Summer Funding

Students in the Sheedy Family Program may apply for competitive funding to offset travel, housing, and food costs as they participate in summer internships and other career-aligned summer experiences.

Funding is intended to cover the gap between students' summer experience income and their expenses. Students whose compensation from an employer or funding from another unit on campus exceeds their food, transportation, housing costs are not eligible for Sheedy program funding. See below for full eligibility criteria.

If you have any questions about your eligibility or the application process, please email Richard Clark, Chris Hedlin, and Brett Beasley before beginning the application. If you have questions about how receiving a summer funding award could impact on your financial aid package, please contact the Office of Financial Aid before applying. 

Note: The Sheedy Summer Funding Program has been updated July 2024, with changes going into effect for all Summer 2025 funding requests.

Eligibility

• Sheedy summer funding is only available to students in the Sheedy Family Program. 

• Funding is not guaranteed for any applicant. Not all students who request funding will receive it, and not all students will receive the full amount requested.
• Funding is intended to support food, transportation, and housing expenses incurred as a result of participating in a career-aligned summer experience. Other expenses (like professional attire, excursions, tuition costs, or anticipated academic year expenses) are not covered. For further clarification of eligible expenses, please see this list of scenarios.
• Funding is intended to cover the gap between students' summer experience income and their expenses. Students whose compensation from an employer or funding from another unit on campus exceeds their food, transportation, housing costs are not eligible for Sheedy program funding.
• Funding can only be requested for expenses incurred during the weeks the student is participating in the summer experience.
• Study abroad programs, academic classes, and job shadowing are not eligible for Sheedy funding.
• Because there are no food, transportation, and housing expenses associated with remote internships, such internships are not eligible for Sheedy summer funding.
• Applicants must be returning to Notre Dame following their experience to complete their undergraduate degree.
• Applicants must have a career-aligned summer experience that is relevant to their post-graduate career goals. "Career-aligned" means the experience is a work experience related to their career interests and exposing them to an organization, industry, or work tasks that will help with their career discernment.

• Employment must be at least half-time (minimum 20 hours per week) for a minimum of six weeks.

Not eligible? A number of other departments and programs at Notre Dame offer summer experience funding. CUSE provides a centralized list of these opportunities.

Selection criteria

Funding is competitive. When we receive more requests for funding than we have funds available, funds will be allocated based on…

• The amount of funding available at the time we receive your application (applying early is to your advantage)

• Full-time versus part-time work (priority given to full-time positions)

• Demonstrated financial need

• Active participation in SFP community throughout the year, including consistent attendance at Sheedy Dinners

• Alignment of the internship with professional development and/or personal growth goals

• Due diligence in filling out the application

• Whether you’ve received previous Sheedy summer funding (priority given to students receiving funding for the first time)

Funding limits and allocation of funds

Unpaid summer internships or experiences can qualify for a maximum of $3,500. Low-paying experiences can qualify for a maximum of $2,500. ("Low-paying" generally describes experiences where an organization provides a small stipend, up to $500 per month). Paid roles can qualify for a maximum of $1,000. If your summer experience income exceeds your summer experience expenses, you are not eligible for Sheedy Summer funding.

If your income will exceed your expenses by the end of the summer, but you have upfront expenses that you cannot cover (such as a plane ticket to the work location or a security deposit on an apartment), please contact Richard Clark, Chris Hedlin, and Brett Beasley.

Funding awards are allocated in a lump sum amount via direct deposit. Applications are typically evaluated within 2 weeks of their receipt. Note that, if your application is approved, it often takes the University an additional 2-3 weeks to process the payments and deliver the funds to your account.

Receiving this award may affect your taxes. Please read Notre Dame’s Tax Implications Letter, which explains how.

Application

Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis each academic year from January 15 to May 15. Applications require the following:

• Demographic, internship, and financial information – short answers about yourself and the internship, including role/responsibilities, alignment with your professional goals, summer financial situation, and how you found out about the opportunity.

• Resume - two pages maximum

• Expense Sheet – Download and complete the expense template provided in the application format to itemize weekly anticipated food, housing, and transportation expenses

• Employer Documentation - An uploaded email or document stating the offer, including dates of the experience, pay, title, and duties.

• Program Guidelines – Sign the Sheedy Program’s summer experience policies, including disclosing any additional funding for which you have applied, affirming the du Lac code of conduct, and agreeing to submit a post-experience reflection and surveys.

You may submit only one application per summer. If your position changes, you must reapply. A student may apply multiple times throughout their tenure at Notre Dame.

Eligible Sheedy students may apply using the following link.

Apply here

Use of funds

Awards are for food, transportation, and housing costs incurred as a result of an eligible career-aligned summer opportunity. The award is not a replacement or supplement for an internship salary or service to Notre Dame. Any internship employment issues are between the student and their employer, not the student and Notre Dame.

The Sheedy Family Program does not cover or reimburse program fees or interview travel expenses. Rent paid to a family member is not eligible.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Sheedy Family Program and return unused money if they do not complete the agreed internship or have leftover funds.

International internships

If you are interning abroad, you are subject to additional requirements through the University. These include registering your travel through Notre Dame International, attending a Health and Safety Summit, obtaining international health insurance, and making sure you have the proper VISA and work authorization paperwork filed. You are responsible for your own preparation to travel and work internationally.

Language on this webpage was adapted, with gratitude and permission, from the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development Undergraduate Career Services's "Summer experience funding" webpage.