Scholarship for Unpaid Summer Internships

 

Bright Futures Unpaid Internship Scholarship Fund Application

Application Opens: Monday, March 30, 2026

Application Closes: Monday, May 4, 2026

The Bright Futures Unpaid Internship Scholarship awards undergraduate students with need-based scholarships ranging from $100-$1,000 to help offset expenses incurred during unpaid internships in the summer with government agencies and non-profit organizations. Scholarships are generously funded by the Eisen Family, the University Career Center & The President’s Promise, and individual donors through Maryland Giving Day.

The Bright Futures Summer 2026 Application will open on Mon, March 30, 2026 and close on Mon, May 4, 2026.

ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES

All registered University of Maryland, College Park undergraduate students returning to campus for the fall 2026 semester, who have an unpaid internship for summer 2026, are eligible to apply. Graduating seniors are not eligible. Preference will be given to juniors and seniors graduating in December. Preference will also be given to those who have not previously received this scholarship.

In order for your internship to qualify for funding support, it must satisfy the following criteria:

1. Unpaid on-campus or off-campus internship with a non-profit organization or government agency.
   
   
2. New internship experience during summer 2026 and completed by the start of the fall 2026 semester.
   
   
3. Supervised by a professional in the field.
   
   
4. Along with your completed Bright Futures application (available March 30, 2026), our Supervisor Agreement form is also completed and submitted by your internship supervisor. Download & save this document onto your computer - do not fill out in the web browser or it will not save properly.

More details can be found at go.umd.edu/brightfutures26