Summer Internship Support Program

The EL Connector is pleased to offer a summer internship support program for College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) undergraduates who will be interning in the Greater Boston area in Summer 2025. 

The goals of this program are twofold: 1) to enable CAS undergraduates to take advantage of unpaid or low-paid Boston-based in-person internship opportunities by defraying living expenses; 2) to create a cohort-based community of interns who support and encourage each other through regular meetings while navigating the professional landscape. 

Selected students will be provided with an air-conditioned room in a Boston University residence hall during the 12-week Summer Term. Housing expenses and a 10-meal-per-week dining plan will be covered by the program.* Program participants will be expected to attend regular in-person meetings with their internship cohort; complete a series of short assignments, including a pre- and post-internship reflection; and produce a final project about the intern experience that will be shared with the CAS community. 

*Housing and dining fees will be covered by a scholarship applied to each participant’s student account, and scholarships may be considered taxable income. 

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Eligibility Requirements

  • Applicants must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in the College of Arts and Sciences. (Students graduating in Spring 2025 are eligible to apply.) 
  • Applicants must provide a confirmation form signed by their site supervisor that documents the terms of the appointment and compensation information. 
  • The internship must be based at a professional or nonprofit site in the Greater Boston area and involve in-person participation from the intern. Students with internship placements at Boston University are not eligible for this program. 
    • Transportation to and from the internship site is the responsibility of the intern.
  • The internship must take place during Summer Term 2025 (May 20 – August 8) and involve a minimum commitment of 120 total hours over those weeks. 
  • Applicants must be able to commit to living in a Boston University residence for the duration of Summer Term 2025 (May 20 – August 8) and to attending regular in-person meetings of the internship cohort during that period. 
  • International students are subject to ISSO regulations and/or approval.

Application Requirements

The following materials are required components of a complete application.

  • Application form.
  • Unofficial copy of Boston University transcript.
  • Recommendation from someone familiar with your academic and/or professional experience who can speak to your maturity, motivation, and ability to follow through on commitments. This could be a faculty member, academic advisor, or former employer/supervisor.
  • Internship confirmation form, completed and signed by your site supervisor, that documents the hours and dates of the internship, its physical location, and the compensation you will receive.
  • Statement of purpose that explains how the internship will support your academic and career goals.

Applicants who are not US citizens or permanent residents are also required to provide the following.

  • I-20 or DS-2019 form with appropriate work authorization.

Some applicants may be asked to provide additional information or to meet with a Selection Committee member during the application review process.  

Application Timeline

The priority deadline for submitting an application for summer 2025 is March 19, 2025. Complete applications received by this date will receive full consideration. 

The final deadline for submitting an application for summer 2025 is April 30, 2025. No applications will be considered after this date. 

Application Instructions and Process

Please read through these steps before starting your application, and be sure to complete them in the order indicated.

Selection Process

A Selection Committee composed of BU CAS faculty and staff will review all completed applications submitted by each deadline. Consideration will be given to the strength of the applicant’s materials and the relevance of the internship placement to the applicant’s course of study and/or career aspirations. The Committee will also take into consideration additional factors, such as: the duration of the internship; the number of hours per week the applicant will be interning; and the applicant’s financial need. While receiving compensation from the placement site does not disqualify a student from the Summer Internship Support Program, preference will be given to students with high-commitment, unpaid or low-paying internships.  

Contact Information

Please send any questions regarding the EL Connector’s Summer Internship Support Program to casel@bu.edu.