Who can apply to be a WiST Fellow?

• Women and nonbinary undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students enrolled full-time at an accredited university 

• United States citizens currently enrolled in a U.S. or international university

• Non-United States citizens currently enrolled in a U.S. university with a current visa that allows work in the U.S. Note: non-U.S. citizens must be enrolled in a U.S. university in the Spring of 2024 AND the Fall of 2024.

• All Fellowship recipients must have a U.S. bank account.

*Note: There is no flexibility on these requirements. 

Where can I find out more about WiST and the Fellowship program?

We recommend exploring our website, particularly the pages under Fellowship Program. It is also advised, but not required that you attend one of our information sessions.

When is the application deadline and when will I find out if I’ve been selected?

A list of the key dates can be found here.

How do you match Fellows with opportunities?

As part of the application process, you will rank your top 5 choices of internships offered by our partner hosts. Descriptions for each can be found here and will continue to be updated through the entire application process. After the interview process is complete, we carefully review the opportunities you’ve ranked with the needs and necessary skills required for each host project. We do not guarantee you will get one of your top choices because sometimes we find a match that you may not have considered that our experience tells us will be better suited for you. We have had great success with our matches to date! If you are uncomfortable with this possibility of being matched other than with one of your top choices, this may not be the best program for you. Entering our 7th year of the program, WiST host partners trust our match-making abilities and we hope you will too! 

“The intentional internship placement and mentor pairing is an indication that WiST lives up to their mission.”

-Brooke Osmanski, 2023 WiST Fellow

Do WiST Fellowship recipients receive any funding?

Yes. WiST Fellowship recipients either receive a lump sum grant of $5,000 OR they receive salary compensation under the terms of a host’s internship program. Funding is determined and communicated when the Fellowship is offered.

Do WiST Fellowship recipients receive additional financial assistance?

If the internship requires travel and is requested by the host company, there will be reimbursement for essential transportation and lodging expenses. Expense reimbursement eligibility is determined and communicated at the start of the program.

Will this Fellowship be full time during the weeks of the internship?
Yes. You are expected to be available to work during normal working hours, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm in Pacific, Mountain, Central or Eastern time zones. (Exceptions can be extended for varsity athletes who have required competitions during the program.)

What if I have a planned family vacation during the summer?
The WiST Fellowship is a coveted professional development opportunity and a commitment. To the extent possible, we request that you take vacation outside of your internship dates. Obviously, there are often life events, expected and unexpected (weddings, birthdays, deaths) that take place over the summer months. We ask that you act professionally and notify your host company and direct supervisor as far in advance as possible if you will need to miss days during your internship program. If you do take days off, you should plan to make up the time. Open, transparent communication with both your host partner and with WiST is critically important for your success.

What if I need support or advice during my internship as a WiST Fellow?
We are here for you! We understand for many of our Fellows this will be your first professional experience and you may have questions and need support to navigate the work successfully. This is why you are carefully paired with a WiST Mentor and will be in close touch with WiST Director of Operations Alison Reed for advice and support. Also, we provide bi-weekly hour-long professional development workshops and highly encourage you to build relationships with your Fellow peers, as well as with all WiST staff.

What if I already have another internship lined up for myself in the sports tech industry?
Great question and congrats to you! There is the opportunity for you to still become a WiST Fellow, and benefit from all the things our program provides for you. As long as the business is paying you directly for your internship, please email us at info@womeninsportstech.org to discuss this “self-created” possibility.

Women in Sports Tech Fellowship Application Guidelines PDF for additional information.