Germany Entrepreneurship Internship Program
The Germany Entrepreneurship Internship Program, with a focus on startups and technology opportunities, provides Brown students the opportunity to expand classroom knowledge to the world of business through an immersive professional experience in Berlin, where the startup culture flourishes.
Through a partnership with the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship, employers in Germany hold an internship position for Brown students to intern over the summer for 6-10 weeks. Students completing internships over the summer will have the opportunity to gather for networking events and participate in entrepreneurship-themed learning experiences.
Participating Employers, Summer 2023: Visit this list of participating employers to read more about the available opportunities and the required qualifications for each position.
Eligibility: All undergraduates must be enrolled during both the Spring 2023 and Fall 2023 semesters to be eligible. This includes all students regardless of citizenship and current location of study. Students may not be on a leave of absence from Brown either in the semester they are applying or in the period when they would receive the funding. Students who have received summer funding from BrownConnect (LINK, UTRA, Signature Programs) in a previous summer will not receive priority consideration in the awards process, but are eligible to apply again. For the Germany Entrepreneurship program only: Students must have completed at least four semesters of undergraduate studies and declared a concentration by the time the internship begins in summer 2023 to be eligible for the Germany work authorization.
Funding amount: Please see the the 2023 SPRINT summer funding chart for funding amounts for this program.
Application deadline: February 2 at 12pm (noon) EST. No late applications are accepted.
Application process: The application for the 2023 internship program can be found in UFUNDS.
Within UFUNDS, applicants must apply to the “Signature Employer Partners Programs” grant period within the BrownConnect SPRINT award summer funding grant. Applicants will be allowed to apply to up two signature programs for summer 2023, listing up to five unique employers within each program. You will be considered for your first choice employer within each program before being considered for any backup choices.
Applicants must answer one short essay question for each signature program and upload a resume and cover letter addressed to your first choice organization/internship for each program. The cover letter should be address to the "Hiring Committee" instead of a specific individual.
2023 SPRINT essay: How will this summer experience enable you to explore an academic, professional, or personal pathway? What new skills do you hope to develop during the summer?
All applications are reviewed by SPRINT committees. Priority will be given to students on Brown University Financial Aid. Once the committee completes their review, a short-list of candidates is sent along to the employer for consideration. Employers may decide to interview some or all of the shortlisted candidates. The final selection is made by the employer and you will be notified once you are accepted or once a different Brown student is selected and accepts the position. Employers receive only the resume and cover letter. The essay is only viewed internally at Brown by the SPRINT committee.
Students will receive an update on the status of their application by March 31, 2023
For more information about 2023 SPRINT awards, please visit the SPRINT webpage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I have many more questions about the Internship Program. Who can I talk to?
A: Please contact Greg Seiler with BrownConnect at [email protected]. You can also read advice from Brown students who previously interned in Berlin
Q: Can I receive academic credit for the internship?
A: Brown does not offer academic credit for internships. Students may choose to work with an academic department and register for an independent study aligning with the internship experience in the semester following the internship.
Q: Are there language requirements to participate?
A: All internship positions will require English only, unless otherwise noted in the job description. Proficiency in German or other languages may strengthen an applicant’s application.
Q: Do I need to interview for the internship?
A: Host employers and students are encouraged to meet via Zoom or other video call service for an interview. This is an opportunity for the employer to learn more about the student intern and for the student intern to learn more about the position and ask for any clarifications about the work involved. Make sure you understand the role and responsibilities before you accept an offer.
Q: Can I apply to more than one internship position?
A: You can apply to your first choice organization and list any secondary choices within the program application form in UFUNDS. If selected by the SPRINT committee, your application materials will be sent to your first choice employer for consideration. In some rare instances when employers haven't been able to hire a candidate from their list of first choice applicants, we've sent them a list of applicants who indicated that employer as a second choice. In those cases we will alert the applicants before forwarding their application materials to their second choice employers.
Q: What if I do not have a passport or my passport is expiring this year?
A: American students needing a passport should start the process of applying for a passport or passport renewal immediately. Contact Greg at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Q: Do I need a work permit or visa?
A: All students, unless you already have the legal ability to work in Germany (e.g., citizenship of a EU-country), will need to secure a German work authorization in order to legally intern.
Brown will cover the cost of your work authorization sponsorship through a third party authorized by the German government to issue the work authorization.
You do NOT need to apply for a visa if you are a citizen of the U.S. or another visa-exempt country AND you stay in Germany or the EU for a maximum of 90 days.
If you are required to obtain a visa in order to enter Germany, you can apply for your visa at a German consulate in the U.S. only after your work authorization has been issued. Brown is unable to help with facilitation or covering the fees for the visa, but please reach out to discuss if you are unsure about the application process.
Q: What are the working hours? Is the internship in-person or hybrid?
A: Interns are expected to work full-time during the dates of the internship. Hours may vary by employer. Interns are required to work the entire duration of the internship with any days off approved in advance by a supervisor. It’s a good idea to ask about working hours and work format during the interview process.
Every employer is different with respect to in-person work. Some employers may require student interns to work in the office full time while others may allow for some remote days.
Q: Can I change the dates of the internship or extend the internship dates?
A: Any changes must be approved by the program and the internship host employer.
Q: Will I meet with other participants on the program?
A: A pre-internship orientation will be held late in the spring semester to discuss the program for accepted students and meet as a group. We’ll also connect everyone early on in the acceptance process to discuss travel buddies or roommates.
Q: What if I need to leave early or quit my internship?
A: Whether initiated by the employer or the student, if an internship position is ended early you may be expected to return a prorated portion of the internship stipend. Please let your supervisor and the Internship Program know as soon as possible.
Q: Can I apply for funding for an internship or host employer not participating in the internship program?
A: In some cases, additional funding may be available for students who apply for the program and do not receive their first choice startup. Students on financial aid will receive preference if funds are available for an internship with a startup that you secure yourself.
Q: I missed the application deadline, can I still apply?
A: No exceptions are made for late applications to be included in the program. In the event that an employer is not able to find a suitable candidate through the process, some internships are occasionally re-posted later in the Spring.
Q: Will I also receive a Summer Earnings Waiver (SEW) if I receive an Award?
A: Participants eligible for a Summer Earnings Waiver (SEW) will receive a SEW by participating in this program. Summer Earnings are available to eligible students with University Scholarship funding once during their time at Brown
Q: Is summer housing provided?
A: Housing is not provided to summer SPRINT recipients. You can view potential housing search resources or read about previous Brown students’ experiences in Berlin.
