Internships are valuable, paid internships even more so. Internships help students gain professional experience, build skills and develop their networks. They can also help students decide if the field they’re working in is right for them. And compensation can relieve the financial burdens that come with pursuing higher education. 

Chancellor Julie Chen is passionate about building a strong foundation of paid career-connected work experiences for students. Several River Hawks were able to take advantage of paid internship opportunities in the Office of University Relations, which develops strategic and creative marketing communications for the university. Here’s what a few of them had to say:

  • “My job at the university has prepared me for my career by helping me work in a fast-paced environment. I’m tasked with multiple projects; I learned how to manage my time well."

    — Bethzalie Santos, business administration – marketing 

    Enrollment marketing intern, Bethzalie Santos assisted in updating digital and print materials for undergraduate student recruitment, created video content for distribution on admissions’ Instagram account and developed graphics and hosted a live event on the university’s ZeeMee account.

  • “Being in this office environment and getting paid for it has helped me learn a lot of things. It’s made my punctuality much better, network with a lot of people, and learn a new software."

    — Aashay Hirpara, business administration – marketing 

    In conjunction with his Marketing Internship course, Aashay Hirpara learned the university’s web content management system to create a digital version of the Francis College of Engineering’s Engineering Solutions magazine. Simultaneously, he worked with university marketing professionals and the dean of the college to devise a marketing plan for the new online asset.

  • “My job at the university has prepared me for my career, because it's given me a real perspective of what I want do for a job, and what I should look for coming out of college.”

    — Molly Gervais, digital media

    As a social media intern, Molly gathered and produced content for UML’s social media channels with a focus on the university’s TikTok and Instagram accounts. They also managed content and posts on the college channels that University Relations oversees. 

Ways Students Get Paid

  • Work Study
    Eligible students can choose from a multitude of diverse job opportunities, all offering comfortable work environments, flexibility in scheduling and a competitive pay rate.
  • Co-ops
    The Professional Cooperative Education program combines classroom-based education with work experience, usually a full-time, paid work experience with an industry partner for six months.
  • Paid Internships
    An internship will help you attain new "real world" job skills that complement your academic work and make you more competitive in the job market.
  • Moloney Student Fellowship
    Students can get up to $2,500 to build their careers and serve their community through work in non-profits, community organizations and government agencies, as well as with faculty and campus departments.
  • Immersive Scholars Program
    Immersive Scholars are selected freshman applicants who are awarded $4,000 merit scholarships through the early action admission process to perform research, work in the community or study internationally.