As an incoming Penn student, you may have some questions about how to get involved on campus — and how to make money doing so.
Whether you’re looking to dive into research, land a campus job, or get paid while exploring new experiences, Penn offers a wide range of financial support for students. From research fellowships and leadership roles to grants for travel, internships, and club activities, here are just a few of the many funding opportunities at Penn.
Research
For students interested in research, your first stop should be the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.
CURF runs both the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentorship Program and Summer Humanities Internship Program. PURM offers students the opportunity to undertake faculty-mentored research over their first-year and sophomore summers in a wide range of academic fields. SHIP funds summer research internships for undergraduates seeking to work in a cultural, historical, or archival setting. Both programs are 10 weeks long and award students upwards of $5,500.
CURF’s website also features a complete guide on all independent research grants and funding opportunities at Penn.
Penn’s MindCORE Summer Fellowship Program provides summer funding for students interested in neuroscience, computation, and psychology research. As a part of the fellowship, students also get technical training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
In the social sciences, Penn’s Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies also runs a paid fellowship in the fall, spring, and summer terms. PORES fellows support a wide variety of data-driven political science research, and some even have the opportunity to work with the NBC News Decision Desk during election cycles.
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Campus jobs
If research is not your forte, there are also plenty of opportunities to hold a campus job.
Students can apply to become a residential advisor in Penn’s College House system. As part of their role, RAs are tasked with supporting students who are living on campus by building student communities, creating student engagement opportunities, and addressing student incidents. RAs receive free room and board — along with a $3,100 stipend — for the yearlong position.
Students can also find campus jobs through Penn Campus Recreation. Some opportunities include serving as lifeguards, fitness instructors, or referees for club and intramural sports events.
If a paid position on campus is not right for you, Penn has programs that financially support your external unpaid jobs and internships. Career Services, for example, provides funding to cover living, travel, and other expenses for unpaid summer opportunities.
Recreational funding
Penn also has opportunities to get funding for activities and experiences unrelated to research or work.
Penn provides significant funding support for travel experiences. Whether it be internships or coursework, various grants and scholarships are available for students pursuing opportunities abroad. One popular program is the Global Research and Internship Program, which offers students funded research and internship experiences in foreign countries. Recent student destinations have included France, Singapore, and Australia.
If you are looking to receive club funding, the Student Activities Council can provide funding to support club events or development, with some established clubs even providing funded leadership positions.
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that SHIP gives students the chance to undertake faculty-mentored research in a wide range of academic fields. The story has been updated to reflect that SHIP funds summer internships for undergraduates seeking work in cultural, historical, or archival fields, not faculty-mentored research. The DP regrets the error.
