CEIF APPLICATION PROCESS  | CEIF FAQ | CEIF Budget Guide

*** The application for the 2013 Columbia Engineering Internship Fund has closed. Applications for the summer of 2014 will be available in February 2013. ***

Columbia Engineering is pleased to announce the Columbia Engineering Internship Fund for summer 2013. The Columbia Engineering Internship Fund (CEIF) supports undergraduate students who have secured unpaid summer internships in engineering fields. This pilot program for 2012-13, funded through generous alumni support, is designed to enable Columbia Engineering undergraduate students to gain real-world engineering experience. The Columbia Engineering Internship Fund:

• Supports undergraduate students who have already secured unpaid summer internships
• Provides stipends ranging from $500 to $5,000, depending on the nature of the internship as well as demonstrated student need
• Supports real-world engineering experience rather than research opportunities, when those opportunities are unpaid
• Focuses on providing support for international internship experiences, though unpaid U.S.-based internships will be considered

The Columbia Engineering Internship Fund does not replace the Work Exemption Program (WEP). Undergraduate students who apply to the Columbia Engineering Internship Fund are encouraged, but not required, to apply to the WEP as well. Through WEP, undergraduate students have the option of applying for an exemption from the summer savings portion of their financial aid package as well as their academic year work expectations if they are engaged in unpaid activities, including summer internships.

Eligibility

Currently registered Columbia Engineering undergraduate students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply:

• A rising sophomore, junior or senior undergraduate student in good standing with at least a 3.0 G.P.A.
• A recipient of Columbia grant-based financial aid. If you are unsure if you receive grant-based financial aid, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid & Educational Financing.
• Secured an unpaid engineering internship for summer 2013 prior to the application deadline.

Applicants who do not meet these criteria and incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please note, by submitting an application, you authorize the Center for Career Education to conduct academic, disciplinary and financial aid checks to confirm program eligibility and inform funding decisions. Certain University policy violations may disqualify you from consideration for Columbia Engineering Internship Fund funding.

Deadline

Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 11:59 pm.

How to Apply

Application Timeline

Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Columbia Engineering Internship Fund Committee begins accepting applications.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Application deadline - all applications for the Columbia Engineering Internship Fund 2013 program must be submitted through the online application and supporting documents must be submitted in full to LionSHARE by 11:59 pm. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

April 25 - 26, 2013
The Columbia Engineering Internship Fund Committee reviews applications.

Week of April 29, 2013
Applicants will be notified of their status in the program (accepted or declined). 

About the Program

Columbia Engineering undergraduate students selected as Columbia Engineering Internship Fund grant recipients must commit to the following:

• Professional Development Workshop & Dinner(May 8, 2013; 5 - 6:30 pm)
  This "Internship Success" workshop will help undergraduate students learn important skills and tips to succeed in their internships including how to initiate internship projects and responsibilities, work on a team, communicate with their supervisor and network.

• Reflection Session(September 6, 2013; 2 - 3:30 pm)
  Recipients will participate in an interactive workshop to learn effective ways to communicate their internship experience to potential employers.

• Formal reflection (due September 6, 2013)
  Recipients will write a thank you letter/reflective essay to their Columbia Engineering Internship Fund donor(s). 

• Budget reconciliation (due September 6, 2013)
  Recipients must submit a completed budget reconciliation detailing their summer expenses. 

If you are unable to fully commit to all these events, please describe why you cannot commit to an event on your application in the essay section on "Commitment." You will still be considered for the program.