Home Contact Us Giving to Fels Search Penn SAS Site Map

Internships

Although internships are not a required component of the MGA program, they can be a valuable addition to a student’s experience at Fels. Many full-time students choose to participate in internships either during the academic year or in the summer between their first and second years. 

What are the benefits of an internship?

  • Practical experience
  • Development of personal networks that assist a post-Fels job search
  • Opportunity to apply lessons from the classroom
  • Experience with leading professionals dealing with cutting-edge public issues

When do students complete their internships?

  • Some students seek full-time summer internships between their first and second years. Summer internships generally last about 8-10 weeks, with the length of time being determined by the employer. 
  • Other students work approximately 20 hours per week during the academic year in their first or second year at Fels. Some employers have standard internship schedules that follow the academic calendar, while others will hire students on an as-needed basis for varying lengths of time. 
  • Many students choose to do both academic-year and summer internships.

What kind of work do interns do?

  • Research best practices
  • Analyze program implementation and outcome data
  • Research grant opportunities and draft grant applications
  • Support the management of public programs
  • Assist political campaigns
What types of organizations hire Fels students?
Internship opportunities vary from year to year, but the following are examples of organizations that have hired students for internships in recent years:

What compensation do interns usually receive?

  • Pay: Many students work in paid positions, ranging from $10-20 per hour. Some types of internships, particularly with political campaigns or nonprofit organizations, rarely offer financial compensation. In certain cases, however, unpaid positions lead to paid work either with the original organization or at a different position secured through a contact made during the unpaid internship.
  • Course credit: Fels does not provide academic credit for internship work. Students do however often find the internship an invaluable complement of their academic program.

How do students find academic-year internships?

  • Fels Support: We aggressively work to match students’ interests with the vast range of internship opportunities in the region and across the nation. The Director of Full-Time Students will work to support any student interested in finding an internship in the following three ways:

1) By referring students to the many organizations that regularly contact Fels about internship opportunities;   
2) By referring students to alumni, faculty, and other Fels contacts who are available to conduct informational interviews and assist with networking; and
3) By referring students to Fels project managers who hire interns to assist with the research and implementation efforts undertaken by Fels, either independently or in conjunction with government and nonprofit agencies.  

  • Individual search: Most good internships, as well as most good jobs, build on a strong interpersonal network. Fels provides a large number of opportunities to help students build their networks, including surveys of local public service organizations, lectures, conferences, and other networking events. In addition, The Office of Career Services provides seminars and one-on-one support on a variety of topics, including resumes and interviewing, that can prove helpful during an internship search.
  • On-line tools: 

 How do students find summer internships?
The strategies for securing summer internships are similar to those used for academic year positions, with several notable additions:

  • Many more organizations hire interns in the summer, and they often have formal application procedures with strict timelines. The Student Services Coordinator sends information about fellowships and other opportunities via email throughout the year. Many deadlines for summer internships are during the first semester of the program, so students should monitor announcements carefully.  
  • Students interested in Washington, DC, internships can apply to the Fels Public Policy Internship Program

Are international students eligible for internships?
Although many international students come to Fels with experience in their own countries, some choose to pursue an internship. For those who do, it’s important to adhere to visa regulations. 

  • On-Campus Employment: If a student is attending the University of Pennsylvania on an F-1 (I-20 document) or J-1 (DS 2019 document) visa, then s/he is eligible to work on-campus without authorization from US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS).
  • Off-Campus Employment: International students are welcome to pursue internship opportunities that are unpaid and considered volunteer work. If a student is interested in this type of internship experience, s/he does not need to seek authorization from the US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS).  Guidelines vary for J-1 and F-1 Visas, so international students seeking internships for pay should read the documentation and rules governing employment on Office of International Program’s website:  J-1 Student Employment   F-1 Student Employment

Do all students work on internships?
No. Some students prefer to focus their time and energy on coursework or activities other than internships and some international students are unable to participate in internships because of visa and/or fellowship requirements. While Fels believes strongly that an internship will provide many benefits to the student, it is not a requirement for the degree. Fels cannot guarantee that all students will be able to find positions.

Who can I contact for more information?

Fels Institute of Government
Comments and Questions