Doctoral Intern Fellowships with Rackham Host Organizations

Eligibility Requirements and Funding Information

Doctoral students who wish to receive Rackham funding for an internship with one of Rackham’s host organizations must meet the general eligibility criteria for the Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowship Program below. Please read carefully, as the eligibility varies by term.

Only doctoral students enrolled in Rackham programs of study are eligible to receive funding. Please check your eligibility before applying.

Eligibility for All Terms

• Students must be in good academic standing. Students on academic probation or on a leave of absence are ineligible.
• Students must obtain authorization from their director of graduate studies (DGS) to apply.
• International students may participate in the program, but will need appropriate work authorization to do so. For internships off-campus, international students should consult with the International Center to discuss what work authorization and CPT course enrollment may be needed in order to participate in an internship well in advance of applying. Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowships must be relevant to the student’s program of study and career goals. No additional work authorization is typically required for on-campus internship sites, but if international students hold other on-campus positions while completing an internship, they may still need curricular practical training (CPT). International students should consult with the International Center to discuss their specific circumstances.
• If you are selected for an internship, you must sign a student agreement, complete a work plan using Rackham’s template, and attend monthly cohort meetings (conducted remotely online) facilitated by Rackham staff during your internship.
• A student may only receive one Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowship of any kind during their course of study at U-M. This includes RDIFs with host organizations and Student-Identified intern fellowships.
• Students may not hold other Rackham or departmental fellowships, GSI, GSSA, or GSI positions while completing a Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowship. Students with other Spring/Summer fellowships should consult with their department (or other source of the funding) to discuss deferring other Spring/Summer support to a future date if they are awarded a Rackham Spring/Summer Doctoral Intern Fellowship.

Fall and Winter Term Additional Criteria and Funding

• Only doctoral students who have achieved candidacy are eligible to apply.
• Intern Fellows are expected to contribute to their internship 20 hours per week and receive a one-term fellowship package which includes candidacy tuition and fees, GradCare, and full stipend at the current Rackham fellowship rates.

Spring/Summer Term Additional Criteria and Funding

• Doctoral pre-candidates and candidates are eligible.
• Students must be enrolled during the winter term and continuing their studies in the fall term to be eligible.
• Students must be doctoral students who have completed at least two academic terms.
• In line with Rackham’s new 12-month funding plan for doctoral students, all Spring/Summer Rackham Doctoral Internships with our host organizations will now offer a full doctoral stipend (currently $12,028).
• As with other Rackham fellowships, students may work up to 10 hours per week in addition to completing their Rackham Doctoral Internship.

Students with questions about the criteria and guidelines should contact Rackham’s Professional Development and Engagement team.