Deadline to apply for funding
February 5, 2026
11:59 PM EDT
Summer Funding and Study Abroad Office (SFSAO) Funding for Internships or Research Outside the U.S.
The Summer Funding and Study Abroad Office (SFSAO) offers funding to support students participating in internships with organizations based outside the United States. SFSAO supports two types of internships, self-arranged and pre-arranged by a placement company. For independently arranged internships, students secure their own internships. When students secure an internship through a placement company, students pay a program fee to the company. Please reach out to SFSAO if you are unsure if your internship is eligible for funding.
Dates & Deadlines
Funding decisions released
March 20, 2026
12:00 PM EDT
Students must accept or decline funding offer
March 24, 2026
11:59 PM EDT
Deadline to submit pre-departure requirements to receive funding
April 29, 2026
11:59 PM EDT
Student Eligibility
You’re eligible to apply if you:
- Are a current Harvard College student
- Are in good academic standing when you apply and throughout your summer internship.
- Are not on an involuntary leave of absence.
- Are compliant with the Harvard College Summer Funding Policy
Opportunity Eligibility
Your opportunity is eligible if:
- It is not in a high-risk country or region
- It is at one organization only
- It is in one location only (not multi-city or multi-country)
- It is 6 weeks or longer
- It is full-time (minimum 30 hours per week)
- It is in-person, hybrid, or remote
- It is unpaid or paid less than the corresponding country-level stipend
- You can submit a host organization letter signed by your supervisor by the application deadline
Application Instructions
- Apply directly to the organization with which you want to intern or conduct research
- Enroll in direct deposit.
- Apply in CARAT to "SFSAO Funding for Internships or Research Outside the U.S. SU26 (IND) - Round B Funding" by 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 5, 2026 with the following materials:
- Host organization support letter template listing required details of internship.
- Completed Internship and Research Assistantship Form, PDF format
- One-page resume, PDF format (we recommend using MCS' templates)
- Unofficial Transcript, PDF format (available under Grades tab, “View Unofficial Transcript” in my.harvard)
- Proof of Direct Deposit enrollment, PDF format. Submit a pdf screenshot from the “Student Accounts” section from my.harvard that shows you are enrolled in direct deposit.
Award Amounts and Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Award Amounts
- In-person: $6,500-$14,750 (amount depends on country)
- Virtual: $4,000
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Funding awards may not cover all expenses. Students who receive an SFSAO award should be prepared to cover any additional expenses the award does not cover, for example:
- Visas
- Personal expenses
- Immunizations
- Cell phone coverage
- Airport transport
How are Funding Decisions Made?
- Funding is not guaranteed; due to high demand, last year, SFSAO was only able to fund about 34% of applications
- Funding decisions are not based on financial need; not all students on financial aid are funded
- Funding for students pursuing internships in their home countries is limited
- Funding for fully remote internships is limited
Questions?
Contact the Summer Funding and Study Abroad Office (SFSAO) team at summerfunding@fas.harvard.edu.