The Public Service & the Arts Micro-Internship Program helps nonprofit organizations host paid short-term flexible opportunities for currently enrolled Carolina students.
This program provides Carolina students with service learning opportunities, which are a form of experiential education, that engage them in community-based activities. The UNC Career Center will provide support to both students and employer organizations by:
- Expanding UNC-Chapel Hill students’ knowledge of Public Service & the Arts organizations
- Allowingl students to explore and gain high-impact learning experiences
- Providing nonprofit organizations with talent that contributes to their growth
The program strives to support seven micro-internship opportunities in Fall 2025 and seven micro-internship opportunities in Summer 2026. These are paid opportunities to work a total of 20/30/40/60 hours on a specific event or project for the semester.
Participating organizations
Summer 2025:
Fall 2025:
Information for Students
Important Timelines for SUMMER 2026 Micro-Internships:
- Positions posted on Handshake: February 25, 2026
- Interviews for selected candidates: Rolling applications
- Hiring decisions: By April 10, 2026
- Micro-Internship dates (20/30/40/60 hours): April 27 – August 14, 2026
Eligibility Requirements:
- Available to currently enrolled UNC-Chapel Hill students from second year through first-semester seniors and graduate students
- Currently enrolled in good standing with a minimum of 2.0 GPA at UNC-Chapel Hill
- Student must receive an agreement from the organizations to benefit from the Public Service & the Arts Micro-Internship program
- International students on visas must comply with International Student schoolers (ISS) guidelines for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Refer to your specific visa requirements, most do not allow for non-credit paid experiences).
- It is up to the discretion of the UNC Career Center if a student can complete more than one micro-internship per semester.
Students in their final semester at UNC-Chapel Hill are not eligible for post-graduation to post-graduation. Non-degree-seeking students are not eligible for this opportunity.
Award Amounts: A micro-internship award is based on the number of hours for each project (outlined in the job the description):
- 20-hour projects: $300
- 30-hour projects: $450
- 40-hour projects: $600
- 60-hour projects: $900
How to Apply:
UNC-Chapel Hill Students can apply for the Public Service & the Arts Micro-Internship program through Handshake.
- Login to Handshake
- Click on the “Jobs” link
- In the keyword search, enter Micro-Internship UNC-CH
Requirements for Student Participation:
UNC-Chapel Hill students who receive the Public Service & the Arts Micro-Internship will be required to fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete the Pre-Micro-Internship self-evaluation form in Handshake once the offer is received
- Complete the Post-Micro-Internship self-evaluation form in Handshake
- Provide a written and digital (photo or video) testimonial of micro-internship experience
- Recipients must complete the number of hours indicated in the agreement form. Failure to do so will result in the repayment of money received
- Participate in a student panel to share lessons learned and benefits of the experiential education
- Recipients must write a thank you letter to the fund donors upon the conclusion of the experience (to be forwarded to the donor)
All expectations above are required and are the conditions of the funding. Failure to comply with expectations will result in repayment of the funds. Public Service & the Arts Micro-Interns are required to immediately notify the UNC Career Center of any changes in their summer experience plans
Information for Employers
EMPLOYER APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR SUMMER 2026 INTERNSHIPS.
Nonprofit organizations can apply to be part of the upcoming cohort of Public Service & the Arts Micro-Interns program through the link below. The organizations participating in the Public Service & the Arts Micro-Internship will receive funds to hire a Micro-Intern for a total of 20/30/40 hours for the upcoming cycle. The hiring dates and hours per week are flexible as long as they occur in the time frame provided. Work with your student to set up a schedule that works for you both.
Please complete a PROGRAM APPLICATION (below) to be considered for an internship award. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the program is full.
- Fall employer application due: June 5- July 31, 2025
- Summer employer application due: December 15, 2025 – February 13, 2026
Organization Eligibility Requirements
- Must be registered for an employer account in Handshake
- Experience provided must be a total of 20/30/40/60 hours (you will work with your student intern to establish a weekly schedule, e.g. 10 hour/week for 3 weeks)
- Supervision must be provided by a professional in the organization
- A student evaluation must be completed at the end of the internship
- Internships may be in-person, hybrid, or remote
- Funding provided is assigned in totality to the student(s) hired and will go directly to them
Organization Expectations for Participation
- Compliance with our program expectations in the employer guide on how to host a Micro-Internship
- Posting opportunity in Handshake according to the timeline
- Organizations are responsible for selecting and hiring their student intern
- Complying with the requirements and hiring timelines of the Public Service & the Arts Micro-Internship.
- Fill out evaluation of students experience upon completion of the micro-internship
Important Employer Timelines for SUMMER 2026 Internships:
- Complete program application: December 15, 2025-Febuary 13, 2026
- Positions posted on Handshake: February 25, 2026
- Interviews for selected candidates: Rolling applications
- Hiring decisions: By April 10, 2026
- Micro Internship dates (20/30/40/60 hours total): April 27– June 19, 2026
