PhD Plus Internship Program

OVERVIEW 

PhD Plus provides Master's students and doctoral degree students in the advanced years of their degree program with the opportunity to pursue an internship with a University office or external partner. Our goal is to provide students with substantive and mentored experiences that will develop their skills, broaden their career options, and diversify their professional network.  

MODEL 

In order to provide the broadest access to internship opportunities, we limit participation in PhD Plus internships to one opportunity per student during their enrollment at the University. The length of the internship can range from a few months through multiple semesters.  

Three broad categories of internships are available: 

  1. University Office 
  2. External Partner 
  3. Student-Proposed 

READ HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAST PHD PLUS INTERNS

For Current PhD Students

ELIGIBILITY 

As outlined in the PhD Plus program philosophy and mechanics, we advise students to undertake self-reflection, career exploration and skills assessment, and formalizing interest in one or two careers before participating in experiential learning opportunities. Please review the requirements below to determine your eligibility. 

In order to participate in the PhD Plus Internship Program, applicants must:

  • Be enrolled full-time in a Master's or doctoral program at the University,
  • Be in good academic standing,
  • FOR DOCTORAL STUDENTS: Have completed all degree requirements with the exception of the dissertation by the beginning of the internship.

CATEGORIES

As mentioned above, PhD+ Plus Internships may be one of three categories: 

  1. University Office: These experiences occur within an office or department at UVA. 
  2. External Partner: These experiences occur with an external business or organization.
  3. Student-Proposed (Propose Your Own): These opportunities are developed by the student in tandem with an organization of interest.

DURATION 

In order to incorporate professional development within the standard timeframe for obtaining a graduate degree, these internships are limited to an average of:

  • Twenty hours of effort per week during the ten-week summer period
  • Ten hours of effort per week during the twenty-week academic semester-length assistantship period.  

FUNDING

The internship provides $6,120 in support during the summer or per academic semester. 

  • For students in the GSAS, an internship could replace ten hours of assistantship support in a given semester (pending departmental and GSAS approval).
  • Internships that occur with the University of Virginia are paid in hourly wages ($30.60/hour for 200 hours of work). This means that students must be in Workday and must submit time sheets, as wages will be distributed on a bi-weekly basis rather than in one lump sum.
  • Internships with external partners are paid via a fellowship stipend.

These internships do not provide funding for tuition, fees and student health insurance. However, a student who has exhausted the standard support awarded upon admission could combine an internship with a teaching or research assistantship that is funding their tuition, fees and health insurance for the year. 

APPLICATION TIMELINE

February 1: Student internship application opens online.

February 1-April 1: Students review internships and apply online.

April 1: Student application deadline for applying to internships. 

April 1-5: PhD Plus works with academic departments to confirm a student’s availability for the semester in question. 

April 5-19: PhD Plus forwards student application materials to internship partners. From there, partners may reach out to students directly to schedule meetings/interviews. 

April 22: PhD Plus collects hiring preferences of the internship partners, confirms student interest, and informs the internship partner that the student will participate. This concludes the internship application cycle.

For University Internship Partners

INTERNSHIP REQUEST FORM

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT INTERNSHIP REQUEST FORM: JANUARY 31, 2024

MENTORSHIP

A PhD Plus Internship is meant to be an experience during which a graduate student gains valuable skills and organizational knowledge. To foster this process, we ask that internship partners identify a mentor for the student that will guide them through the experience. This individual should be available to answer questions, delegate tasks, and provide feedback on the intern’s performance. In addition, we ask our partners to consider ways in which the intern may learn about the organization. This may include attending meetings, interacting with leadership and/or stakeholders, etc.  

DEVELOPING THE INTERNSHIP

Some categories featured in the internship request form include: 

  • Skills the intern will practice/develop 
  • Intern responsibilities 
  • Mentorship plan 

DURATION

Internships can last from one semester to multiple semesters. Please note that a student’s availability may vary depending on their departmental responsibilities. PhD Plus works with academic departments to finalize and confirm the semesters in which a student can work, but we cannot guarantee that a student will be available during all of the requested semesters.

In order to incorporate professional development within the standard timeframe for obtaining a graduate degree, these internships are limited to an average of: 

  • Twenty hours per week during the ten-week summer period 
  • Ten hours of effort per week during the twenty-week academic semester-length assistantship period. 

FUNDING

University departments who participate in the PhD Plus Internship Program are responsible for providing funding for the internship.

In the past, the hourly wage breakdown has been as follows: 

$30.60/hour for 200 hours of work = $6,120 per semester 

Upon hearing from the PhD Plus team that the internship has been confirmed, internship partners will communicate with the intern to determine an official start date for the internship. Additionally, partners are responsible for adding the student to their Workday system.  

  • Note: This process is done internally with your department. PhD Plus does not have any connection to the payment process for students completing university internships.
  • For any questions regarding Workday, please reach out to UVA’s HR department. https://hr.virginia.edu/contact   

PROCESS TIMELINE

Early December: The internship request form goes live on the PhD Plus website.  

January 31: The internship request form closes to all partners, and requests are reviewed by PhD Plus for approval.

February 1: Student internship application opens online.

February 1-April 1: Students review internships and apply online.

April 1: Student application deadline for applying to internships. 

April 1-5: PhD Plus works with academic departments to confirm a student’s availability for the semester in question. 

April 5-19: PhD Plus forwards student application materials to internship partners. From there, partners may reach out to students directly to schedule meetings/interviews. 

April 22: PhD Plus collects hiring preferences of the internship partners, confirms student interest, and informs the internship partner that the student will participate. This concludes the internship application cycle.

 

For External Internship Partners

INTERNSHIP REQUEST FORM

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT INTERNSHIP REQUEST FORM: JANUARY 31, 2024

MENTORSHIP

A PhD Plus Internship is meant to be an experience during which a graduate student gains valuable skills and organizational knowledge. To foster this process, we ask that internship partners identify a mentor for the student that will guide them through the experience. This individual should be available to answer questions, delegate tasks, and provide feedback on the intern’s performance. In addition, we ask our partners to consider ways in which the intern may learn about the organization. This may include attending meetings, interacting with leadership and/or stakeholders, etc.  

DEVELOPING THE INTERNSHIP 

Some categories featured in the internship request submission include: 

  • Skills the intern will practice/develop 
  • Intern responsibilities 
  • Mentorship plan 

DURATION 

Internships with external partners may vary depending on the number of interns they want to hire. If a partner wants 1 intern, then that intern may work for up to two semesters. If the partner wants to hire two interns, each intern may work 1 semester. This is due to the funding structure.

Please note that a student’s availability may vary depending on their departmental responsibilities. PhD Plus works with academic departments to finalize and confirm the semesters in which a student can work.  

In order to incorporate professional development within the standard timeframe for obtaining a graduate degree, these internships are limited to an average of: 

  • Twenty hours of effort per week during the ten-week summer period 
  • Ten hours of effort per week during the twenty-week academic semester-length assistantship period. 

FUNDING 

As of the 2024-25 internship cycle, program internships that occur with external partners are funded by PhD Plus. Students who are hired by external partners will receive a fellowship stipend of $6,120.00 per semester For external partners that are interested in funding the internships themselves, please contact Todd Moellendick ([email protected]). 

Because of this, external partners are limited to either: 

  • 1 intern for up to two semesters 
  • 2 interns for one semester each 

PROCESS TIMELINE

Early December: The internship request form goes live on the PhD Plus website.  

January 31: The internship request form closes to all partners, and requests are reviewed by PhD Plus for approval.

February 1: Student internship application opens online.

February 1-April 1: Students review internships and apply online.

April 1: Student application deadline for applying to internships. 

April 1-5: PhD Plus works with academic departments to confirm a student’s availability for the semester in question. 

April 5-19: PhD Plus forwards student application materials to internship partners. From there, partners may reach out to students directly to schedule meetings/interviews. 

April 22: PhD Plus collects hiring preferences of the internship partners, confirms student interest, and informs the internship partner that the student will participate. This concludes the internship application cycle.

2024/2025 Internship Cycle

The 2024/2025 internship cycle is now open. The closing date for eligible doctoral students to apply for an internship is Monday, April 1, 2024.  For more information about internship opportunities and logistics, please click here.