicants must apply by January 4, 2017.
Greenlining Leadership Academy Summer Associate Program
The Academy Summer Associate Program is an intensive 10-week training program for young leaders that have completed, at minimum, their undergraduate degrees by the start of the program. Associates learn about issues impacting California and the nation and manage research and advocacy projects under the direction of a Greenlining staff member. Associates present their findings and projects in both a written and oral report at the end of the program. Associates are awarded a $4,750 total stipend. Apply by January 10, 2017.
American Press Institute Summer Fellowship
The American Press Institute, based in Arlington, VA, offers a paid summer fellowship for college students or recent graduates who have a strong desire to advance innovation in news organizations. A core component of the program is a self-proposed fellowship project. Eligible candidates are current students (undergraduate or graduate) and recent graduates in a field of study related to journalism, communications, or technology. The 12-week fellowship includes a $7,500 stipend. Apply by January 16, 2017.
Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE)
RISE Professional offers summer research internships in Germany to Master’s and PhD students from North America at companies and non-university research institutions with strong relations to industry. The program is open for students in the field of biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences, engineering or a closely related field. All participants receive a scholarship from DAAD and an additional stipend from their host company/institution to help cover living expenses. Funding is possible for a period of three months in summer or fall. Geman language requirements vary according to the internship placement. Apply by January 31, 2017.
International Leadership Foundation (ILF) Civic Fellowship Program
The International Leadership Foundation’s Civic Fellowship Program is the nation’s top Asian Pacific American leadership development program in Washington, D.C. Each year, approximately 30 outstanding college students are inducted into the summer-long Fellowship Program and participate in a supervised training curriculum. These students are subsequently placed in an 8-week public service internship (in a federal agency, non-profit or non-governmental organization or a congressional office) and are enrolled in educational seminars. Students must be U.S. citizens to apply. Fellows receive a stipend of $2,000. Apply by February 1, 2017.
First Generation Civil Rights Fellowship (FirstGEN)
FirstGEN is a 10-week summer fellowship for undergraduate students who are the first in their immediate families to attend an institution of higher education and are passionate about pursuing careers in social justice. FirstGEN Fellows gain hands-on experience working on civil rights matters as full-time Public Policy & Social Justice or Education Opportunities interns and participate in weekly advocacy training. Fellows receive a $1,500 stipend. Apply by February 10, 2017.
Williams Institute Summer Fellowship
The Williams Institute Summer Fellowship program provides a $5,000 stipend to allow a current law student or recent law school graduate to work for a national lesbian and gay rights organization in the U.S. Examples of eligible placements include the summer internship programs of Lambda Legal, ACLU Lesbian and Gay Rights Project, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy (as a Gleason Kettel Summer Fellow), and similar national and local organizations. During the fellowship, students work on research projects and assist with on-going lesbian and gay civil rights cases. Apply by February 17, 2017.
Laura W. Bush Traveling Fellowship
The Laura W. Bush Travelling Fellowship helps fund a proposal designed by the applicant to conduct brief work (4-6 weeks) in a foreign country related to the mandate of UNESCO – using education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and/or communication and information to build strong ties among nations. The fellowship is intended for American university students who express an interest in international collaboration but as of yet had not been afforded many opportunities to travel abroad. Must be a U.S. citizen currently enrolled in a college or university in United States, aged 18-25. Apply by February 28, 2017.
Seeking more options? Check out our database and our previous Top 10 Summer Fellowship lists:
Top 10 Summer Fellowships of 2016
Top 10 Summer Fellowships of 2015
Top 10 Summer Fellowships of 2014
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