E/Intern Fellowship in Creative Entrepreneurship

The Internship Fellowship in Creative Entrepreneurship (E/Intern) program provides MICA students the opportunity to participate in a valuable summer business internship experience. The fellowships of up to $3,000 will be awarded to deserving students who have demonstrated interest in creative entrepreneurship and have secured an internship offer from a potential employer. The internship must have a focus on learning business operations, leadership and management skills. The experience can be with a start-up, small business, designer, freelancer or fine artist. The award supports living expenses and transportation costs allowing students to seek competitive internships.   

This fellowship is made possible through the generous support of the Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation.

2025 Deadlines:

May 11, 2025 Final Application Deadline 

May 23, 2025 Awardees Announced            

Selection Criteria & Considerations:

• Entrepreneurial engagement and relevance to stated career goals

• Student has demonstrated interest or experience in entrepreneurship

• Primary internship duties include working directly with founder/owner of business and engaging in day-to-day business operations 

• Demonstrated financial need or unpaid/underpaid internship 

• Academic achievement, preparedness and GPA

• Selection Committees will prioritize non-MICA affiliated opportunities
  (MICA as the host organization or supervision by MICA faculty or staff)

Student Eligibility:

• Current BFA and MFA students at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
  MA, MPS, and MA/MBA students are not eligible

• Student who is actively enrolled at the time of their application and in the summer or fall semester following the internship

• Student is in good academic and community standing with the college

• Internship must take place during the summer 

• Internship must qualify and be registered for school credit; student is obligated to complete all internship assignments

• Student must demonstrate significant financial need (ex. unpaid or low pay internship, travel costs, etc.)

• Student must authorize access to financial aid information

• Student must have a United States Social Security Number (SSN) in order to receive funds, as the award is taxable. Students without a SSN will have award funds applied to their MICA student account.

Internship Eligibility:

• Intern should be actively contributing to the business development of a company gaining functional skills such as sales, marketing, operations, business development, finance, product management or product development

• Students must be working directly with the company owner or founding team in the company office

• Students must complete a minimum of 120 hours at the internship site

Internship Host Requirements:

• For-profit business that has demonstrated viability (been in operation for two years, secured seed funding, organized board of directors, etc.)

• Non-profits are not eligible

• Offer letter or job duty questionnaire from internship site should clearly outline student responsibility and day to day tasks 

• Internship supervisor is required to offer a minimum of 120 supervised working hours and complete mid-point and post evaluations

Application Components:

• Review on the Application Page

Additional Fellowship Expectations:

• Fellows may receive a site visit from the Career Development team during their internship

• Fellows must complete a thank you letter to the funder