Dates: Between June 1 - August 11
Place: Colombo and Kandy, Sri Lanka
For questions contact Sharifa Halimi at shalimi@sas.upenn.edu
Host Institution: The International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) is one of the country’s leading research centers focusing on ethnicity, identity politics, conflict and conflict resolution, post-war reconstruction, caste, democracy and governance, human rights, development and gender issues. The mission of ICES is to deepen the understanding of ethnicity, identity politics and conflict, and to foster conditions for an inclusive, just and peaceful society nationally, regionally and globally, through research, publication, dialogue, creative expression and knowledge transfer. Students can base their research out of ICES and work with a large range of communities throughout the country on diverse subjects such as Sri Lankan Tamil and Muslim cultures (with affiliates at Eastern University) in Batticaloa or caste issues within Buddhist Sinhalese communities (with affiliates at University of Peradeniya). Students can create their own research project related to these topics or participate in field work already being conducted in these fields.
Mentor: Dr. Mario Gomez, Executive Director.
Program Dates: Between June 1 - August 11
Program Length: 6 - 8 Weeks
Housing: Students will need to find housing in their own
Visa Information:
Students are encouraged to determine their visa eligibility before submitting an application for their desired placement. Depending on citizenship and destination country, students may need a visa or work permit to participate in this internship. It is the student’s responsibility as a SAC participant to determine their visa requirements and obtain a visa if needed.
Students may also access visa information and support through CIBT Visa.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: CLOSED
What to Expect After Application Submission
The South Asia Center will review all complete applications for quality and eligibility and will share application materials with employers abroad within one week of each application deadline.
- Interviews for internship placements will take place any time in February or March. You will be scheduled for an interview via email, so please regularly check.
- SAC admission decisions will be announced to applicants in APRIL 2025.
- Accepted applicants need to commit to, or decline, the offer by one week after decision has been made through SAC.
Helpful Tips on Preparing Your Application
Reach out to Penn Career Services as you prepare your resume and cover letter/personal statement. Take advantage of the Career Services' service as soon as you are ready with a draft of your resume and personal statement. We encourage you to schedule an appointment with Career Services sooner rather than later.
We also recommend taking a peek at our SAC Blog, where previous students have submitted their reflections from previous years.