Student Engagement

Eligibility: All returning Harvard College undergraduates in good academic standing are eligible to apply for the opportunities regardless of class year unless it specifically states a different age requirement in the internship description. Graduating seniors are not eligible for internships. There are no limits to the number of times a student can receive HGHI funding, though interns cannot receive funding for the same internship twice. Students who have already been an IOP Directors’ Intern are not eligible for internships that are co-funded with the IOP.

Duration: Internships are full-time commitments for 10 weeks over the summer unless the site description specifies that the internship is longer. If an intern voluntarily elects to stay longer than 10 weeks, they are welcome to do so, but the funding amount will stay the same.

Funding: Internships are all funded. When travel is possible, stipends are designed to cover travel expenses to and from the internship location, food, lodging, and other necessities for the duration of the internship. The funding amount is set by Harvard each year based on the cost of living in that location, and it is not negotiable. Stipends are awarded in the spring before the internship begins, and recipients are expected to budget carefully and choose economical travel and housing options. Students who wish to travel independently on weekends may do so, but the stipend from HGHI is not designed to cover this, and students are responsible for any additional expenses they incur during the summer. If for any reason students need to withdraw or are dismissed from the program before completing the minimum ten weeks of employment, they must return a prorated amount of the stipend and are responsible for the travel or other expenses incurred as a result. Virtual internships are funded at a flat rate.

To promote equitable distribution of summer funding across the undergraduate community, students are eligible to accept funding from only one Harvard source of funding each summer. Therefore, students who receive HGHI funding may not accept any additional funding from Harvard during the same summer. Similarly, students who accept HGHI summer funding are not eligible to receive a waiver to enroll in a Harvard Summer School course or vice versa. Students must disclose if they are receiving Harvard funding at any point throughout the summer, and HGHI reserves the right to modify awards accordingly. Failure to promptly report other Harvard-funded summer activities may be reported to the Administrative Board. More details on the Summer Funding Policy are available here. Please reach out to emily_maguire@harvard.edu with any questions or to discuss requesting an exception.

Awards granted through HGHI are to be used to support student expenses so that students can have an educational experience, and funding can cover costs including housing, local transportation in program location (pending local public health guidelines), food, and incidentals. Funding students receive from Harvard sources cannot be used to pay others to provide services or be given to an organization; for example, hiring third-party researchers or clinicians, or making charitable donations.

HGHI summer experiences are paid by a stipend and are open to all students regardless of immigration status.

Application Limits: Students may apply to up to three internships. If students are interested in submitting additional applications for HGHI internships, they may be able to do so with permission.

Application Process: Students submit a complete application to HGHI for each internship through CARAT. Students may not initiate contact with the host organization directly during the application process unless the site description specifically states that this is allowed. Doing so could jeopardize students’ applications.

Internship Descriptions: Internship descriptions are designed to provide a high-level overview for what the internship will likely entail, but specific projects and day-to-day activities often are not determined until closer to the summer. Organizations hosting internships try to predict to the best of their ability what projects they will be working on, but these may change between the time students apply in the winter and the time that the internship starts in the summer. It is important that applicants keep this in mind while reading internship descriptions and are prepared to be flexible.

Selection of Finalists: Each application is read by a committee at HGHI that makes the first round of decisions and narrows the pool of applications to the top candidates. Generally, there are about five finalists for each internship, and all applicants are notified in mid-February if they are a finalist or not.

Interviews: Host organizations review applications of finalists and conduct interviews in late February through early March. There is a short turn-around time for interviews, so if you are selected as a finalist, it’s important that you respond to interview requests quickly. Each organization has their own internal selection process, which means the timeline for interviews may vary, and some finalists may not be contacted for an interview.

Offers: Hosts select their top choice(s) of students by mid-March, and HGHI makes offers as decisions are made. Offers are made on a rolling basis, and students will have approximately three days to accept or decline the position. We understand this seems like a short time period to decide, especially if you are waiting to hear about other offers. As much as we would like to be able to give everyone more time, we cannot allow individuals to hold an offer for an extended period, as this is not fair to the other students who are also waiting to hear about the same position. All finalists will be notified about the status of their applications by late April.

Duration: Internships are full-time commitments for 10 weeks over the summer. During the summer of 2023, program dates will be approximately June 5th to Aug 11th, though these may be adjusted if needed

Specifying Projects: Internship supervisors are expected to define a scope of work and create a substantial project for interns to work on, which should be determined before the intern arrives or during the first week on-site. It is important that interns communicate with their supervisors before the summer begins to help them select a project that matches their skills and interests. It’s also important to note that most interns join ongoing projects. Often 10 weeks is not enough time for interns to do completely independent projects.

Supervision: All interns will have a supervisor who will monitor them during the 10 week internship and meet with them at least weekly throughout the summer. Some internships are very structured while other organizations give interns a lot of autonomy. Please refer to the internship description for more information on the level of supervision for each internship.

Stipends: When travel is possible, stipends are designed to cover travel expenses to and from the internship location, food, lodging, and other necessities for the duration of the internship. This stipend is not designed to cover elective and/or weekend travel. The funding amount is set by Harvard each year based on the cost of living in that location, and it is not negotiable.

Housing: Housing is not provided for any internships except for students in the SURGH program, when this program is able to run in-person. Staff at HGHI and at host organizations may be able to provide interns with advice and recommendations for housing, but ultimately students are responsible for finding their own housing.

Travel Arrangements: When travel is possible, students are responsible for making their own arrangements for any necessary travel, daily transportation, passports, visas, vaccinations, etc.

International Travel: When travel is possible, students doing international internships are required to:

• Sign a Risk and Release Form
• Complete Harvard’s online pre-departure orientation.
• Register and maintain their trip details with Harvard’s Global Support Services, which provides assistance in the event of an emergency.
• Obtain Health Clearance by a physician.
• Obtain or show proof of international health insurance coverage.

Students wishing to go to regions on the “Elevated Risk” list are required to complete additional requirements, including completing a Travel Safety Questionnaire and attending an Elevated-Risk orientation. Travel is prohibited to regions that Harvard Global Support Services has indicated are “High Risk.”

Orientations and Debriefs: All interns are required to attend HGHI’s pre-departure orientation in the spring and a debriefing session in the fall, unless excused. If requested, students are also required to meet one-on-one with HGHI staff.

Conduct: HGHI Fellows are required to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the local laws and regulations at their internship location and with Harvard’s policies for student conduct set forth in the Handbook for Students. Students agree to refrain from conduct that is improper, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate, or that is potentially detrimental to their own or others’ health or safety.

Evaluations: Interns and host organizations are asked for feedback during and after the summer.

How to Apply:

1. Visit the Centralized Application for Research and Travel (CARAT) site and find the Harvard Global Health Institute (Research & Internships) funding source.
   
2. Complete all the required fields in CARAT.
   
3. Upload the following four documents in PDF format:
   
   • A. Personal Statement (500 word max)
     
     This is your cover letter, so please articulate why you want this position, how this experience will enhance your learning, and the ways you see it connecting to your future goals. Be specific! This should include details about the skills you’ll bring to this specific position and include examples from relevant experiences. This should not be a narrative essay or academic paper. Some organizations ask that you address specific topics in your personal statement, so please make sure to check the position description for any specific application instructions.
     
     Address your statement to the “Selection Committee” and include a heading in the following format at the top:
     
     • First and Last name & Graduation Year
     • Concentration & Secondary Field, if applicable
     • The name of the organization or lab to which you are applying
       
   • B. Resume (1-2 pages)
     
   • C. Unofficial transcript
     
     Obtain a copy of your latest online unofficial transcript including your fall course grades. To access your unofficial transcript:
     
     • Login to harvard.edu.
     • Select Student Home at the top of the page.
     • Under Grades, select Current Level, and then select View Unofficial Transcript.
     • In the Academic Institution drop down menu, select Harvard University.
     • In the Report Type drop down menu, select Harvard College.
     • Click View Report.
     • Your Unofficial Transcript should open. (If you have a pop-up blocker, you may have to disable it to allow this page to open.)
     • Download and save in pdf format.
       
   • D. References
     
     Please note – these are not letters of recommendation.
     
     • You must provide the name and contact information for two references, who may be contacted during the internship selection process to comment on your candidacy. We recommend choosing:
       
       • One academic reference: This should be from a faculty member, TF, Proctor/Tutor, RD, etc. who can comment on your academic initiative, interests, and competencies; and
       • One professional reference: This should be someone who knows you in a professional capacity and who can comment in detail about the positive skills and traits you possess.
         
     • You can use this template or upload another document, but for each reference, you MUST provide the following information:
       
       • Recommender’s Name
       • Recommender’s Position and Title, if relevant
       • Recommender’s Organization
       • Recommender’s Email Address (this should be their professional address, whenever possible, versus a gmail or other free address)
       • Recommender’s Telephone Number
       • 1-2 sentences about the capacity in which you know your recommender.
         
     • Please notify your references that they may be contacted in February or March by our internship host organizations regarding your candidacy. If you would like to provide additional references, you are welcome to do so, though we do not recommend exceeding four.
4. Submit!
   
   Important note: All application materials must be submitted to HGHI, and contacting organizations directly during the application and selection process is prohibited. Circumventing HGHI’s selection process may result in the withdrawal of your application from consideration.
   
   If you have questions, please see these FAQs; you can also email HGHI_StudentEngagement@harvard.edu. For help with your cover letter and resume, please refer to these resources from OCS.

Selection Process and Timeline:

• Each application is read by a committee at HGHI that makes the first round of decisions and narrows the pool to the top candidates. Generally, there are about 5 finalists for each internship. Applications are evaluated based on your:
  
  • Personal statement and whether you make a convincing argument for why the internship is a good fit;
  • Resume and whether you demonstrate that you have the experience to complete the tasks of the internship;
  • Transcript and the connection between your coursework and the skills needed by the organization;
    
• All applicants will be notified at the end of February if they are a finalist or not.
• Once finalists are selected, the host organization will review applications and decide who they want to contact for interviews. Interviews occur in March. There is a short turn-around time for interviews, so if you are selected as a finalist, it’s important that you respond to interview requests quickly. Organizations may or may not contact your references at this point.
  
  • Note on interviews: Each organization has their own internal selection process, which means you may not be called for an interview, even if you are a finalist. It also means that some organizations will contact you faster than others, so don’t worry if you don’t hear from organizations at the same time as other applicants.
    
• HGHI will make offers via email beginning in mid-March, and students will have three days to accept or decline the position.
  
  • Note on acceptance timeline: We understand that 3 days is not a lot of time to make a decision, especially if you are waiting to hear about other offers. As much as we would like to be able to give everyone more time, we cannot allow individuals to hold an offer for an extended period of time, as this is not fair to the other students who are also waiting to hear about the same position. If this situation arises for you, please let us know if there is any additional information we can provide that will make your decision easier, and we will do our best to help.
    
• Students who do not receive offers will be notified on a rolling basis as decisions are made. All applicants should hear results by the end of April.
  
  • Note on Offers: If you are a finalist for multiple internships, once you accept a position, you will be automatically withdrawn from consideration for other internships.
    
• Once a student has accepted a position, they should begin working on the program requirements immediately to ensure they meet the deadlines to receive funding.

IMPORTANT: You should enter your recommender in CARAT before starting any other application materials. Ask your recommender in advance, and complete the Reference part of CARAT as soon as possible so that your recommender has all the instructions for submitting the letter, which is due by the application deadline.

How to Apply:

1. Visit the Centralized Application for Research and Travel (CARAT) site and find the Harvard Global Health Institute Funding for Independent Projects and Internships funding source
   
2. Complete all of the required fields in CARAT, including the budget section.
   
   If you don’t know your available dates yet, you can enter June 1st for a start date and August 15th for an end date. (This is not exact and is just for the purposes of the application.)
   
3. Provide one reference:
   
   In CARAT, you will be asked to indicate one recommender. It is best to ask someone who knows you well and can comment about your performance in a context similar to the internship or research placement you are seeking, therefore:
   
   If you are applying for funding for a research-related role, your letter of recommendation should be from a faculty member, TF, Proctor/Tutor, RD, etc. who can comment on your academic initiative, interests, and competencies.
   
   If you are applying for funding for an internship or volunteer role, your recommendation should be from someone who knows you in a professional capacity and who can comment in detail about the positive skills and traits you possess.
   
   Do not submit a reference from a family member.
   
   Below are instructions on how to enter a reference request, and additional instructions are also available directly in CARAT:
   
   • If your recommender is a Harvard affiliate, search for them by their last name, and their information will auto-populate when you click “enter.” If your recommender is outside of Harvard, manually completed the name, title, and email fields.
   • Once your recommender’s information is entered, click the “Send reference request” button that appears.
   • CARAT will send an email request to your recommender with a URL link, which will bring them to a page in CARAT where they may upload a PDF letter of reference. The deadline for the letter is the same as the application deadline
     
4. Upload the following four documents in PDF format:
   
   • A) Personal statement (750 word max) Please articulate why you want this position, how your former experiences have inspired you to pursue this type of summer experience, how this experience will enhance your learning, and the ways you see it connecting to your future goals. Be specific!
     
     • For internships, please describe the internship or type of work you will be pursuing and how this experience will further your personal and professional goals.
     • For research, please describe the research question or problem you will be exploring, the advisor(s) you plan to work with, the types of methods that you plan to employ, and why you feel this project is important.
     • If you plan to volunteer, please describe the types of projects you plan to work on, and how you think you will grow personally and academically through the experience.
       
       Please address your Personal Statement to the “Selection Committee” and include a heading in the following format at the top:
       
       • Name and Graduation Year
       • Concentration and Secondary Field, if applicable
       • The name of the organization to which you are applying
         
   • B) Resume (1-2 pages)
     
   • C) Unofficial transcript
     
     Obtain a copy of your latest online unofficial transcript including your fall course grades. To access your unofficial transcript:
     
     • Login to harvard.edu.
     • Select Student Home at the top of the page.
     • Under Grades, select Current Level, and then select View Unofficial Transcript.
     • In the Academic Institution drop down menu, select Harvard University.
     • In the Report Type drop down menu, select Harvard College.
     • Click View Report.
     • Your Unofficial Transcript should open. (If you have a pop-up blocker, you may have to disable it to allow this page to open.)
     • Download and save in pdf format.
       
   • D) Proof of acceptance to the program or organization with which you will be working (If you have applied but have not yet been accepted, upload a sheet with the approximate date of the application results.)

Submit!

If you have questions, please see these FAQs; you can also email HGHI_StudentEngagement@harvard.edu. For help with your cover letter and resume, please refer to these resources from OCS.

Selection Process and Timeline:

• Each application is read by a committee at HGHI.
• Most decisions are made without interviews, but some applicants may be asked to come for an in-person interview in February or March.
• Final decisions will be announced via email in mid to late March, and students will have one week to accept or decline the award.