Harvard Climate Internship Program

The Harvard Climate Internship Program (HCIP) is a university-wide program supporting graduate students who work in a climate policy-oriented summer internship. It aims to complement the classroom climate learning experience, build the climate community, showcase future climate leaders, and promote broad representation in the program. Recipients may receive up to $7,000, as well as mentoring and an opportunity to participate in programming with policy practitioners and Harvard faculty. Apply by March 22.
Feb 14, 2023

The Harvard Climate Internship Program (HCIP) is a university-wide program supporting graduate students who work in a climate policy-oriented summer internship.

There are four primary objectives for the program:
  • Complement the Classroom Climate Learning Experience: HCIP will support climate policy-oriented field experiences that provide opportunities for students to apply their tools and training acquired from students’ coursework to supplement and expand their learning at Harvard.
  • Build the Climate Community: HCIP will enhance the connections among students, faculty, policy practitioners, and alumni focused on climate policy-related topics. 
  • Showcase Future Climate Leaders: HCIP will demonstrate how Harvard training prepares our students for tackling climate policy challenges. 
  • Promote Broad Representation in the Program: HCIP will seek a diverse group of students, mentors, and policy practitioners for the summer programming.
The Harvard Climate Internship Program will provide students with the following:
  • Funding: Students may receive up to $7,000, which could supplement other sources of internship funding to a combined total of $7,000. This will serve as a form of “leveling up,” in which all students participating in the program would receive at least $7,000 from the combination of their employer, other internship support programs, and HCIP. 
  • Mentoring: Students will be assigned a mentor from Harvard alumni working on related topics. 
  • Programming: Students will participate in weekly Zoom-based programming that will engage policy practitioners and Harvard faculty. We will also explore opportunities to engage this cohort in activities over the subsequent academic year.
Eligibility Requirements

The Harvard Climate Internship Program is open to any Harvard graduate student who will return to campus for at least one semester after completion of the grant. Students are responsible for securing their own climate-related internship with a public, private, or non-profit organization. Both U.S.-based and international opportunities are eligible for funding. The duration of the internship must be a minimum of eight weeks between the end of the spring semester and the beginning of the fall semester. How the student schedules the time is up to the student and the host organization. 

Additionally, this program is open to students who have already lined up fully-paid summer positions. We would welcome such students to our programming and provide mentoring support even if we are not awarding them funds for their summer position. 

Application Deadlines

The application period for the summer 2024 program opens at noon on Friday, March 1, 2024. The application deadline is noon on Friday, March 22, 2024. Award decisions are expected in early April. Contingent on funding availability following the initial decisions, there may be rolling reviews for those securing late summer internships. A notice will be posted on the webpage when the funding cycle is closed.

How To Apply

HKS students: Apply through the HKS Summer Funding Common Application (beginning March 1, 2024)

Non-HKS Harvard graduate students:  Apply using the online application form

All applicants for the Harvard Climate Internships must also submit the following materials:

  1. Description of the organization and the proposed project. Please summarize how it relates to climate policy and why this opportunity will benefit both you and the organization (two-page maximum). 
  2. Letter from the employing organization agreeing to the arrangement.
  3. Details on other funding received to support the summer internship, including payment from host organization.
  4. Resume.

Supporting documents should be sent via email to nora_oneil@hks.harvard.edu and include, in the subject heading, “HCIP application – [Your first and last name],” e.g., HCIP application – Jane Smith. HKS students may upload through Summer Funding Common App.

HCIP Fellows

Read about the HCIP student fellows and their summer internships to learn more about the range of experiences supported by the program.

Sponsorship

The program is sponsored by the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability, which functions across the University to accelerate and coordinate research and education on climate change, the environment, and sustainability. The Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government contributes administrative support.

Contact

Nora O’Neil, Program Manager, HCIP
Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Harvard University
79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
E-mail: nora_oneil@hks.harvard.edu