Career Exploration and Development
Internship+ Program
Oberlin College & Conservatory's Internship+ Program helps students explore career interests, gain real-world experience, and build professional networks. It combines co-curricular and curricular opportunities to ensure all students have access to experiences that support their academic and career goals.
Internship+ is designed for third-year students pursuing high-quality, summer experiential learning opportunities. Priority funding consideration will be given to students with unpaid internships. Eligible students may receive up to $5,000 in funding to help offset the projected costs associated with participating in an internship, research-based project, academic immersion, or performance-focused experience.
Please note: Internship+ funding is not intended to serve as compensation, but rather to help cover related expenses such as housing, transportation, meals, and other necessary costs.
Program Overview:
This Interest Form helps Career Exploration and Development (CED) determine your eligibility and communicate about the Internship+ program and its expectations with students (before the funding application opens in January 2026).
Internship+ participants must complete the required steps.
College of Arts & Sciences Student Requirements:
Students must complete all three (3) requirements:
- Requirement #1: Schedule a Resume Review appointment with a Career Advisor,
- Requirement #2: Join a Career Community in OberLink, get connected with career resources, and network with Oberlin Alum. Guide To Navigating OberLink
- Requirement #3: Complete two (2) Career Conversations with an industry expert or Oberlin alum in your field of interest. Conducting Career Conversations Guide
Conservatory & Dual Degree Student Options:
Students with musical performances or music training experiences/programs (complete one (1) of the three (3) options:
OPTION #1:
- Schedule a Resume Review appointment with a Conservatory Professional Development Staff,
- Complete a Professional Biography Review appointment with Conservatory Professional Development Staff,
- Complete two (2) Career Conversations with an industry professionals or Oberlin alum in your field of interest. Conducting Career Conversations Guide
OPTION #2:
- Take PROF 200: Professional Development for Musicians (4 credit course offered every fall semester)
OPTION #3:
- Take LEAD 375: Career Readiness for Musicians (2 credit course offered every spring semester)
Internship+ Funding Eligibility
Funding is available to juniors (third years) who:
- Are in good academic standing and NOT on a fall academic leave.
- Submitted the Internship+ Interest Form and received confirmation from CED.
- Scheduled and completed a resume review with a career advisor.
- Secured (accepted) an eligible summer experience.
Experience Requirements:
- Internship must be 6-12 weeks with a minimum of 240 hours total.
- Undergraduate Research must be at least 6 weeks with a minimum of 240 hours total.
- Music Festivals or Music-based experiences must be a minimum of 4 weeks and can include multiple non-concurrent experiences.
- Music Festivals or other music-based experiences offering significant mentorship opportunities.
- This can include participation in a music competition that requires significant preparation and practice and must include additional extracurricular activities such as master classes, professional development workshops, etc.
- Independent projects such as self-organized tours or recordings are not eligible experiences for musicians.
- Academic Immersion Programs (June Block Intensive Courses & Language Immersion programs)
- 3-2 Engineering Students (may participate prior to their final year at Oberlin - the summer after their second year)
- BA+BFA Integrated Arts Students (must participate during the summer between 4th and 5th year)
To be eligible to apply, you must submit a budget worksheet and an offer letter confirming that the experience is unpaid or paid. Awards are based on your budget up to $5,000. Priority funding consideration will be given to students with unpaid internships.
Please note: Internship+ funding is not intended to serve as compensation, but rather to help cover related expenses such as housing, transportation, meals, and other necessary costs.
Internship+ funding is designed to help cover expenses directly related to your summer experience and is not intended to serve as compensation. Eligible expenses include:
- Travel and Local Transportation/Commuting: Costs associated with airfare, train, bus, etc. Any daily commuting expenses, such as public transit or fuel.
- Housing/Rent: Accommodation costs for the duration of your experience. Use reliable sources for estimates.
- Food Expenses: Ranging from $120/week in lower-cost areas to $150/week in higher-cost areas.
- Program Fee(s): Include any fees directly related to your program or experience, such as music festival application and/or registration fees, music festival tuition, fee-based programs, and research opportunities.
By participating in the Internship+ program, you will:
- Connect your liberal arts or artistic education to real-world experience
- Explore a professional field of interest and grow your network
- Gain insight into workplace culture and develop key career-readiness skills
- Reflect upon your personal and professional growth
- Build practical tools for your job search, including interview prep, resume writing, and cover letter development
When will there be information sessions about Internship+?
We’ve put together an informative video to walk you through everything you need to know to successfully navigate the Internship+ program. It covers the main Internship+ page, the Application & Expectations Guide page, and the FAQ page: including where to find all the materials and downloadable documents you’ll need to apply once you’ve secured a summer opportunity. Watch anytime and prepare at your own pace.