Internships and Fellowships for DACA and Undocumented Students
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DACA recipients represent a relatively small but important group within the U.S. workforce. Research conducted by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) indicates that 55% of DACA recipients are employed, while 62% of unemployed DACA recipients are enrolled in an education program. Many organizations support undocumented and DACA college students by providing internships and fellowships.
These opportunities can provide critical professional training and career skills to DACA and undocumented students. An MPI report lists professional and health and social services among the most common employment industries for DACA graduates.
The following guide explores resources for funding, mentorship, and experiential learning that DACA and undocumented students can take advantage of to enhance their college experience and launch their career.
Internships vs. Fellowships: What’s the Difference?
Both fellowships and internships for undocumented students offer great professional opportunities and preparation. However, these opportunities differ in notable ways, including compensation, application requirements, and type of experience gained.
Internships help you gain professional experience at an organization in your field of study. Some internships may even result in job offers if you perform well. Internships commonly serve undergraduates, while fellowships more commonly serve bachelor’s graduates or grad students.
Rather than building job experience, fellowships usually focus on research and specialized training in your field. Since you may not be working in an office, fellowship applications often require you to propose a specific project related to your professional interests. Compared to internships, fellowships focus less on day-to-day work experience and more on larger professional development opportunities.
Fellowships almost always offer some type of funding, usually in the form of a stipend and/or full or partial tuition waiver. On the other hand, internships may offer an hourly wage or be unpaid in some instances. You may also be able to earn college credit as part of your internship, which most fellowships don’t offer.
| Internship | Description | Dates | Due | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Civil Liberties Union Internships | The ACLU offers more than 30 internships for graduate and undergraduate students committed to civil rights and social justice. | Start dates vary; lasts for 10-12 weeks | Varies | Stipend (amount varies), exposure, experience, and mentorship |
| American Economic Association Summer Training Program | The AEA’s summer internship program — held most recently at Howard University — provides intensive training in microeconomics, econometrics, and math for aspiring graduate students. | May to July; lasts for two months | Varies | A stipend of $3,250 upon completion, tuition and fees, living expenses, transportation, books, and program excursion costs |
| Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Congressional Internship Program | CHCI enables interns to work alongside public policy professionals to discuss and develop key initiatives affecting Latino/as. Applicants must be enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program. | Spring session: January to April (12 weeks); summer session: May to August (10 weeks); fall session: August to November (12 weeks) | Varies | $3,750 (fall and spring) and $3,125 (summer); round-trip travel expenses to the fellowship site in Washington, D.C.; housing; and academic credit |
| Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute R2L@NextGen | CHCI offers multiple internship and leadership experiences for Latino/a high school students, emphasizing civic engagement and collaborative networking opportunities. | June to July; lasts for one month | Feb. | Access to guest speakers (including CHCI alumni and Latino/a community leaders) and exclusive professional networking opportunities |
| Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute Global Leaders Program | CHLI enables interns to pursue hands-on experience in public policy. Applicants must be enrolled in a four-year college as a sophomore, junior, or senior. DACA students must prove their eligibility to work in the United States. | Start dates vary; lasts for 15 weeks (one semester) | Varies | Monthly stipend (amount varies), Congressional experience, and professional development |
| Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities National Internship Program | HACU offers national and corporate internship programs for students enrolled in a degree-seeking program at an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA. DACA-eligible applicants may qualify if they can prove their eligibility to work in the United States. | National internships: spring, summer, or fall; corporate internships: summer only | Rolling | Round-trip airfare to and from internship location, housing, mentorship, and professional development experience |
| Immigrants Rising Pre-Law Bootcamp | Immigrants Rising offers this mini-internship for foreign-born, non-U.S. citizens who are considering applying to law school. | December; lasts four days | Nov. | Guidance for completing law school applications as an undocumented citizen and networking opportunities with other undocumented pre-law candidates |
| INROADS Internship Program | A nonprofit dedicated to creating pathways into the workforce for ethnically diverse students, INROADS offers multiple internships for undergraduates majoring in select subjects at regionally accredited universities. Applicants must be enrolled full time with at least one summer or 27 credits remaining before graduation and a minimum 2.8 GPA. | Varies | Varies | Stipend or salary (amount varies); each placement offers individual benefits |
| LatinoJustice’s Corporate/Law Firm Alliance Summer Program | LatinoJustice’s CLASP program offers paid internships at premier New York law firms for first-year law students with a minimum 3.0 GPA enrolled in one of 13 approved East Coast-based universities. | Start dates vary; takes place over two consecutive summers | Jan. | Stipend or salary (amount varies), hands-on experience at a world-renowned law firm |
| Fellowship | Description | Dates | Due | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Sociological Association Minority Fellowship Program | ASA offers this fellowship to minority students who are U.S. citizens, non-citizens, or DACA-eligible individuals. Applicants must be enrolled in an advanced graduate program in pursuit of a Ph.D. in sociology. | August to July (one year), renewable | Jan. | Stipend of $18,000, including cohort programming and travel expenses for scientific conferences |
| Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Graduate Fellowship Program | CHCI offers an immersive program for experienced Hispanic public policy professionals. Students must have completed a master’s degree or JD within two years of the program start date. | August to May; lasts for nine months | Jan. | $34,200; round-trip travel expenses to the fellowship site in Washington, D.C.; a monthly local transportation stipend; and medical, dental, and vision insurance for the duration |
| Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Public Policy Fellowship Program | CHCI offers networking and mentorship opportunities to emerging public policy professionals. Students must have earned a bachelor’s degree within three years of the program start date. | August to May; lasts for nine months | Dec. | $29,574; round-trip travel expenses to the fellowship site in Washington, D.C.; a monthly local transportation stipend; and medical, dental, and vision insurance for the duration |
| Dream Summer Fellowship | The University of California, Los Angeles Labor Center offers this summer fellowship to students and DACA-eligible citizens who are at least 18 years old and interested in social justice and immigration rights. | June to August | Feb. | $5,000 |
| First-Generation Civil Rights Fellowship Program | The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law offers this fellowship program to first-generation college students who are also the first in their family to pursue a social justice career. | June to August | Varies | Stipend (amount varies), mentorship from lawyers specializing in immigration law, professional development seminars, and weekly advocacy training |
| Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship | Cornell University offers this fellowship through the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to students with a minimum 3.0 GPA in an eligible major who are ultimately planning to pursue a Ph.D. Fellows are paired with mentors for a guided intensive research project. | Varies | Mar. | Stipends for research throughout the academic year, additional funding for travel and expenses, and an invitation to give a presentation at the annual conference |
| Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans | This program is for graduate students up to 30 years old with an interest in human rights and the rule of law as related to the U.S. Constitution. DACA students and non-U.S. citizens are eligible. | Two years | Oct. | Up to $25,000 per academic year for a maximum of two years |
| Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute | PPIA offers an intensive research experience in public policy for rising seniors in an undergraduate program. Participants must be committed to pursuing a graduate degree at a PPIA-approved school and a subsequent career in public policy. | Start dates vary; lasts for six weeks | Nov. | Full Junior Summer Institute tuition, housing and most meals, eligibility for an additional stipend, application fee waivers to PPIA-approved graduate schools, and a one-time scholarship of $5,000 (if admitted to a PPIA-approved graduate program) |
How to Apply to Internships and Fellowships
Regardless of your field of study, most fellowships and internships for undocumented students require you to complete lengthy applications. In general, organizations want to see your employment history, academic history, admissions test scores, personal essays, and letters of recommendation. Always be sure to prepare your applications far in advance of any deadlines since you’ll need to depend on college faculty or job supervisors for recommendation letters.
Internship applications work similarly to job applications. An organization will usually ask you to submit your resume and references, and you may need to submit academic transcripts and letters of recommendation. Many internships also require you to write a cover letter or some other statement of intent explaining your interest in the opportunity.
Given their academic focus, fellowships often require a more in-depth application process. Standard materials include your resume, academic transcripts, and letters of recommendation. However, fellowship applications often require you to submit a detailed description of your professional experience and research. You may also need to propose a project you plan to complete using the fellowship funding.
Career Preparation for DACA and Undocumented Students
The best fellowships and internships for DACA and undocumented students emphasize career preparation. While many programs offer financial support through a stipend, unpaid fellowships and internships can still help students build interviewing and networking skills. Many programs also walk participants through the process of applying for graduate programs or employment opportunities as DACA and undocumented students.
To learn more about gaining work experience, check out our guides providing career tips from DACA graduates and describing employers that support Dreamers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Internships and Fellowships for DACA and Undocumented Students
Yes. Many organizations and companies offer internships for undocumented students. However, students may be asked to prove their eligibility to work in the United States. Students should confirm that an internship or fellowship accepts undocumented or DACA-eligible applicants.
Editor’s Note: This article contains general information and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a professional advisor before making decisions about legal issues. Page last reviewed July 9, 2024.
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