The Unpaid Internship Scholarship is offered to students completing unpaid Work-Based Learning Experiences (WBLEs) including internships, student teaching, clinicals, etc during the fall semester. The Unpaid Internship Scholarship is designed to reimburse students for some associated costs, such as food, rent, tuition for required internship courses, and transportation.   

This is to help JMU students with some of the costs (up to $4000) 
of for-credit* unpaid Work-Based Learning Experiences (i.e. clinicals, student teaching, internships). Details below. 

Apply in the Madison Scholarship Hub

Application Deadlines: 

Spring 2026- November 1 - December 15, 2025 

Summer 2026- November 1 - April 1, 2026 

Spring 2026

Who is eligible?

• Current degree-seeking undergraduate JMU students who already have an internship secured. 
• Must be a Pell Eligible Student 
• All majors 
• Minimum 2.0 overall GPA (no rounding) 

• Unpaid, but you may receive a stipend, meals, subway pass, etc. 
• At least 8 weeks long, with a minimum of 125 hours 
• Completed during the spring semester (January-May) 
• The offer must be secured prior to applying (an employer verification form is a required part of the application) 
• You must have defined duties and a specific supervisor 
• Virtual internships are eligible 

• You must be enrolled in at least one credit hour of internship credit, as funds are distributed via Financial Aid. Funds will be applied toward any outstanding bill first, and you can elect how to receive the remainder. 
• You are encouraged to take an internship course in your major or minor. You may also check with other departments. 
• The University Career Center offers a course “UNST 480” a 1-credit hour course for internship credit if you do not have one within your major or department 
• Students may also be asked to serve on internship panels that the University Career Center sponsors in the future.  
• If you receive grants and scholarships that total more than the cost of tuition and books, you must report the excess as income on your tax return. Consult an accountant for more information 

• Programs that require you to pay a fee to obtain an internship or for training, housing, etc. will not be considered. This includes service vacations. 
• Students taking courses at JMU for one semester but seeking degrees from other universities are not eligible. 
• Previous winners of the Unpaid Internship Scholarship through University Career Center are not eligible. 
• Students interning at companies/organizations that do not follow JMU’s non-discrimination EEO policy are not eligible. 

Summer 2026

Who is eligible?

• Current degree-seeking undergraduate JMU students who already have an internship secured. 
• All majors 
• Minimum 2.0 overall GPA (no rounding) 

• Unpaid, but you may receive a stipend, meals, subway pass, etc. 
• At least 8 weeks long, with a minimum of 240 hours 
• Completed during the summer semester (May-August) 
• The offer must be secured prior to applying (an employer verification form is a required part of the application) 
• You must have defined duties and a specific supervisor 
• Virtual internships are eligible 

• You must be enrolled in at least one credit hour of internship credit, as funds are distributed via Financial Aid. Funds will be applied toward any outstanding bill first, and you can elect how to receive the remainder. 
• You are encouraged to take an internship course in your major or minor. You may also check with other departments. 
• The University Career Center offers a course “UNST 480” a 1-credit hour course for internship credit if you do not have one within your major or department 
• Students may also be asked to serve on internship panels that the University Career Center sponsors in the future.  
• If you receive grants and scholarships that total more than the cost of tuition and books, you must report the excess as income on your tax return. Consult an accountant for more information 

• Programs that require you to pay a fee to obtain an internship or for training, housing, etc. will not be considered. This includes service vacations. 
• Students taking courses at JMU for one semester but seeking degrees from other universities are not eligible. 
• Previous winners of the Unpaid Internship Scholarship through University Career Center are not eligible. 
• Students interning at companies/organizations that do not follow JMU’s non-discrimination EEO policy are not eligible. 

• Part 1: Student Application 

• Part 2: Faculty/Staff Recommendation, which you’ll link through the Madison Scholarship Hub Application 

• Part 3: Internship Budget Form (Download and follow the instructions in the form) 
  • This form will determine the amount offered (up to $4000) if your application is selected 

• Part 4: Employer Verification (Download and follow the instructions in the form) 
  • The student will need to send this form to their internship supervisor to be completed. The employer will then need to send the completed form back to the student to be uploaded as part of the student's application. 
  • The minimum number of hours calculated on this form must match the minimum number of worked hours for the corresponding semester requirements you’re applying under 

All materials will be submitted to the Madison Scholarship Hub 

Please look through the FAQs below for some of our other most frequent questions.  If you don’t find what you need, feel free to reach out to Emma Gibbons at gibbonek@jmu.edu