Find answers to your questions
Program basics
To apply for SIP, you must:
- Be a full-time IUPUI undergraduate student working toward a first bachelor's degree
- Be in your second- or sophomore year at IUPUI at the time of the internship (at least one semester at IUPUI prior to applying)
- Have a minimum overall GPA of 2.0
- Have an availability of 10-15 hours per week in your schedule during the internship semester
- Have any additional skills specified in the position descriptions
- Have related major or relevant coursework desired by the internship site
Transfer students are eligible after being at IUPUI for at least one semester (must have an IUPUI GPA at time of application).
International students are eligible with an active work-authorization or student visa.
Students from all majors are qualified to apply.
The internship experiences are as diverse as the locations in which they are offered. We have positions from various types of major, changing and expanding every semester. Available positions are listed via Handshake and can be found on the About the application page when the student application opens each semester. Previous descriptions from former interns offer excellent insight into the types of positions we can have. These can be viewed on the showcase page.
Our internships are currently a mix of in-person and virtual. This varies by policies on working in person from each internship site.
An internship with SIP is a paid position in which IUPUI undergraduate students engage in relevant work experiences within a professional area of study. Interns are encouraged to apply their academic experience to real-world problems and to develop critical skills in various areas of research and professional work. The National Association of Colleges and Employers sets the baseline for the criteria and definition of an internship.
SIP internships are not “busy work” jobs for students. They offer an opportunity for meaningful exposure to professional fields at an undergraduate level.
Once students are accepted into SIP they do not need to do anything to receive their scholarship. It will disburse to their Bursar account just like any other loans, grants, and scholarships from IUPUI.
You must meet the basic requirements and submit the application on time to be considered. We recommend you apply at your earliest opportunity (usually the spring of your first year at IUPUI) to allow another year of eligibility if you don't get in on your first try.
The most successful applicants have utilized campus career services for assistance in putting together the application materials.
Unfortunately, students who are no longer in their undergraduate years are not eligible for our program. However, you may be eligible for other internship opportunities. Check with your school's career services office for more resources.
Program logistics
Interns work a maximum of 15 hours per week, usually during 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Check your schedule to make sure you have those hours available, preferably in a few blocks of time each week, before you apply for the program.
Hour requirements or restrictions are specified by internship sites in the job postings listed on Handshake.
Program application
Phase 1
- Preliminary screening will be made on the basis of SIP eligibility requirements and completed applications submitted by applicants. Only eligible applicants with complete applications will move forward for screening.
- Review the internship requirements (duties and responsibilities, major, etc). It is your responsibility to demonstrate on your application that you meet all of the minimum requirements to be considered.
- You will receive an email when your application is received in full and one additional email after the due date to inform you of when application decisions will be made. If you don't receive the email, please contact sipiupui@iupui.edu to make sure your application was received.
Phase 2
- Eligible student applicants will be invited for interviews. Being selected for an interview is not a guarantee of admission to the program.
- Applicants selected for the interview process will meet with given internship sites. Supervisors and applicants will meet for an interview (off-campus) in a timely manner and will submit feedback to the SIP team.
Phase 3
- Matches are made based on interview feedback reviewed by the SIP team. Additional interviews may be assigned based on feedback and at the discretion of the SIP team.
- Final matches are released upon review of previous semester grades.
To have a spring internship, the deadline is during the week before before IUPUI fall break. To have a fall internship, the deadline is during the week before IUPUI spring break.
You are encouraged to submit your application at least a week before the deadline. Late applications are not accepted.
The Office of Student Employment has many helpful resources for writing a resume.
We highly recommend you visit OSE or your school's career office to check your resume and other application materials. You can visit the Getting help with your application page for how to meet with them.
Appropriate references are former supervisors, professors, academic counselors, advisors, peer leaders, or anyone who can speak to the quality of your work. They are usually happy to act as a reference, so just ask them! Inappropriate references include friends and family members. We do not ask for letters of recommendation, just contact information.