Technology Work Experience Internship Program
The Technology Work Experience Internship Program provides matching funds to approved postsecondary institutions (65 KB PDF) in support of students completing internships or work experiences with emerging technology companies located within the Commonwealth.
Companies and/or postsecondary institutions will be required to pay only 50 percent of the student's wages, with the remaining 50 percent being provided through a matching funds allocation. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) administers this Program in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board (PWIB).
The Technology Work Experience Internship Program assists students with educational costs and enhances their classroom learning with a career-related work experience or internship. The internship may also be used to fulfill the SciTech Scholarship internship requirement under the New Economy Technology Scholarship (NETS) Program.
Technology Work Experience Internship Program Information for Students
The Technology Work Experience Internship Program provides Pennsylvania students enrolled in science and technology programs with employment opportunities in high technology fields. Through this program, you will gain career-related, on-the-job work experience with a high-tech company while earning money to help pay for your education. You generally work from 10 to 15 hours per week during the school year and up to 40 hours per week during the summer.
You can earn up to $7,000 in a 12-month period. This work experience can also fulfill the internship requirement for the SciTech Scholarship in the New Economy Technology Scholarship (NETS) Program, although you are not required to be a recipient in that program in order to participate in the Technology Work Experience Internship Program.
To qualify you must:
- Be an undergraduate student or be enrolled in an approved master’s degree program (9 KB PDF);
- Be a Pennsylvania resident as of the first day of classes;
- Be enrolled in a NETS-approved program at a NETS-approved school in Pennsylvania; and
- Complete the Technology Work Experience Internship Program Student Placement Form (33 KB PDF) and ask your postsecondary institution to complete the school section then submit the form to PHEAA.
Technology Work Experience Internship Program Information for Employers
We appreciate your interest in providing real-life working experiences as well as financial aid funds to students pursuing higher education throughout Pennsylvania.
The Technology Work Experience Internship Program provides matching funds to approved postsecondary educational institutions in support of students completing internships or work experiences with Pennsylvania technology companies. Companies and/or postsecondary institutions will be required to pay only 50 percent of the student's wages, with the remaining 50 percent provided by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).
In order to participate, an employer must:
- Be involved in scientific research and product development in a technology field, and be less than eight years from incorporation or employ fewer than 500 employees;
- Pay up to 50 percent of the student's wages, with the remaining 50 percent paid from the institution's matching funds allocation; total compensation to the student shall not exceed $7,000 in a 12-month period, defined as Fall, Spring and Summer terms in that order;
- Self-certify their eligibility to participate in the program by completing an Employer Interest Form (25 KB PDF) and
- Enter into an agreement with the postsecondary school(s) attended by the participating student(s) concerning employment duties, hours, pay and any other conditions which PHEAA or the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board may adopt.