Eligibility Requirements

Interns

The Internship Challenge connects employers with college students and recent graduates through an online platform and reimburses eligible companies (100 or fewer employees in Massachusetts; no more than 250 globally) for intern stipends.

Internships can be part or full time and can take place any time during the 12-month Program Year, which runs from May 1 through April 30. Candidates submit an online application, which includes their resume and a cover letter, to be posted in the MLSC’s application database (candidates do not apply to a particular company or for a specific position). There is no application deadline since internship placements are rolling.

Intern Eligibility

1. Must meet at least one of the following:
   • Massachusetts resident (proof of residency required)
   • Attend an accredited college or university located in Massachusetts (enrollment verification required)
   • Attend a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) or a Historically Black College or University (HBCU)
2. Must meet one of the following:
   • Currently enrolled in a 2-year college or community college OR a Certificate Program working toward an Associate Degree or Certificate (or have completed one within the past year)
   • Enrolled in a 4-year college or university and having completed at least their freshman year the semester before the internship OR have graduated within the past year.
   • Graduate students must be enrolled in a Master’s Degree program or have received their Master’s Degree within the past year. Ph.D. and M.D. candidates are not eligible.  

Please Note:

• Interns are to be hired and paid directly by the host company. Any employed intern shall be treated as a W-2 employee of the company (not a contractor or subcontractor). Interns must be hired for a temporary internship experience and not as permanent employees. Upon completion of the internship, interns can be hired as full-time employees.
• Companies cannot hire an intern who is the spouse, child, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew, cousin or spouse of a child, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew, or cousin of ANY current employee of the company.
• Interns cannot participate in more than one subsidized internship in the same program year.
• Interns cannot participate in more than two subsidized internships with the same company.
• Internships cannot be concurrently subsidized by another state entity (such as MassTech or MassCEC).

Resources

Applicant Account Registration

FAQ’s for Interns

Program Handout