Student Opportunities

Internships and other opportunities

  • Argonne National Laboratory internships: Visit the lab’s Graduate Programs or Undergraduate Programs pages for further information. There are multiple internship programs in different fields, and application requirements and dates may vary for each.
  • Cleveland State University is offering a 10-week research experience in rehabilitation engineering, with participants contributing to innovative projects that improve the lives of people with disabilities. The program runs in person June 1 through August 10, 2026, and includes a stipend, free campus housing and meal plan, and travel expenses. Application deadline is February 15, 2026.
  • Rochester Institute of Technology is offering a 9 week summer undergraduate research experience with a focus on computational sensing for human-centered AI. The program runs June 1 to July 31, 2026, and includes a stipend, housing, meals, and some travel expenses. Application deadline is February 15, 2026
  • The University of Michigan’s Center for Materials Innovation is offering a 10-week summer undergraduate research experience in materials science and engineering, open to undergraduates in STEM fields. The program runs from May 27 through July 31, 2026, and includes a stipend and on campus housing. Application deadline is February 12, 2026.
  • The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is offering AI for Earth Summer School. The program runs from June 8 to July 31, 2026, and remote for the first six weeks and on campus for the final two weeks. The program includes a stipend. Housing, meal plans, and reimbursement for travel expenses will be provided for the in-person weeks. The application deadline is March 1, 2026.
  • Tennessee Technological University is offering a summer undergraduate research experience focused on cybersecurity solutions leveraging AI for smart systems. The program begins in May. Application deadline is March 25, 2026.
  • The University of Iowa is offering a summer undergraduate research experience in computing for health and well being. The program runs from May 25 through July 31, 2026, and includes a stipend, campus housing, and meals. Learn more and apply now.

Scholarships

Chris Jackson Computer Science Education Scholarship: This $5,000 scholarship is awarded to a new recipient every six months. Applicants will be required to discuss their interest in pursuing a computer science degree, their career aspirations, and why they think they should receive the award. Learn more, find out the next available application deadline, and submit your application here.

Illinois Student Assistance Commission: The iGROW Tech Scholarship program will be available starting the 2024-2025 academic year. It was developed to help recruit and train individuals to work in high-demand technology jobs. The iGROW Tech Scholarship is currently in the program development stage, so you can learn more and sign up to receive updates as they become available on the application process.

Why do hackathons?

participants in Google Tech Challenge

We strongly encourage UIC CS students to sign up for hackathon competitions. Here are some reasons why:

  • Meeting new people. Not just potential employers—who might watch a hackathon for potential new hires—but also fellow students.
  • Developing your résumé. Hackathons let you showcase the skills you’ve developed in class and build some new ones.
  • Enhancing your job interviews. Hackathons make you a more interesting interviewee. You can talk about how you approached a problem, the solutions you considered, and which skills you brought to the table.
  • Winning! (Of course.)

Research Experiences for Undergraduates

student attending an REU at another university

Research experiences for undergraduates—called REUs for short—offer undergraduate students the opportunity to complete career-building research projects over the summer. REUs are competitive (with students chosen for the research positions by application) and often are held at universities other than your home institution. Most REUs are sponsored with funding from the National Science Foundation and typically come with a stipend that you can use to cover living expenses and other costs. Other REUs are offered by various government agencies and non-profits.

REUs make excellent résumé entries and offer valuable hands-on experience that you can talk about in job interviews. If you have your eye on a master’s degree or PhD after graduation, REUs provide a head start on building your research experience and could give you insight on what you might like to pursue in graduate school.

Think of REUs as a great way to get research experience while trying out living in a different place.