For Host Organizations

The Human Rights Internship Program provides an opportunity for non-governmental organizations, government agencies, and international institutions to host a University of Chicago student for a 8- to 10-week summer internship at no cost to the host organization. 

Our program attracts exceptional undergraduate and graduate students who combine intellectual excellence with a commitment to social impact. Each year, we award up to 30 students $5,000 in support of their summer internships. Our staff supports each intern throughout their search, preparation, placement, and reporting process. 

The summer cohort of interns is selected each November. During the winter, students inquire and apply directly to organizations and agencies for unpaid summer internship positions. Some potential host organizations interview student applicants before offering internship positions; others select interns through remote communications.

Upon acceptance of an internship offer, the student and host organization negotiate a work plan that outlines the internship projects and responsibilities. This work plan is approved by the Pozen Center before the student is issued their grant award. View a copy of the Work Plan Agreement. 

Read below for more details about the responsibilities of the host organization, student intern, and Pozen Center.

Please direct any questions to Assistant Director Cliff Chan.

The host organization or agency agrees to: 

  1. Work with the student intern to develop a work plan, detailing responsibilities and expectations for the internship period (8 to 10 weeks, full-time, between mid-June and September).

  2. Assist the student to secure housing, local transportation, and required paperwork, and advise on personal health and safety in the internship location. 

  3. Provide non-monetary support for the student throughout the duration of the summer internship. This includes assigning an on-site supervisor who will provide oversight throughout the internship and be responsible for completing a short evaluation at the end of the internship period.

  4. Cover any significant extra costs incurred by interns as part of their placement (for example, in-country travel to visit other sites or attendance at a meeting away from the intern’s work site). The Pozen Center does not allow interns to accept positions (a) at organizations that require interns to pay a fee for the privilege of working there or (b) unpaid positions at for-profit companies or organizations. Interns are also not allowed to accept additional pay from their host organization.
     

The University of Chicago Human Rights Intern agrees to:

  1. Participate in an internship for 8 to 10 weeks in a full-time capacity, between mid-June and mid-September.

  2. Work with the supervisor and host organization to complete projects outlined in the negotiated work plan.

  3. Fulfill the terms of the Pozen Center internship: take a Human Rights course, participate in pre-internship training and view recorded webinars, send summer reports to the cohort listserv, submit a final report, and prepare a final presentation for the Internship Symposium. 

  4. Not accept other fellowships or grants during the period of their summer internship. 
     

The Pozen Center agrees to: 

  1. Provide support to the intern throughout the search, training, placement, and return process.

  2. Provide financial support to the student intern for internship-related expenses including travel, housing, living, and healthcare during the internship period.

  3. Maintain contact with the student intern and host organization to support the completion of the internship.

  4. Assist the intern in the event of an emergency during the internship period.