• Students must be enrolled at the College in the 2026 Spring and Fall semesters or in a study abroad program (one semester or full-year). Exchange program students from other institutions are ineligible to receive College funding for a summer internship. 

• Students are required to work at least 300 hours over 8-10 weeks in the summer unless it is otherwise stated in the application materials. 
• Internships should be at least 30 hours per week during the internship period. Internships with fewer than 30 hours/week are not eligible for funding, even if the internship is extended beyond 10 weeks.
• Summer Internships funded by the College must take place in the summer time frame (i.e., begin after the last day of the spring term and end before the first day of the fall term). Any work that extends beyond the summer time frame should be coordinated solely between the student and employer.
• Early Withdrawal From Internship: Students who do not complete their Wellesley-funded internship for any reason may be asked to repay their stipend to the College (partial or full repayment). Students may also forfeit experiential learning units for the experience. We are aware that students may encounter extenuating circumstances that may necessitate a change in the internship start or end date. If you find yourself in such a situation, please speak with the Wellesley Internships Team before you take any action with the employer.

• Funded interns should budget for a maximum of 300 hours over an 8-10 week period––and 8 weeks is strongly recommended for students going to high-cost cities—as the funds are not intended to cover the expenses associated with additional internship weeks.
• All summer internship awards are distributed in two separate installments via Workday: the full amount less $500 by mid-June after the pre-internship paperwork has been approved and $500 in September after the internship, Pathway requirements, and any additional requirements from the sponsoring department have been met. Students who do not complete their internship or the requirements forfeit the final payment.
• If an employer compensates a student who has received a summer internship award from the College, then the College will pay a partial stipend up to the total award. If a student secures a paid internship that exceeds the original award, then the student is ineligible to receive funding from the College.
• If a student is selected for more than one summer internship award from the College, students can only accept one College internship award per summer.
• International students may have to pay taxes on their internship award from the College—please check the International Student section below for more information.  
• The majority of summer stipends is $5,000 per award for internships that do not include housing; some departments and programs may offer higher awards, not to exceed $7,000.
• Internship sites and programs that include housing offer reduced summer stipends. The majority of these stipends range between $3,000-$3,500. Some departments and programs may offer higher awards, not to exceed $5,000.

Wellesley College partners with approximately 80 distinct employer partners to provide a broad range of internship opportunities to students. Internships offered through these employer partners are referred to as "placements". Students who apply to these placements must follow the policies below: 

Communication during the Internship Interview Process (for Wellesley College placements): Students under consideration for internship placement with an employer partner are expected to respond to requests for interviews within 24 hours, even if they decline the interview. Students who decline an interview must inform the Wellesley Internships Team of their withdrawal from the selection process. Students who do not communicate with employers in a timely manner may be withdrawn from consideration for Wellesley-funded opportunities. 

Reneging an Offer: It is unacceptable to accept an internship offer from an employer and later decline it. It not only damages the relationship between the College and the employer but also negatively impacts future opportunities for Wellesley students. Students who renege on their acceptance of an offer made through Wellesley’s funded internship or employer-funded programs may not be considered for future funding opportunities. ​If you are deciding between multiple internship offers, please contact a member of the Wellesley Internships Team to help you navigate next steps.

• Students are not permitted to accept any other full-time or part-time positions or enroll in any summer courses (virtual or otherwise, including Wellesley’s QAI summer program) during the designated 8-10 weeks of the internship. Occasional evening or weekend roles (e.g., dog walking, babysitting) for supplemental pay during the internship period are allowed but students must limit this additional work to 10 hours or less and avoid positions that impact internship work hours so they can prioritize their internship commitment and their own health/wellness.
• Students who want to supplement their summer income are encouraged to look for work in the summer before or after their 8-10 week summer internship commitment. 

• International students need to obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization through Slater if interning in the U.S. All international students should submit their pre-internship paperwork at least 2 weeks in advance of their anticipated internship start date to allow for CPT processing. 
• Even if you are interning with an established Wellesley employer partner, you must submit an employer letter to Slater.
• International students interning in the U.S. will be taxed at 14% on the stipend but may be able to file a U.S. Tax return to receive a refund. International students interning outside the U.S. are not subject to this tax. The College is required to have tax forms on file for all international students being paid by the College so those students should check in with Sheila McManus (sm124@wellesley.edu) in Wellesley Accounts Payable about the required tax paperwork.

• All students in internships funded by the College must attend a required in-person Intern Kick-Off event in late spring. Students studying abroad in the spring will be provided an online version of the event.
• Students must complete the Summer Internship Pathway assignments throughout the spring and summer along with any department/program specific requirements. Students who do not complete the summer assignments or their internship forfeit their final stipend.
• Students are expected to check email regularly throughout the spring and summer and respond in a professional and timely manner, ideally within 48 hours.

• All students in 8-10 week summer internships funded by the College are automatically pre-approved for two units toward the College’s Experience Learning Requirement (ELR). Students do not need to apply for ELR separately.
• To earn the ELR units, students must complete all Summer Internship Pathway assignments and any department/program specific requirements by the deadlines otherwise they forfeit the ELR units.