Summer Fellowships

Summer is a fantastic time to work as an intern whether you are embarking on your first internship, continuing a service learning project from the academic year, or deepening an existing working relationship with an organization.

Hanoi fruit vendor - Claire Thielke

Summer internships usually allow for more substantive work since students are able to have a full-time immersion experience, and there are often opportunities to secure generous funding for a summer internship.

The Urban Studies Fellowship program is currently on pause. Students seeking alternative opportunities are strongly encouraged to apply for Cardinal Quarter fellowships through the Haas Center for Public Service.  Application deadlines may vary. Please allow sufficient time to arrange a placement, solicit letters of recommendation, and write your proposal.

 

Questions? Contact the Director of Community Engaged Learning

Haas Center Fellowships

The Haas Center for Public Service offers summer fellowships that fund students’ work in a variety of public service endeavors. Many, though not all, Haas fellowships can translate into internship experiences that meet the Urban Studies internship criteria.

Urban Studies-Centered Haas Center Fellowships

The following is a list of fellowships commonly pursued by Urban Studies students, though we recommend students explore the full list of fellowship and other Cardinal Quarter offerings.

  • Urban Summer Fellowship: Fellows have the opportunity to spend a summer working at an organization addressing urban issues.

  • Public Interest Law Fellowship: Fellows have the opportunity to spend a summer working full-time in the field of public interest law.

  • Philanthropy Fellowship: The Philanthropy fellowships provide full-time, nine-week placements in various Bay Area foundations.

  • Stanford In Government: SIG provides students with meaningful exposure to the public policy process by placing them in government and nonprofit agencies in the Bay Area, Sacramento, Washington D.C., and internationally.


 

Urban Studies Summer Fellowship

The Urban Studies Summer Fellowship provides undergraduates with the opportunity to complement their academic studies with a full-time, paid internship experience during the summer at an organization of their choice. Preference will be given to Urban Studies majors, but all Stanford undergraduates are eligible to apply.

The fellowship placement should be with government agencies or non-profit organizations committed to public service, public policy, community development or research on urban issues. Students are expected to work on-site for a minimum of 40 hours per week for 8 weeks during the summer.

Students may apply to the Urban Studies Fellowship and the Haas Center Fellowships, including the Urban Summer Fellowship. However, a student may only accept one fellowship.

Selection Criteria

Priority will be given to undergraduate students:

  • In the Urban Studies major;

  • In their junior year working on an honors thesis or senior project addressing urban issues;

  • In the Urban Studies minor;

  • With demonstrated pre-field preparation;

  • Whose proposed summer fellowship articulates a strong interest in urban issues and provides value for the on-site community partner.

Fellowship Expectations
  1. Identify a Partner Organization. Before applying for the Urban Studies Fellowship, students should secure the support of an on-site supervisor at a potential organization to host the fellowship experience. A letter of support from the organization is strongly encouraged for the application.

  2. Prepare for the Fellowship. Students who are awarded the fellowship should demonstrate adequate preparation, and when necessary, should enroll in an appropriate preparation course in the quarter prior to beginning work in the summer. During the spring quarter, students will work with the Director of Community Engaged Learning to finalize arrangements with their placement site to ensure that the internship meets their academic and personal goals. They should work with their on-site supervisor to complete the Learning Objectives Agreement. They will also participate in an orientation prior to beginning the summer fellowship.

  3. Participate in Ongoing Reflection. Throughout the summer, students will participate in a midterm and final evaluation with the on-site supervisor and Director of Community Engaged Learning. Urban Studies Fellows write weekly reflections to identify challenges and accomplishments during the course of the fellowship experience. They are expected to participate in online and/or face-to-face sessions with the Director of Community Engaged Learning and other interns during the summer.

  4. Contribute to the Urban Studies Community. Upon completion of the fellowship and returning to campus in the Fall, students will submit a final report about their fellowship experiences and will organize and present in a forum to share their experiences with other fellows, faculty, community members, and interested students. Fellows are also encouraged to participate in the Symposium of Undergraduate Research and Public Service (SURPS).

Pre-Field Preparation

Fellowship recipients should demonstrate adequate preparation, for the fellowship through academic coursework. During spring quarter students will also work with Urban Studies staff to finalize arrangements with their placement site to ensure that the internship meets their academic and personal goals. They should arrange to meet with the Urban Studies Director of Community Engaged Learning prior to beginning the summer fellowship to discuss the fellowship requirements.    

Stipend

Fellows receive a generous stipend upon completion of the fellowship. This stipend is meant to support a student’s full-time commitment to their 8-week summer internship. Students cannot hold part-time jobs or other paid positions during this time.

Funds may be used for expenses associated with the internship including housing, travel, supplies and equipment purchases, and may also include a stipend. Students are expected to submit a budget of estimated costs during the Spring Quarter. Upon confirmation of a student’s partnering organization, an additional honorarium will be provided to the organization for their supervising and mentoring services.

Urban Studies Fellows must abide by the University's policy on international travel and will not be allowed to travel to countries with a U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory Level 4 (or “Do Not Travel”) or Level 3 (or “Reconsider Travel”).