The Future Innovators Global Internship Program offers Pell-eligible incoming students (Fall 2025) a summer 2026 global internship at one of four CIEE sites. The program includes:

• A free spring 2026 entrepreneurship course at UC San Diego.

• A fully funded 8-week summer internship (mid-June–mid-August 2026) in Berlin, Cape Town, London, or Singapore through CIEE.

• Mentorship from UC San Diego’s Office of Innovation & Commercialization (OIC) to develop entrepreneurial ventures.

This program is ideal for newly-admitted students eager to apply innovation in a global setting.

We are looking for qualified students who are:

• First Year or Transfer students who are new to UC San Diego Fall 2025

• Pell-eligible

• At least 18 years old by Summer 2026 (Time of Travel)

• In good academic standing (earning and maintaining at least a 2.5 GPA at the end of Fall 2025)

• Able to take the course "Essentials of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, & Design" in Spring Quarter 2026

• Able to travel internationally for the 8-week internship during Summer 2026

Eligibility criteria and the selection process for the Future Innovators Global Internship Program is in accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy. The University of California does not discriminate, or grant preferences, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories.

Your application will consist of the following components:

• Personal Profile.
• Eligibility and Academic Information.
• Internship Site Ranking.
• Short-Answer Personal Statements.
• Video Submission (you will be asked to submit a 90 second video introducing yourself and describing your vision and goals for this internship).
• Resume Submission.
• Academic History (You will upload a .pdf copy of your TritonLink Academic History (unofficial transcript). Please show grades and/or courses you are enrolled in for Fall 2025 and Winter 2026.
• Disclosures and Acknowledgments.

Future Innovators will participate in the Spring 2026 course “Essentials of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, & Design.” This course is a required component of the Future Innovators programs, and will meet every Tuesday 4-6pm Spring Quarter. It is a 2-unit course offered through UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies. There will be no cost of attending this course for the student, and participation is mandatory.

The course will help Future Innovators 'understand design thinking and ideation', learn more about 'connecting innovation ideas and initiatives to organization objectives and goals', and 'understand how to communicate, finance, or market a new idea, product, or initiative'.

Learn more about the course here.

Future Innovators will participate in an 8-week CIEE Global Internship during Summer 2026, at one of four (4) participating CIEE internship sites: London, Berlin, Singapore, and Cape Town.

Applicants will rank their top two preferred locations, and placements will be made by considering applicants' ranked preferred location, and their academic and other interests. Applicants will need to indicate a willingness to go where they are placed. 

Read more about CIEE Internship Placement sites below.

In considering this opportunity, some may feel imposter syndrome if you have never held an internship before (let alone a global internship!), or have never been abroad before. Don't let imposter syndrome dissuade you!

Consider this:

Think about all of the work and school experiences you have had. Did any of these experiences help you learn to work with a team? Deal with a variety of different personalities? Learn about customer service and being in a professional setting? You can use all of the skills you have learned thus far to help you prepare for a Future Innovators Global Internship!

It is no easy task to apply and get accepted to UC San Diego - so you potentially have what it takes to be a successful Future Innovator! Volunteering, community service, clubs, and other activities that you have been involved in are transferable skills that could apply to a Future Innovator experience.

Respect and professionalism

Flexibility

Openness

Organization

Bringing a learner-mindset to the experience

Desire to learn about Innovation & Design activity happening here at UC San Diego