CALS Global Fellows Program
The CALS Global Fellows Program will be paused for the Summer 2024.
The CALS Global Fellows Program supports CALS undergraduate students from any major in pursuit of challenging, professionally focused summer internships and research placements that enhance and complement their career goals and academic progress, while enriching their undergraduate experience with diverse cultural and international immersion. Through key partnerships, the Global Fellows Program provides a platform for students to make positive and definable contributions to global organizations and communities.
Acceptance to the program is competitive and a limited number of students are selected each year.
The program includes three parts:
- 3 in-person pre-engagement workshops (March/April)
- a continuous 7–8-week internship or research placement in an international setting,
- and a 1-credit post-engagement course in the first 7weeks of the Fall semester (ALS/GDEV 3105).
GFP Info Session:
Please attend the CALS Engaged and Experiential Learning Symposium on Thursday, Oct 19th, 2023 from 4:00-5:30 in Mann B75.
Questions? Email: calsglobal [at] cornell.edu
Eligibility and Applications
CALS Global Fellows is open to undergraduate students from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) who have completed 2 academic years, with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and maintain good academic standing. Some programs may have their own minimum GPA requirement (check the application listing). This program is not open to current freshman or seniors; unless seniors are returning beyond their summer experience for the fall semester.
Funding
Funding for the CALS Global Fellows Program is limited. If accepted into the program, the cost of the program fee, housing, food allowance and a cost of living stipend will be provided. Amounts vary by location. Applicants should expect to cover the cost of their international airfare to the destination. International Flight assistance is available through the Global Fellows grant fund. Grant awards will range from partially funded to full funding of your airfare. There are many factors that will determine how much is awarded. A separate application for grant funding will be required.
For details on the estimated cost of this program and more information on possible funding opportunities, visit the cost tab.
Grant funding that is awarded is to offset major internship-related expenses, including program fees, housing and food. Award amounts vary and are determined by several factors including, but not limited to, number of weeks of internship, location, payments paid directly to the partner by CALS, partner support and financial need. The purpose of the grant funding is to cover major expenses. It is not intended as monetary gain for Fellows. Global Fellows should budget wisely and be willing to financially contribute to their experience. Students accepted to the program will receive confirmation of the amount of the stipend in their letter of offer. Students should be prepared to pay some out-of-pocket expenses that the stipend will not cover, and/or expenses required in advance such as housing deposits. You can find budgetary information for each program on the cost tab of the program listing in Experience Cornell.
Program Placements
All Global Fellows Program placements are in organizations and institutions with clearly defined professional fields of practice which have been curated by CALS and the partners. For each placement, we provide an overview of the type of projects and duties that interns may support and enact. While some internships have predefined expectations and roles, several are with partners who have multiple ongoing and fluid projects that require interns who are flexible and proactive within a particular context (e.g. Malawi, Botswana and India). A few of our internship partners (e.g. Bangkok, Sydney, and Argentina) will support Fellows throughout the spring semester to finalize their placement in an organization, company or research lab with a focus that matches their interests. It is key then, that students clearly articulate their personal and professional objectives throughout the application process, and if selected as a Fellow, contribute meaningfully to the matching phase.
Note that the program offers several opportunities that may include more than one partner within the same country and/or with the same global partner. Below, explore a summary of opportunities organized by region and country.
For a list of all placement opportunities, more detailed information, and to APPLY, visit Global Fellows Program on Experience Cornell.

We openly share valuable knowledge.
Sign up for more insights, discoveries and solutions.