Direct placement opportunities are specific internships at specific companies. The number of students accepted to each placement will be determined after all applications have been received.
Global Research & Internship Program Search Opportunities & Apply
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Rachel Hong, Intern in Medellin, Colombia, Summer 2019
The Global Research & Internship Program provides undergraduate and graduate students with a hands-on overseas opportunity of a lifetime. As you consider the opportunity to spend your summer gaining valuable professional skills with a global employer, it is important to begin defining your goals and preparing your application. Use the information below to learn more about eligibility, the application process, and the many GRIP opportunities available for Summer 2021.
Please note that all GRIP placements will be offered in a virtual format for Summer 2021. The application period for GRIP Summer 2021 closed on January 7, 2021. Students interested in GRIP Summer 2022 and future terms are invited to join our mailing list to receive updates about Penn Abroad programs, events, and application deadlines.
All GRIP applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria set forth by Penn Abroad:
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A full-time, degree seeking undergraduate or master's level student at the University of Pennsylvania in the Spring 2021 semester
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Returning to the same degree program full-time in the Fall 2021 semester
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Must be in good academic and disciplinary standing
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Must not have previously withdrawn from GRIP after committing
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Must not be applying for an internship in your home country or a country in which you grew up
In addition, individual GRIP placements may have their own additional eligibility requirements. Please read the “Eligibility” tab of each program brochure in PASSPORT for specific eligibility requirements by program.
To apply for one of our pre-approved internship or research placements, students will need to successfully:
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Submit a resume and cover letter in one singular PDF
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Submit an essay for consideration for additional funding beyond the GRIP Funding Award (optional)
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Attend a virtual group advising session
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Submit any other supplemental materials as requested by the employer
The application and admission timeline is as follows:
I. Researching Opportunities: Summer 2021 GRIP placements are now posted on PASSPORT. Please make sure to carefully read the full details about each opportunity on the online brochures, including tabs about the placement’s eligibility, duration, start date, budget and funding information, etc. Contacting past participants is especially helpful at this stage!
Note: Be sure to read the COVID-19 Information on each program brochure carefully.
II. Advising and Applying: Please note that one GRIP application per student is permitted for Summer 2021. Students are able to open an application on their own in PASSPORT. In order to submit an application, students must complete all requirements by the application deadline, including attendance at a virtual group advising session.
III. Screening: Applications will be screened following the application deadline on January 7, 2021, at 10:00 pm EST. At this time, Penn Abroad will conduct the first-round screening to ensure that students meet eligibility requirements. For placements with particularly high numbers of applicants, students will be screened to ensure they have researched the opportunity, are motivated and enthusiastic about the opportunity, and have presented themselves professionally in their resume and cover letter.
IV. Interviewing: Students whose applications make it past the first round of screening will then have their resumes and cover letters sent to the employer. Each employer has the ability to decide who (if anyone) they would like to interview, as well as when the interviews will take place. Some employers will want to interview applicants right away, while others may spread the process out over a longer period of time.
V. Decision and Commitment: Penn Abroad will communicate all admission decisions directly to GRIP applicants on February 26, 2021. Accepted students will also be notified of their program’s anticipated format (on-site or virtual) and funding award in their decision letter. Students accepted to on-site/traveling programs will be required to attend an additional mandatory information session during the week of March 1-5, 2021 prior to committing to their on-site program. All accepted students will have until March 7, 2021 to accept their offer and commit to the program.
Admissions decisions are made jointly by the employer and Penn Abroad. It is crucial that each applicant behaves professionally throughout this process when interacting with both Penn Abroad staff and potential employers.
GRIP Funding-Only awards are not currently available for Summer 2021.
The application period for GRIP Summer 2021 closed on January 7, 2021. Students interested in GRIP Summer 2022 and future terms are invited to join our mailing list to receive updates about Penn Abroad programs, events, and application deadlines.
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Direct Placements
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Cohort Placements
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Cohort placement opportunities are programs that will place you in an internship that matches your skills and interests in a particular location. Each program has a different career field with multiple subfields in each. Multiple Penn students will be accepted within each cohort.
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Research Opportunities
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Research placement opportunities are offered through partnerships with prestigious universities around the world. Each program has an academic focus and several research projects to choose from. Multiple Penn students will be accepted to each placement and will work alongside faculty/PIs at the institution.
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Search by Field
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Looking for a placement by field of interest? Search in PASSPORT! There are opportunities in nearly every career industry.
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See All Opportunities
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See all internship, research, and funding opportunities through the Global Research & Internship Program for Summer 2021.