Some companies require their student interns to earn course credit for the experience at the time of the internship, usually during the summer. Brown's rules regarding academic credit for internships vary depending on the academic term of the internship. 

­Summer Internships

It is uncommon for Brown students to receive academic credit for an internship. To receive credit, students need to develop an independent study related to the internship under the direction of a faculty member. Since independent study is not offered in the summer, the employer must be willing to accept fall term credit. The Career Center can write a letter that explains Brown's policy but does not confirm that the student will receive credit.

To obtain this letter or if you have further questions about this issue, contact: studentexploration@brown.edu.

Fall or Spring Semester Internships

Students who have secured an internship in the Providence area for a fall or spring academic term may propose to complete a concurrent, credit-bearing Academic Internship. Applications are due the semester prior to the proposed activity, so students need to plan ahead if they want to pursue this option.

Some internships require a signed internship agreement between the student, Brown University, and the organization providing the internship.

At Brown, we encourage undergraduates to extend their education beyond the classroom through internships and other practical applications of their learning. As such, we have developed a standardized internship agreement form that we are able to provide to students in need of an agreement. Please download the form, complete the employer and student portion, and send it to Greg Seiler: gregory_seiler@brown.edu.

Students with agreements provided by an employer should ask whether the Brown template above can be used in place of the host organization’s contract.  

Questions about domestic or international internship contracts? Contact Greg Seiler: gregory_seiler@brown.edu.

When considering your internship options, be sure to think about your housing needs. A number of accommodations are possible, ranging from dormitory housing to hostels. The housing resources below will give you some ideas of where to start. Also check individual university websites in the geographic area of your internship. Many universities offer summer housing to registered undergraduate students.

Click here for a list of housing options in various cities.

In today's digital age, job seekers are exposed to an increasing number of online job fraud and phishing scams. Such scams can lead to the loss of sensitive information, identity theft, and financial harm. Here are 8 tips on how to avoid online job fraud and phishing job scams:

1. Do not provide personal information: Legitimate employers usually do not require sensitive information like Social Security numbers, credit card information, or bank account details during the initial stages of the hiring process. Be wary of any job offer that requires such information.
2. Research the company: Before applying for a job or accepting an offer, research the company's website, social media profiles, and online reviews to ensure it is a legitimate and reputable organization.
3. Be cautious of unsolicited job offers: Be suspicious of job offers that appear out of nowhere, especially if they come from an unknown or suspicious source.
4. Verify the job offer: Contact the company directly to verify the job offer and the person who made it. Legitimate companies will be happy to provide you with more information and answer your questions.
5. Watch for red flags: Beware of job postings with typos or grammatical errors, unrealistic job requirements, and high salary promises. These are common red flags for online job scams.
6. Don't pay for a job: If an employer requires you to pay for training, materials, or anything else related to the job, it's probably a scam. Legitimate employers will never ask you to pay for a job.
7. Don’t accept a check from them: They’ll tell you to deposit the check, keep part of the money for your services, and send the rest to someone else. That’s a scam. A legitimate employer will never ask you to do that. The check is fake and will bounce, and the bank will want you to repay the full amount of the fake check, while the scammer keeps the real money you sent them.
8. Trust your instincts: If something seems too good to be true or makes you feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts and avoid it.

***If you are aware of an active security incident, please report it to OIT immediately by emailing help@brown.edu or by submitting a help ticket. **For more information, visit this FTC article on job scams***