Summer Career Development Stipend

Discover and explore your career path by engaging in summer experiences such as internships, research and volunteering.

Suffolk University is proud to offer the Summer Career Development Stipend available to full-time, first year undergraduate students and select transfer students. This $3,500 stipend will support undergraduate students pursuing unpaid internships, research with faculty or other volunteer service opportunities during designated summer periods.

Applications for those eligible for the 2023 Summer Career Development Stipend are currently open. The deadline to submit your application is Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Students must secure their own experience and are encouraged to submit their applications for approval as early as they can.

Interested in applying?


A student smiles in Fenway Park

Eligibility Requirements

The stipend will be available to all full-time, first year undergraduate students and select transfer students. Students must apply to receive the stipend and meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Be registered for classes for the following fall semester
  • Be in good academic standing
  • Have a minimum GPA of 2.0 by the end of the preceding spring semester
  • Complete an application with all required elements
  • Transfer students must be entering with fewer than 40 credits, and will be notified at the time of admission of their eligibility

To confirm if you are eligible to receive the stipend for Summer 2023, take our eligibility quiz.

Following a consultation with the Summer Career Development Stipend Committee and an approved application, students may use the stipend to support a variety of experiential learning opportunities including:

  • Unpaid internships
  • Summer research with Suffolk University faculty
  • Volunteer service opportunities

At least 135 hours must be worked in order to receive the stipend. This requirement is typically fulfilled within 4 to 12 weeks depending on your work schedule.

Students cannot be supervised by a family member, nor can the supervisor be in a close or significant subordinate work relationship with a family member of the student.

Positions that are structured as a “pyramid schemes“ or require students to purchase products will not be approved.

Remote experiences and those outside the United States are eligible

Enrolling Semester Eligible to Receive Stipend for Either
Fall 2022 Summer 2023 or Summer 2024
Spring 2023 Summer 2024 or Summer 2025
Fall 2023 Summer 2024 or Summer 2025
Spring 2024 Summer 2025 or Summer 2026

International Student Eligibility

International undergraduate students are eligible to receive the stipend. Please note that Pathway students are not eligible until after they progress out of the Pathway program.

International students who receive internship funding for a secured internship in the U.S. are required to meet with an International Advisor at the International Student Services Office (ISSO), to confirm your eligibility for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). If ISSO confirms you are eligible for CPT, you are required to complete necessary paperwork and adhere to all requirements pertaining to your visa status.

Application Requirements

Students must apply to receive the summer career development stipend. Students have the option of applying for funding for either the summer after their first or second year. As part of the application, students must include:

  • Student information (name, student ID, start term, major)
  • Supervisor and organizational information (name, email, website, phone number)
  • Whether student will be enrolled in classes for the summer
  • Type of activity they are doing, work schedule, offer letter
  • Applicant articulates expected learning outcomes in a paragraph
  • Applicant explains how this experience furthers their career exploration/goals

The Summer Career Development Stipend committee reserves the right to request additional information from the student or site supervisor to ensure the experience meets the eligibility requirements. 

Award Amount and Tax Information

The Summer Career Development Stipend will award $3,500 to undergraduate students whose applications are approved. Please note that this is taxable income if a student receives a direct disbursement instead of a scholarship toward summer tuition costs.

The stipend is subject to applicable federal, state, and local income taxes and FICA. Taxes will not be withheld except for a mandatory 30% withholding for payments to international students. Tax information must be reported on a 1099 or 1042-s form, which students will receive for the applicable tax year.

Additional Information

Please contact the Summer Career Development Stipend Committee for any additional questions or inquiries.