Student-Identified Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowships

Doctoral students who wish to receive Rackham funding for an internship they have secured must meet the general eligibility criteria for the Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowship Program below. Please read carefully, as the eligibility varies by term.

The exact level of Rackham funding will depend on what support the internship site offers.

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

Student Eligibility for All Terms

1. Students must be in good academic standing. Students on academic probation or on a leave of absence are ineligible.

2. International Students: As of August 28, 2026, the International Center has updated its Curricular Practical Training (CPT) policies in response to new federal guidelines. The change requires that CPT for internships in the United States will only be approved when internships are required by their graduate program for all students. International students are required to have Curricular Practical Training (CPT) to pursue off-campus internships and to participate in off-campus internships through RDIF. Given the federal guidelines, international students are very likely unable to be eligible for CPT to participate in RDIF for internships off campus.International students need to consult with the International Center to answer questions and discuss their specific circumstances.

   There are circumstances where CPT guidelines do not impact internship participation. International students seeking internship opportunities outside of the United States will not need to use CPT, but may have other authorization requirements, as each country has its own standards for work authorization. Relatedly, if an international student is completing work for a U.S.-based country from their home country and all work is done from that home country, they may not need CPT.

   No additional work authorization is typically required for internships and employment on U-M’s campus, making on-campus internships a more viable option for international students seeking internship opportunities. However, if international students hold other on-campus positions while completing an internship, they may still need CPT. Consult with the International Center early to discuss your specific circumstances. Rackham staff and career coaches can assist you with exploring what kinds of internships on U-M’s campus might align with your career interests and RDIF program requirements.

3. 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.
4. Students may only be funded for the same internship for one academic term (fall, winter, or spring/summer). Co-op experiences lasting longer than 12 weeks or one academic term are only eligible for up to one term of support from the Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowship Program.
5. Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowship awardees are expected to be fully engaged in their internship and making academic progress (e.g., coursework, research). Therefore, a fellow may not accept supplemental employment involving more than 10 hours of work each week while receiving RDIF support. Students may not hold graduate student instructor (GSI), graduate student research assistant (GSRA), or graduate student staff assistant (GSSA) positions greater than a .25 appointment during the same term as an RDIF. Students holding other fellowships during the same term as a Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowship must comply with Rackham’s Additional Funding in Excess of Stipend Policy (Section IV).
6. Students with other fellowships providing stipend support should consult with their department and Rackham to discuss deferring other support to a future date if they are awarded a Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowship. Students may have other sources of support not intended as fellowship stipends (i.e. travel support, research grants, emergency fund awards).
7. Students must be doctoral students who have completed at least two academic terms. Pre-Candidates are only eligible to apply for Spring/Summer intern fellowship funding. Candidates are eligible to apply for all terms.
8. Note for Museum Studies Program (MSP) students: MSP doctoral students may apply for supplementary internship funding through the Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowship Program to bring their MSP internship award up to the established one-term candidacy fellowship rate. Per Rackham policy, students may receive only one RDIF award during their graduate studies. Therefore, MSP students who have previously received RDIF support are not eligible for supplemental Rackham funding for MSP internships. A supplemental award through the RDIF program counts as an MSP student’s one internship fellowship.

Fall and Winter Terms

Only students who have achieved doctoral candidacy are eligible to apply.

Spring/Summer Term

• Doctoral pre-candidates and candidates are eligible.
• Tuition support is not provided during spring/summer.

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

Internships Must

1. Be conducted at a non-academic site. Eligible internship host-sites include for-profit companies, start-up companies, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, museums, learning centers, and policy think tanks. Internships at universities may be eligible if the position is in a non-academic unit and is supervised by a staff member outside the professoriate.
2. Be a minimum of 14 weeks for 20 hours per week or the equivalent 280 hours during one academic term.
3. Include substantive opportunities to broaden and extend beyond the student’s academic experience and research.
4. Offer significant opportunities for developing career readiness and professional preparation, which include experience with specific competency areas such as advanced skill development, research collaboration, communication, leadership, management, and policy.
5. Enable the student to develop new networks of professionals and knowledge of allied businesses, organizations, agencies, and institutions that can support further career development.
6. Involve ongoing mentoring to enrich, inform, and advance the internship experience and career preparation of the doctoral student.
7. Involve a financial contribution from the organization, either through direct compensation to the student or by covering expenses associated with relocation, travel, etc. Review the Unpaid Internships section for more details.

Internships Cannot

1. Be a traditional research assistantship or GSRA position at an academic institution.
2. Have a faculty supervisor (including tenure track, clinical faculty, lecturers, etc.) The internship supervisor must have a staff appointment outside of the professoriate.
3. Be undertaken at an organization where the student’s Ph.D. advisor, or dissertation committee members have a current financial interest, conflict of interest, and/or a formal research collaboration relationship.
4. Be at an entirely volunteer-run organization.

Unpaid Internships

Rackham requires internship organizations to contribute financially to a student’s internship experience, either through direct compensation or by covering expenses associated with relocation, travel, etc. The purpose of these awards is to offset expenses so that all students completing an internship receive the equivalent of a full Rackham fellowship (stipend, tuition, GradCare) so that they can integrate an internship into their graduate training.

If a student’s internship organization is unable to contribute, the internship supervisor must submit a short letter describing the reason for an exemption from this requirement to [email protected]. Rackham must receive this letter before reaching a final decision on the student’s application.

On-Campus Internships

Required cost-share: If your application is for an internship within a campus unit at the University of Michigan, a minimum cost share of $2,500 is required by the campus unit to be eligible and should be identified in your internship offer letter. If you are selected for an RDIF, Rackham will work with the U-M unit directly to transfer the funds to your award.

On-Campus Opportunities with current Rackham host organizations: Offers for internships on-campus at the University of Michigan should not be with the same unit or organization that is offering an opportunity as a Rackham Host Organization in the same semester. Exceptions are only considered in rare circumstances when the internship is within a separate division or team within the unit. The student and unit need to explain how this internship is distinct from the opportunity offered as a host organization and why it needs to be undertaken in the same semester.

Students Selected for a Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowship Must

1. Complete reflection prompts assigned by Rackham staff three times during the semester during which funding is awarded.
2. Attend an orientation session facilitated by Rackham staff in advance of their internship.
3. Have the option to join monthly online professional development meetings with other Rackham students who have Doctoral Intern Fellowships during the same semester.

Students can apply for a combination of internship support awards from the options below. Rackham expects internship organizations to contribute financially to a student’s internship experience, though the amount may vary. The purpose of these awards is to offset expenses so that all students completing an internship receive the equivalent of a full Rackham fellowship (stipend, tuition, GradCare).

Please note that students who qualify for need-based financial aid (including the child care subsidy) and receive additional Rackham funding may be subject to a reduction in the original loan amounts or subsidy. Contact the U-M Office of Financial Aid for help evaluating your individual circumstances.

Stipend Support

Students who have secured an unpaid or underpaid internship that pays less than the current Rackham fellowship rate for a semester are eligible to apply for a stipend to supplement pay from the internship organization to bring them up to the current Rackham fellowship rate.

Tuition Support

Students who have secured an internship that is offering a stipend at or above the current Rackham stipend rate are eligible for a tuition-only award. Students requesting a partial or full stipend can also request a tuition award.

GradCare Support

Students who have secured an internship that is funded except for health insurance may apply for GradCare coverage for the term during which they are completing an internship. Students requesting a partial or full stipend, and/or tuition support, can also request GradCare coverage.

Relocation Support

Students participating in internships that require relocation within the United States can apply for up to $1,000 in relocation support. Students participating in internships that require them to travel internationally can request up to $3,000 in relocation support. Please note: priority for relocation support is given to students not receiving other relocation support from their internship organization. Students requesting a partial or full stipend can also request Relocation Support.

Students must apply through the Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowship Application Portal, where they must submit the required documentation outlined below:

1. Internship Scope: Please provide a substantive description of your internship that details the scope of your work and how this opportunity supports your professional and scholarly development. We are looking for evidence that this experience will provide unique value for your graduate education and beyond. Internships must be distinct from traditional research assistantships or temporary research appointments.
2. Mentorship and Networking: Please provide a brief description of how this internship will provide you with unique mentorship opportunities and will facilitate access to new professional networks. We are looking for evidence that this experience will provide unique value that you wouldn’t get from a typical experience as a doctoral student.
3. Career Exposure and Skill Refinement: Please provide a substantive description of how this opportunity will allow you to widen your perspective on the diverse careers and roles available to you or deepen your understanding of a career field in which you are already familiar. Please also explain how this opportunity will help you acquire new skills and refine some of the skills you already have. Much like the Internship Scope, we are looking for evidence of the unique value of this opportunity.
4. Past Professional Development Activities: Please provide a brief description of any previous professional development activities in which you have engaged. These activities could be—but aren’t limited to—workshops or presentations with Rackham, the University Career Center, department-level workshops on professional development topics, shadowing opportunities, site immersives, or any informational interviewing you’ve done. We are looking for evidence that applicants have demonstrated curiosity and initiative regarding their professional development.
5. An offer letter from the internship site, confirming the internship position, the purpose and scope of the position, duration of the position, and any stipend, salary, or hourly wage that would come with the position. 
6. A detailed resume, including any experience relevant for the internship.
7. Approval from your faculty advisor and department for your application. This is done automatically when you submit your application, but faculty approval is required for applications to be reviewed and considered by host organizations.
8. Supporting documentation if requesting relocation funds (transportation estimates, housing estimates, etc.).
9. If the organization is not contributing financially to your internship, the organization must provide a request for exemption from our Unpaid Internships policy. This will be submitted with your other materials in the application portal.

Note

If you are applying for funding but have not received final details from your internship site, please submit as much information as you are able (e.g. email correspondence from the internship site indicating your acceptance). Formal confirmation is required for funding, but please submit your application before the deadline for consideration even if some details are still undetermined.

Funding is limited and competitive. Applications will be reviewed, evaluated, and awarded once per semester until available funds are expended. It may take up to four weeks after the deadline for notifications of awards.

This rubric is intended to clarify how the Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowships Program (RDIFP) team reviews and selects students for funding on the student-identified internships track.