Funding & Scholarships

Explore funding while you explore internships. Check each fund’s eligible activities, expenses, and application cycle before building your budget.

Start With USU Support

USU Study Abroad Funding

Scholarships and financial aid guidance for eligible overseas programs. Check whether your specific internship qualifies.

Explore Study Abroad Funding

ScholarshipUniverse and Department Awards

Find additional awards matching your background and major. Ask your department about internship assistance and confirm which expenses and locations are eligible.

Search ScholarshipUniverse

Political Science Scholarships and Awards

Support Outside USU

National Awards and Funded Career Pathways

Some awards support an eligible internship directly; others include internships within a larger fellowship or fund study and language preparation. Match the award to your experience before applying. A program listed here may have a closed or paused application cycle.

Award or program	Who and what it supports	How it relates to internships
Boren Scholarships and Fellowships	U.S. citizen undergraduates (Scholarships) and graduate students (Fellowships); overseas language study in regions important to U.S. interests.	Language-focused funding, not a general internship grant. Ask Boren whether your proposed academic internship can be part of the study plan. Awards carry a federal-service obligation; review current rules with a USU advisor.
Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Fellowship	Eligible college seniors and graduates pursuing a two-year graduate program and a U.S. Foreign Service career.	Graduate funding plus two summer internships, one domestic and one abroad. A five-year Foreign Service commitment and required clearances apply. Funding is tied to this fellowship pathway.
Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program	Graduate fellowship for eligible seniors and graduates preparing for Foreign Service careers; a separate undergraduate Summer Enrichment Program is also described.	The graduate fellowship includes graduate support, two internships, and a Foreign Service commitment. The undergraduate enrichment program is a separate educational experience, not funding for an independently arranged internship. Check each program’s cycle.
DAAD RISE Germany	Eligible undergraduates in biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, earth sciences, engineering, or related fields.	Direct research-internship pathway in Germany with scholarship support, insurance, and travel assistance. Review enrollment and year-of-study requirements and obtain USU approval for overseas participation.
Udall Native American Congressional Internship	Eligible Native American and Alaska Native students interested in tribal–federal policy and public service.	Washington, D.C. internship pathway, distinct from working directly in a Utah tribal office. Review current eligibility, covered expenses, and application dates on the program site.

Related Study and Language Awards — Including the Former Mitchell Scholarship

Program	Purpose and limits
US-Ireland Alliance Scholarship (formerly George J. Mitchell Scholarship)	Postgraduate study in Ireland or Northern Ireland, rather than a stand-alone internship grant. Selection of future classes is paused and the scholarship is not open, according to the sponsor’s page reviewed October 9, 2026. Retained as a longer-term pathway to monitor.
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS)	Intensive language-study support that can prepare students for future international work. The program does not allow an internship during participation; use it as a separate preparation opportunity.
Reviewed October 9, 2026. Start early: recommendation letters, transcripts, essays, and any campus endorsement can take time. Verify sponsor eligibility, service obligations, covered expenses, and current program status before including an award in your internship budget. Consult USU Study Abroad for overseas plans and your academic advisor for credit.

What if I choose a domestic or virtual internship?

Start with ELF, eligible Honors academic funding, department support, and ScholarshipUniverse. Ask about allowable expenses for your specific experience. Look for paid placements or host stipends, and compare provider fees with direct employer opportunities. Study abroad scholarships do not automatically apply to U.S.-based or virtual work.

How should I build my funding plan?

• Prepare an itemized budget with all costs and any compensation.
• Check eligibility and deadlines early; some funding cycles precede placement confirmation.
• Ask Student Financial Support how awards affect your aid package.
• Confirm whether multiple awards can be combined and whether expenses are excluded.
• Plan for deposits, reimbursement timing, and costs remaining if funding is not awarded.