The Internships and Experiential Learning class is a program of UCSF's Office of Career and Professional Development. It was formerly known as Graduate Student Internships for Career Exploration Program (GSICE). The program supports graduate students and postdocs in pursuing internships and experiential learning outside of academic research. The goal of the program is to help students and postdocs complete hands-on experience in appropriate career environments in order to help them make informed decisions about which of the many career paths to pursue post graduation. The program does not provide placements; rather, we give students and postdocs the tools necessary to find and apply for opportunities themselves. We also support students and postdocs pursuing internships and experiential learning in navigating the relevant university policies and procedures. 

The role of our class is to identify and train talented and enthusiastic students and postdocs, and appropriately direct them to exciting internship opportunities. The internship sites themselves make all staffing decisions. This includes deciding which interns they wish to take on (or whether they wish to take any interns at that time); and interviewing students and postdocs themselves to determine who would be the best fit for the internship. 

We advise all our grad students and postdocs pursuing full-time opportunities that they should expect remuneration that is at least as much as their university stipend and health insurance for a quarter, and usually much more. Compensation for part-time opportunities varies. 

That's great! Please see our info for internship sites.

The process of selecting the annual class cohort involves a written application. Criteria used to evaluate potential participants include evaluating the applicant's level of maturity, the extent of their communication skills, their ability to work independently and as a member of a team, the dedication and work ethic of the participant, and the level of genuine interest of the participant in the chosen area of potential internship.

All class participants must complete all of the training workshops and all outside work associated with them. They must put in a good faith effort to secure an internship or experiential learning placement. They must also complete all evaluation exercises during and after the class. 

Students register for the GSICE course, GRAD286: GSICE Career and Professional Development Training. The course is graded Pass/Not Pass or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.

We understand that discussing the possibility of doing an internship with your Thesis Advisor can be very difficult and might not be received positively. Instructors are available to work through strategies to prepare you for this conversation and potential questions and concerns that might arise. However, it is up to the ultimate discretion of your Thesis Advisor and Graduate Program Director to allow you to participate in an internship.

No. It is up to the ultimate discretion of a student's Thesis Advisor and Graduate Program Director to allow the student to go on an internship. They are not required to let a student do an internship.

Yes. The university requires that students maintain health insurance during their internship. Current students can learn more about their options for continuing their student health insurance while on leave by reviewing the UCSF Student Health ‘Leave of Absence’ policy. Graduated students may extend their student health insurance for one quarter after they graduate by purchasing a UC SHIP Continuation Plan. In some cases, students negotiated successfully for the internship employer to cover the cost of insurance. More specific information regarding student health insurance is described in the 2020 Internship Guidebook. Class participants may book an appointment with a staff member to discuss their options.

No. While the student is on an internship, the costs associated with the student's stipend and health insurance should be covered by the internship organization. More specific information regarding student health insurance is described in the 2020 Internship Guidebook.

Typically, the student paid from extramural fellowships will temporarily stop their fellowship tenure and stipend for the duration of a full-time internship, and resume it once they return from their leave of absence. However, each situation is different, and should be investigated individually. Students should book an appointment with OCPD to discuss the specific funding situation as it relates to the proposed internship.

Yes, it is possible to do an internship after graduation. However, a student cannot do an internship during the quarter that they are on filing fee. During the quarter they are on filing fee, the student would be enrolled as a student, and as such would be expected and required to fulfill their duties as a student (i.e., write the graduate thesis). More specific information regarding student health insurance is described in the 2020 GSICE Guidebook.

Please see the student eligibility requirements.

The list of sites that have open internships is constantly evolving. Currently, students have done or are planning to do internships in the following areas: research in biotech/pharma, science education, science policy, science communication, business relating to science, and law. Students investigate and set up their own placements with the support of class instructors.