Program Overview
The SkyDeck Intern Scholarship provides up to $4,000 to help UC Berkeley students with financial need pursue unpaid internships at Berkeley SkyDeck startups. By reducing financial barriers, the program enables students to gain hands-on startup experience while supporting some of the most innovative companies in the Berkeley ecosystem.
What You’ll Gain Beyond the Scholarship
Recipients also have the opportunity to:
- Gain hands-on experience at an early-stage startup.
- Build relationships with startup founders and the SkyDeck community.
- Attend exclusive networking and professional development events.
- Connect with scholarship sponsors and industry leaders.
- Become part of a growing community of SkyDeck Intern Scholars.
Eligibility
To be eligible, the student must:
- Be an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley
- Be sophomore standing or higher
- Be a current recipient of Pell Grant, Cal Grant, Chafee Grant, Parent Grant or the Fiat Lux Scholarship
- Have secured an UNPAID internship with a SkyDeck startup for the Fall 2026
- Not have any visa restrictions to do paid internships in the US if he/she is an international student
Requirements
To qualify for the scholarship, students must:
- Intern for an average of 15 hours per week during the fall or spring semester.
- Successfully complete the internship for the full semester.
- Receive a satisfactory performance evaluation from their startup supervisor, confirming meaningful participation, contribution, and professional conduct throughout the internship.
- Actively participate in scholarship-related programming, including required SkyDeck events and activities for scholarship recipients.
Students who meet these requirements will receive a $4,000 scholarship.
IMPORTANT: The award is an additive for students who are on financial aid. In other words, the award does not replace the financial aid the students receive from the university or any other institution.
Timeline
- Applications Open: Monday, August 31, 2026
- Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
- Applicants Notified: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
The Fall 2026 application will open on Monday, August 31. Please submit your application here.
