OCS-Funded Independent Internships Outside the U.S.

See Harvard College's 2022 Summer Funding Policy

Please visit Harvard College's Summer Funding Policy for full details.

2022 Summer Funding Policy

Harvard College prioritizes the wide distribution of Summer funding to ensure that as many undergraduate students as possible can have a meaningful summer experience. For funded Summer 2022 experiences, students may only apply Harvard University funding to one Summer experience, regardless of duration of time (ex. only four weeks or a part-time effort). Co-funding between multiple sources of funding is permitted only if the funding jointly supports the same Summer experience.

Exceptions to the Summer Funding Policy are uncommon and will be reviewed on an individual basis; students should make exception requests to their Resident Dean, who will forward on to the Office of Undergraduate Education. All exceptions will be approved by the Office of Undergraduate Education.

Failure to adhere to the Harvard College Summer funding policy may result in a student being referred to the Administrative Board or Honor Council.

Harvard-Related Travel and Vaccination

As of December 2021, Harvard’s COVID travel policy states that students who are fully vaccinated and boosted by January 31, 2022, are able to travel both domestically and internationally (providing they adhere to all host-country requirements and to Harvard’s student international travel policies). Unvaccinated students may petition the University to travel both internationally and domestically for in-person internships.

All students are eligible for remote programs.

OCS supports students for 2 types of internships, either virtual or in-person. Students may submit only one funding application for EITHER:

An independent, self-arranged internship or research assistantship where the student makes arrangements directly with a supervisor at an organization based outside the U.S. OR
An internship arranged by a third-party internship provider at an organization based outside the U.S. where the student pays a program fee to participate.

NOTE: You may apply for funding if your internship is not yet confirmed - you may submit proof of application (ex. screenshot of an email inquiry, PDF format).

Independent Internships Outside the U.S.

Important Dates

March 3, 2022 - Deadline to apply for OCS funding
TBD - Funding notifications go out on rolling basis
TBD - Deadline to accept/decline funding award
April 12, 2022 - Deadline to submit pre-departure requirements to receive funding

Who Can Apply for Funding?

OCS can only fund students who are:

Pursuing internships or research assistantships that are 8 weeks or longer where host organizations are based outside the U.S.
In good standing
Current Harvard College undergraduates, 1st-year through 1st semester senior during Spring 2022
Enrolled full-time during Spring 2022
Planning to enroll in Fall 2022

**Preference will be given to students who have NOT received prior funding and for whom this is their last summer of college**

How to Apply:

Apply directly to the organization with which you want to intern or conduct research
Enroll in direct deposit. See direct deposit instructions
Apply in CARAT to “OCS Funding for an Internship or Research Assistantship Outside the U.S. SU22 (IND)” by March 3, 2022, 11:59pm ET with the following materials:
1. Host organization support letter listing dates of internship/research assistantship and location (Download sample support letter). If internship is not confirmed, submit proof of application (PDF format).
2. Completed Internship and Research Assistantship Form, PDF format
3. One-page resume, PDF format (we recommend using OCS templates)
4. Unofficial Transcript, PDF format (available under Grades tab, "View Unofficial Transcript" in my.harvard)
5. Proof of Direct Deposit enrollment, PDF format. Submit a pdf screenshot from the "Student Accounts" section from my.harvard that shows you are enrolled in direct deposit (Download sample screenshot)
6. REQUIRED for in-person internships only: Complete ALL pre-departure requirements and submit forms to respective offices (some will be submitted online). Upload forms marked with an asterisk (*) with your CARAT application:
  1. Read Harvard COVID-19 travel policy
  2. Read Harvard College International travel policy
  3. Identify your destination's travel risk rating - students may not travel to countries or regions within countries where the risk rating is "high"
  4. Register your itinerary with International SOS - tentative dates and location (city, country) are sufficient prior to booking flight and lodging. You must update your itinerary with final flight and lodging information
  5. *Sign and submit travel waiver and release form* - include this with your CARAT application. PLEASE NOTE: Submit either the "College Students - Research of Study" or "College Students - Research or Study in Elevated Risk Destinations." ALL FIELDS MUST BE FILLED OUT, INCLUDING THE SITE SECTION.
  6. *Sign and submit COVID-19 vaccination attestation form* - include this with your CARAT application
  7. Submit the Harvard College Health Clearance packet. PLEASE NOTE: Submit your Health Clearance form to Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) directly by sending the packet to your primary care physician at HUHS via secure message using the HUHS Patient Portal. Do not submit to OCS and do not upload with your application.
  8. Watch the GSS Online Pre-departure Orientation
  9. If traveling to elevated risk region, schedule an in-person or online orientation
  10. Submit online travel safety questionnaire - OCS requires this for all in-person independent internship funding applicants
  11. Schedule a consultation with Global Support Services - OCS requires this for all in-person independent internship funding applicants

How much is awarded?:

Virtual: $4,000
In-person: $5,000-$10,500 (amount depends on country)

OCS will NOT fund:

Internships in high risk countries or regions
Internships at multiple organizations, that take place in multiple countries, or are less than 8 weeks long
Thesis or independent research – for independent research funding, consider applying to your department, Harvard centers, or to Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.

Important note about award amounts:

Funding decisions are made by a committee
It is the student's responsibility to cover or supplement any extra costs not covered by the stipend (i.e. visas, personal expenses, immunizations, etc.)

Important Notes on OCS Summer Funding

Harvard College has stated that students on leave of absence intending to apply for funding in a period subsequent to their leave period (e.g., applying for summer programs and funding after a spring term leave) must reach out to their resident dean to petition the Administrative Board for approval to submit applications. These petitions must be approved prior to preparing an application for submission
Any student awarded OCS summer funding can only accept one Harvard source of summer funding
Funding administered by the Office of Career Services is intended to support student travel, lodging and living expenses such as local transportation, food, and incidentals. Donor funds may not be used to pay others to provide services such as hiring third-party researchers or clinicians or to purchase goods or services for other individuals or organizations
Failure to follow these rules may result in a student being referred to the Administrative Board or Honor Council for an offense

Drop-in advising M-F, 1-4pm (1-3pm virtual; 3-4pm in person)
Schedule an appointment
Email ocs_summerfunding@fas.harvard.edu