Accessing Your Meiklejohn Fellows Program Internship Stipend

Fellows must complete all steps of the process to receive their stipend. Please read all the details outlined below before you begin your internship and prior to beginning your application.

Student Eligibility for Stipend

First-Time Meiklejohn Fellows (Enrolled Fall 2026 or Spring 2027)

To request a stipend, a first-time Meiklejohn Fellow MUST:

Previous Enrolled Meiklejohn Fellows (Enrolled Fall 2025/Spring 2026)

To request a stipend, a previously enrolled Meiklejohn Fellow MUST:

  • Have been a Meiklejohn Fellow during the 2025 – 2026 academic year
  • Have accepted an internship for the summer (May-August 2027)
  • Be approaching their first or second summer of enrollment at Amherst
  • Not have received a Meiklejohn Fellows stipend in the past
  • Have completed all Meiklejohn Fellows Program requirements prior to applying for a stipend

Deadlines & Stipend Tiers

Applications for Meiklejohn Fellows Summer Internship Funding open in early March 2027 and are reviewed on a rolling basis. All eligible Meiklejohn Fellows who secure a qualifying internship and submit a complete application are guaranteed funding.

Application Deadline

  • Final Rolling Deadline: Sunday, May 9, 2027 at 11:59 PM EST

Note on Timing & Review: While funding is guaranteed for qualifying experiences, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Award decisions are typically communicated within 10–15 business days of submission. Please plan ahead accordingly, as you may incur internship-related costs prior to receiving your award.

Stipend Award Amounts & Hourly Requirements

Two stipend tiers are available based on your total work hours. Internships must offer at least 20 hours per week (up to a maximum of 40 hours per week) and total a minimum of 160 hours.

  • Partial Stipend ($3,875): 160–239 total work hours
    (Example: 8 weeks × 25 hours/week = 200 total hours)
  • Full Stipend ($5,000): 240+ total work hours
    (Example: 10 weeks × 35 hours/week = 350 total hours)

Low-Paying Internships & Employer Compensation

A low-paying internship provides total compensation below $5,000. Fellows receiving earnings or other compensation from their internship host may request a partial stipend. Total employer compensation plus the partial stipend cannot exceed $5,000.

When calculating partial stipends, employer-provided benefits are assigned the following monetary values:

  • Employer-sponsored housing: $1,000
  • Meals: $200
  • Transportation/parking: $100

Internship Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for funding, an internship must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Pay & Funding Restrictions:
    • Must be unpaid or low-paying. 
    • You cannot combine multiple part-time internships to meet requirements.
    • You may not participate in another funded Amherst College summer experience (e.g., SURF, Greg Call research, tutorials, on-campus jobs; see Summers At Amherst for details).
  • Dates: Must take place during Amherst College summer break (May 21, 2027 – August 29, 2027).
  • Hours & Format: Must offer 20 to 40 hours per week and at least 160 total work hours. In-person, hybrid, and remote internships are all eligible. Internships can occur outside of the United States.
    • Examples: 8 weeks × 20 hours/week = 160 total hours | 6 weeks × 40 hours/week = 240 total hours
  • Employer Verification: Must be hosted by an organization verifiable through:
    • A working website with a legal name matching the application, or
    • An updated social media account (Instagram, X, LinkedIn, etc.) active within a month of application submission, or
    • A public database listing (e.g., IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool or Secretary of State website).
    • Internships at for-profit organizations must comply with the Fair Labor and Standards Act. Use this resource to learn more about internships and the Fair Labor Standards Act. 
  • Work Scope: Must allow the intern to spend most work hours on assignments that are meaningful to the organization and appropriately challenging for their experience level.

Supervisor Eligibility Requirements 

Your internship supervisor must:

  • Develop substantive work/projects with specific learning goals, objectives, and deliverables.
  • Provide ongoing mentorship and guidance throughout the summer by:
    • Building an effective relationship and aligning on learning goals to support student success.
    • Facilitating reflective thinking and growth through thought-provoking questions.
    • Providing objective guidance and regular feedback (preferably weekly).
  • Be available to answer questions and/or connect students to other content area experts in the department who can support them. 
  • Have graduated more than 3 years ago and have at least two consecutive years of full-time work experience. 
  • Be primarily employed by the organization you are interning with. 
  • Supervisors cannot be family members

Ineligible Internships 

These kinds of experiences are ineligible for funding. Always feel free to reach out to internships@amherst.edu if you have a question about the eligibility of an opportunity prior to applying. 

  • Internships, jobs, or research positions with Amherst faculty/staff 
  • A student’s own entrepreneurial or personal projects
  • Startup incubator programs
  • Skill-development programs or academic coursework
  • Solely clinical shadowing experiences
  • Language programs
  • Fee-based internship placement programs
  • Tuition-based academic programs with an experiential learning component
  • Political campaigns
  • A start-up venture or organization that has no full-time paid staff 

How To Apply

Funding is guaranteed for qualifying internships, but Fellows must submit a complete application for criteria verification before funds are awarded. Applications may be declined if the internship does not qualify, the application is incomplete, or there are serious safety/legitimacy concerns regarding the site.

Step-by-Step Application Process

  1. Accept & Confirm: Before applying, you must first accept an unpaid or low-paying internship offer and secure the following:
  • Written position description
  • Official start and end dates
  • Number of weekly work hours
  1. Obtain Sponsor Confirmation Form: Send the Sponsor Confirmation Form to your supervisor. Once completed and emailed back, confirm the details match your agreement.
  2. Thoughtfully Write Your Application via SurveyMonkey Apply: Log in using Amherst Single Sign-On (SSO). A complete application requires all of the following components:
    • Internship Registration: Basic details about you, your internship, and summer logistics.
    • Thoughtful Essay Responses: Review the short essay questions and draft in a separate document beforehand.
    • Thorough Summer Budget: Completed copy of our summer budgeting template attached as a PDF.
    • College-Level Resume: PDF of your latest resume adhering to the Loeb Center Resume Review Checklist (highly recommend working with an advisor or Peer Career Advisor).
    • Sponsor Confirmation Form: Uploaded copy of the completed form.
  3. Finalize: Click “Mark as Complete” for each section, sign the final acknowledgment form, and click Submit.
  4. Check Your Email: Review decisions are communicated within 10–15 business days. If staff request clarifications or corrections, please respond within 48 hours to prevent delays in processing your award.

Post-Award Requirements & Payment Information

Notification & Disbursement Timeline

  • Status Updates: Applicants will be notified of their application status within 2 to 3 weeks after submission. Award letters will include a list of pre-departure tasks students must complete before a stipend can be requested and disbursed.
  • Stipend Disbursement: Once a stipend request is submitted, payment takes up to 3 weeks. Ensure direct deposit details are updated in Workday for student refunds and payments.

Pre-Departure Requirements Students awarded funding must complete all of the following before a stipend check can be requested:

  • Agreements & Waivers:
    • Read and complete the Loeb Center Summer Funding Programs Internship Agreement.
    • Sign the Travel Waiver.
    • Complete the Amherst College Travel Registry (required for all students, including those staying at home or on campus).
  • Preparation & Events:
    • Complete the Internship Preparedness Survey.
    • Attend the Pre-Departure Event (a remote option is provided for students studying away).
    • Review the College’s Health and Safety While Traveling page resources.

Additional Conditional Requirements (If Applicable):

  • Minor Safety Certification: Required prior to starting if your internship involves the care, supervision, or control of minors (waived if completed within the last 3 years). See FAQ below to determine if your role requires certification.
  • Travel Petition: Required if interning in a U.S. Department of State Level 3 Travel Advisory country (even if it is your home country).

Post-Internship Requirement & Fund Use

Stipend Usage: Fellows do not need to track or submit receipts and may use their stipend however best supports their summer housing, living, and travel expenses.

Summer Internship Reflection: All Fellows are required to complete a final reflection at the conclusion of the summer sharing insights and progress on their goals.