Financial Support

This page provides an overview of some popular financial support programs used to support students in their professional development.

For questions relating to any of these resources, please email ccfinancialsupport@vanderbilt.edu.

Award-a-Dore

Discover funding opportunities through Award-a-Dore, our new award management system designed to streamline how students find and apply for financial support across campus departments. All students can sign in using their VUnetID and password through SSO. Explore a variety of funding options and easily manage your applications all in one place.

Please note that the Career Center does not oversee all awards listed on Award-a-Dore. For any inquiries, verify which department manages the specific award and contact the appropriate representative.

Financial Support from the Career Center

The Career Center offers financial assistance to support students in their career development journey. This funding can help cover costs associated with unpaid/underpaid internships, travel, and more. To be eligible, students must meet specific criteria and submit a detailed application. Some popular financial support awards offered by the Career Center are listed below.

  • Lyft Rideshare Assistance Program

    Do you need help traveling to and from your Nashville internship, research, or student teaching opportunity? The Career Center is now offering rideshare assistance through Lyft!

    To qualify for the program, students must have a Lyft account (and users must have payment on file). Another factor to consider is any ride taken that meets the established parameters will pull from the user’s Program funds even if the ride is not for their approved internship. The user has 24 hours after the ride to update the funding source to the appropriate account (credit card or another Lyft Program). It is your responsibility to ensure the funds are used appropriately. You are solely responsible for updating rides to correctly charge the appropriate funding source. 

    Details of Award:

    • Students will be awarded up to $500 in rideshare credits.
    • Students must have a Lyft account.
    • Rides must be between 5 am and 7 pm. 
    • If selected, students will: attend a financial literacy workshop, visit the Professional Headshot Photo Booth located in the SLC, 2nd floor, and take a pre and post-internship survey. 
    • Students will be eligible to receive rideshare support once per academic year.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • A full-time Vanderbilt student in good academic standing
    • Secured an internship, research, or student teaching opportunity for the semester the Lyft Pass is awarded. Applicants must submit an offer and/or acceptance letter.
    • Internship or research is within 20 miles of Vanderbilt. Students will submit the internship location on their application. 

    Disqualifiers:

    • Student traching internship or research outside of the Nashville metro area.
    • Have an on-campus internship/research position

    Fall Award Cycle/Timeline:

    • Application Opens: August 28th to September 29th 
    • Review Period Starts: September 30th 
    • Award Notifications by: October 4th

    How to Apply: 

    Submit a full application by Sunday, September 29th on the Award-a-Dore platform. Search “Lyft” under the “Search Scholarships” Tab for more information and the application.

    You will need to submit the following key materials and essay questions with your application (please upload any documents in a PDF format): 

    • Resume 
    • Essay Question: Brief description of internship/research experience and why the internship will be helpful to your career empowerment journey (300 word count max). 
    • Confirmation/Offer letter of internship

    Grading Rubric Criteria: 

    • Strength of Resume 
    • Strength of Statement for Essay Question  
    • Internship/Research/Student Teaching Confirmation  
    • Career Center Engagement 
  • Levy Internship Fund

    The Levy Internship Fund provides eligible students with up to $6000 for un(der) paid summer internships. Recipients may use the funding for housing costs, meals, transportation costs (to/from the internship, commuter travel, etc.), professional attire, and any necessary expenses to complete their internship.

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • VU Students who have demonstrated financial need. 
    • VU Undergraduate: First-year students through juniors are eligible to apply. 
    • Secured Eligible Summer Internship.
      • Eligible internships include a minimum of 8-week unpaid or underpaid summer internship experiences. 
      • The Levy Internship Fund requires that your summer experience must be classified as an internship opportunity by the issuing employer. If your research opportunity does not meet this classification, you won't be eligible for funding.

    Disqualifiers

    • VU Undergraduates may only receive the Levy Internship Fund once.
    • Any opportunity that is not a minimum of eight weeks and does not qualify as a summer internship.  

    AY 2024-25 Award Cycle/Timeline: 

    New this year! We will open one application from late fall through mid-spring. Funds will be disbursed in late May to early June.

    Application dates will be added soon!

    Pre-Requisite Workshops & Required Post-Survey: 

    Students receiving a Levy Internship Fund award will be required to participate in a pre/post-workshop session to maximize their internship experience. 

    Levy Pre-Requisite Workshop Offerings (must only attend one): Dates TBD

    • Post-Internship Survey - In late August, after your internship, you will be required to complete a post-experience survey to share details about your summer experience. 

    Resources:

  • Lovinger Family Internship Fund

    Undergraduate students interested in media-related careers are encouraged to apply for a stipend through the Lovinger Family Internship Fund. Recipients will be awarded up to $5,000 to help offset the costs of low or no-pay internships or programs, regardless of location. Several factors determine award amounts, including financial need, location, weekly hours, and anticipated graduation date.

    Applicants may apply before receiving an internship offer but must have secured a written request before processing the award. A complete application includes uploading a resume via Handshake, an internship description, a 200-300 word essay on what you hope to learn through this experience, and a proposed budget (transportation to the city, housing, daily transit). Applicants must be current Vanderbilt undergraduate students returning full-time for at least one undergraduate semester in the fall after their internship or program.

    2024-2025 Timelines and application links will be added at the beginning of 2024 Fall Semester.

    Resources:

  • Vandy in Hollywood Internship Fund

    Undergraduate students who have been accepted into the Vandy in Hollywood Summer Internship Program are encouraged to apply for a stipend through the ViH Internship Fund. Recipients will be awarded an amount within the range of $1,500 – $3,000 to help offset the costs of low or no-pay internships. Award amounts are determined by several factors, including financial need, location, hours per week, and anticipated graduation date.

    Applicants may apply prior to receiving an internship offer but must have secured an offer in writing by May 1 before awards will be processed. A complete application includes a resume via Handshake, an internship description (if accepted), a 100–200 word essay on what you hope to learn through this experience, and the proposed budget (transportation to the city, housing, daily transit). Please put all of your answers into a word document and upload it as an additional document.

    Applicants must be current Vanderbilt undergraduate students returning full-time for at least one undergraduate semester in the fall after their internship.

    2024-2025 Timelines and application links will be added at the beginning of 2024 Fall Semester.

    Resources:

Interested in Supporting Students in Their Professional Development?

Financial Literacy Resources

The Career Center has collected several resources designed to help students manage their personal finances. Click here to view a list of resources.

Other Campus Resources

Grants and Scholarships can be awarded from a variety of sources including Vanderbilt, federal, state and private entities. These funds are considered “gift” assistance and do not have to be repaid. Learn more about grants and scholarships.

Each year Vanderbilt awards merit-based scholarships to applicants who demonstrate exceptional accomplishment and intellectual promise. Learn more about merit-based scholarships..

Summer Internship Subsidy: Need academic credit for your internship? Vanderbilt provides a subsidy to waive the cost associated with the academic credit required for internships. Check with the Dean’s office in your school to learn more.

Are you in need of professional attire for an upcoming interview, Career Fair, or other professional development experience? Visit our in-person Commodore Closet, in partnership with Student Affairs, launching in the Fall of 2024. More information coming soon!