Internships are a key stepping stone toward achieving your career goals. They give you skills, knowledge, and industry insights that translate directly to more mobility and freedom in your job search. Regardless of the benefits they bring, paying for an internship can be difficult.
Do you have to break open to piggy bank to pay for an internship? No. And we’ll tell you why. In this blog, we’ll run through some practical strategies on how to afford an unpaid internship without breaking the bank. We’ll discuss grants for unpaid internships, stipends for unpaid internships, and how to plan your internship budget.
How to Afford an Unpaid Internship
1. Practice Saving
Career skills are the focus of any internship, but there are opportunities to pick up a lot of life skills along the way, and some of these start before the internship does. The lessons you’ll learn as you work out how to afford an unpaid internship may be some of the most useful. The first skill you’ll need to pick up is the ability to save.
This is your chance to practice creating a budget that accounts for your income and expenses, identifying areas where you can cut back. A great way to stay committed is to set up a separate savings account specifically for your internship budget and aim to save a portion of your earnings regularly.
Another key tip: start saving money as soon as you decide to pursue an unpaid internship. Remember, every little bit counts, and starting early gives you more time to build your savings.
2. Try Your Own Fundraising Campaign
There are plenty of paid internships out there, however, there are some convincing reasons to consider an unpaid internship. Making a fundraising campaign is another way to figure out how to afford an unpaid internship. It can teach you some valuable skills by giving you a chance to try your hand at saving through a fundraising route.
You could go for something ambitious and organize a fundraising event like a bake sale or a talent show. For those who really want to push the boat out, try a sponsored challenge like a run, or something fun, like shaving your head. Two key steps to fundraising are utilizing social media to amplify your campaign and being transparent about how the funds will be used.
Alternatively, crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe can be powerful tools for raising money to support your unpaid internship, or you can create your own campaign on our Roots account on Fundmytravel. These can be surprisingly effective, and you might be amazed at how generous people can be.
3. Investigate Grants, Stipends and Scholarships
As we move farther down the list, here’s some good news. If you’re thinking, do you have to pay for an internship alone? Absolutely not. There is a wealth of options for grants for unpaid internships and specific stipends for unpaid internships too.
This is such an underutilized tool when it comes to how to afford an unpaid internship because so many people are unaware of the options out there. So, one of our best tips on paying for an internship is to research and apply for as many of these opportunities as possible. Websites like Fastweb and Scholarship.com can be valuable resources for finding these funding sources.
Applying for grants and scholarships may require some effort, such as writing essays or providing references, but having some grant money for internships can significantly ease your burden. If you’d like to learn more advice on where to find grants for unpaid internships, get in touch for more advice.
4. Ask a Career Counselor
This is another often overlooked boon in paying for an internship. Career counselors can be invaluable resources in your quest to afford an unpaid internship.
Schedule a meeting with a counselor at your university or local career center to discuss your financial plans. They can provide advice on your internship budget or even suggest potential funding sources.
These financial aids can significantly reduce your financial burden, allowing you to focus on gaining valuable experience without the stress of finances. Career counselors often have access to resources and networks that you might not be aware of, so take advantage of their expertise.
5. Find a Side Hustle
If you can’t find grants for unpaid internships, then a side hustle can do just as well. Balancing a side job with other commitments can be challenging, but it’s a great way to finance an unpaid internship. What’s more, these are bonus opportunities to boost your CV while building skills and experience.
Flexible part-time jobs or freelance gigs that can be done during evenings or weekends are a surefire strategy for how to afford an unpaid internship. Popular options include tutoring, dog walking, food delivery, or freelance writing. Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and TaskRabbit can help you find suitable opportunities.
6. Choose a Budget-Friendly Location
Choosing the right location can make a significant difference in your overall expenses. This is one of the great reasons to do an internship abroad. Not only do you get to boost your career, see the world, and make new friends and career contacts, but you can greatly reduce your living expenses and stretch your internship budget further.
Research countries where rent, food, and transportation are more affordable. This does mean you’ll have to factor in the costs of flights and visas, but over the course of a long-term internship, these do balance out. Additionally, consider finding internships that offer bed and board for your work or investigate alternative kinds of accommodation like homestays, since housing costs tend to be the greatest expense.
7. Consider Going Remote
Failing all else, paying for an internship is a lot easier when you can complete that internship from home. Remote internships offer all the same career development while significantly reducing your expenses.
Many companies now offer remote internships, allowing you to work from anywhere with a stable internet connection. Additionally, remote work can provide you with more flexibility, enabling you to balance other commitments and potentially take on a part-time job to support
3 Affordable Roots Programs
1. Sports Coaching Internship in the Philippines
Develop sports coaching and youth development skills by working with homeless and indigent families. You’ll be placed with a nonprofit organization that offers educational and youth development support for impoverished communities of Tacloban City.
Your main job as an intern is to run sports clubs and events for children in impoverished communities, creating a safe space for them to learn and grow. This program lets you try your hand at teaching, project management, and curriculum development, providing comprehensive practical experience in sports coaching and youth development. Crucially, this internship is not only about coaching but also about building relationships and making a positive impact on the community.
2. Bachelor’s Level Conservation Research Internship in South Africa
This is a chance for biology students to conduct real-world wildlife research on Africa’s most iconic wildlife in the Greater Kruger National Park. You’ll join a well-established conservation organization and have a choice of projects to engage with.
Participants gain hands-on experience in field data collection, data analysis, and report writing as they work on projects such as monitoring hyena populations, tracking vegetation changes, and developing elephant deterrents. This internship provides insights into nonprofit wildlife conservation and helps develop skills you can use for academic theses or scientific publications.
3. NGO Management Internship in Peru
Build a broad skillset in NGO management while contributing to the protection of the Amazon Rainforest. You’ll join a multi-faceted nonprofit dedicated to rainforest conservation, poverty reduction, and sustainable development running a range of projects benefiting local communities and the environment.
You’ll get to see behind the curtain of the organization and spend your day-to-day on real-world business management tasks. Responsibilities include managing various projects, conducting surveys, analyzing impact data, creating social media content, and more. Interns also get the chance to teach language lessons, maintain reforestation sites, and supervise local children.
How to Afford an Unpaid Internship is as Easy as This!
By implementing these strategies, paying for an internship becomes a much easier step toward furthering your career goals. Don’t let financial concerns hold you back—plan ahead, seek out resources, and take proactive steps to fund your internship experience.
Now you know how to afford an unpaid internship, it’s time to plan your own. Roots Interns provides affordable and impactful internship opportunities that can open your eyes to new career paths while staying within your budget.
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This blog was written by Tom Rusbridge
