Social Impact Internship Grant

The NYU Shanghai Career Development Center offers Social Impact Internship Grants to talented and dedicated students pursuing unpaid internships in non-profit organizations.

Application The applications will be open in April 2023

Eligibility

  • Students must be enrolled in NYU Shanghai during the whole internship period.
  • Students must be in good academic and judicial standing with a GPA above 3.0.
  • Students must secure a non-paying internship at a not-for-profit organization.
  • The organization will be reviewed by the Career Development Center to ensure it is legitimate and properly registered.
  • All of the above criteria must be met before an application is considered.

Grant

  • For summer 2021, students must be enrolled in the NYU Shanghai Class of 2024, Class of 2023, or Class of 2022, or enrolled in the Go-Local program at NYU Shanghai for  Spring 2021 (Go-Local students must also be enrolled in NYU during the whole internship period).
  • Students must NOT be enrolled in any summer classes or NYU Shanghai DURF during the summer break.
  • The internship must be a minimum of 20 hours per week AND last for the duration of at least 8 weeks.

Scholarship Commitment

If selected, the student must comply with the following guidelines. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the scholarship being revoked.

  • International students must complete the Internship Registration Process before the first day of their internship if their internship will take place in China.
  • Agree and sign the NYU Shanghai Internship Scholarship Agreement.
  • Follow all NYU Shanghai Student Conduct Policies.
  • Attend one team gathering and one internship story sharing presentation.
  • Schedule at least one check-in appointment with the manager of the Service Grant.
  • Have your internship supervisor complete an evaluation form and submit it to the CDC.
  • Compose one article (600 words and 2-3 photos) describing your internship experience and submit it to the CDC for sharing with the NYU Shanghai community.

Application Components:

  • Personal Statement
  • Official Offer Letter
  • Internship Job Description
  • Student Resume
  • Student LinkedIn Profile
  • Transcript
  • Organization’s proof of non-profit status

Decisions and Payment

Decisions are made approximately 2 weeks after the deadline. Payment will be issued 4 weeks after decisions are made.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for the scholarship if I have not yet secured an internship?

No. You must have already secured written confirmation (i.e., an offer letter) of your internship before applying for the scholarship.

Can I combine two internship offers to reach the required working hours?

No. You can only use one internship to apply for the scholarship.

Can I apply for the social service grant more than one time?

Students who have applied for the Social Service Grant in the past can apply again as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. Students may receive the Social Service Grant a maximum of two times per degree.

Can I keep the money if I do not complete the requirements?

No. If you do not uphold the standards of this agreement, the scholarship funding will be revoked.

Can I get the funding if I do not have a Chinese bank account?

No. The funding can only be deposited to your Chinese bank account.

Can I still get the funding if I do not follow the guidelines?

No. Failure to follow the scholarship guidelines will result in the scholarship being revoked.

Since I am interning off-campus, do all NYU Shanghai Student Conduct policies apply to me?

Yes. All students must follow the NYU Shanghai Student Conduct Policies for the duration of their stay in campus housing. If you do not uphold the standards of this agreement, the scholarship funding will be revoked.

Spotlight Students

Angel Olvera

Angel Olvera ’22
2019 and 2020 Grant Recipient
Center for Peace Victoria (CFPV), Texas, USA

As the Head Intern at CFPV, I did many things from operating our social media accounts to directing junior interns to leading public events. It was a lot of work, but also really rewarding. Reflecting on my time with CFPV, I can’t help but think that the peace-building skills I learned and developed will be tremendously useful for building and maintaining the political coalitions necessary to achieve the radical transformations our society desperately needs.

Check here to learn more about Angel’s story.

Ashley Zhu

Ashley Zhu ’22
2020 Grant Recipient
Globalteer, UK

This internship was definitely one to remember because not only have I gained skills that aided my professional goals, but it also taught me how to navigate and think outside the box in an ever-changing environment, as I gained a sense of situational flexibility. If you are considering an internship that is focused on making a social impact, make sure that you are passionate about what you are wanting to achieve. Definitely research the company or organization beforehand!

Check here to learn more about Ashley’s story.

Viktorija Ruzelyte

Viktorija Ruzelyte ’20
2019 Grant Recipient
Permanent Mission of Lithuania to the United Nations, New York, USA

The most important skill I gained through the experience was understanding work culture and learning how to fit in in a working environment. I feel much more confident in my abilities to adapt to a larger organization.

Frank Mattimoe

Frank Mattimoe ’22
2019 Grant Recipient
United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), Nairobi, Kenya

My internship at UNEP coincided with my love of global affairs and environmental stewardship and my interest in China’s role on the world stage. It permitted me to learn more about topics in my major of International Relations and allowed me to connect with interesting and accomplished coworkers and mentors at UNEP.

Zhang Liyuan

Zhang Liyuan ’21
2018 Grant Recipient
Non-profit Incubator (NPI), Shanghai, China

I was responsible for researching organizations that support social enterprises in China, and assisted my colleagues with the HSBC Social Enterprise Facilitation Program. As NPI’s business almost covers all the main fields of the philanthropy sector in China, I have gotten a deep understanding in the field of social entrepreneurship in general.

Cai Xiyan

Cai Xiyan ’20
2017 Grant Recipient
Interned at Education Without Barriers (EWB)

During my 10 months at EWB, I learned to be responsible, sympathetic and modest. Looking for an internship should not only focus on the job type but also the management ideas of companies or organizations. The idea of EWB was “It’s all about helping others.” I could see the pure love of this organization. The experience confirmed my ambition to do something for the education of less fortunate children in the future.

See more students' stories - Social Impact Internship Grants Support Student Interning in Nonprofit Organizations