Watson Graduate Internship Program (GrIP)

Watson GrIP (Graduate Internship Program), developed by the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science, fosters structured partnerships between academia and industry to address real-world engineering and technology challenges.

This innovative program connects master’s students with industry partners for a seven-month paid internship during their second year. The extended internship timeline offers employers a valuable opportunity to evaluate an intern’s technical skills, workplace compatibility and long-term potential while allowing students to enrich their academic experience with hands-on, industry-relevant work.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Intern with Leading Companies: Access top U.S. firms in manufacturing, electronics, robotics, information technology and more
Career Advantage: A direct pathway to full-time roles with leading firms
STEM-Designated Program: Unlocks up to three years of OPT (U.S. work authorization) for international students
Lower Living Costs: Study in an affordable U.S. city while maximizing savings
Hands-On Industry Training: Work on real-world engineering projects before graduation
Increase Your Earning Potential: Gain practical skills that make you highly employable
Strong Industry Connections: Network with U.S. engineering leaders and mentors
A Smart Financial Choice: Competitive tuition and internship stipend offsets costs

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

International and domestic students seeking a fast-track path to a U.S. engineering career
Aspiring engineers eager to gain paid industry experience
Future innovators looking to work with leading U.S. engineering and technology firms

BENEFITS FOR COMPANIES

Extended seven-month internship: More time to assess an intern’s fit before making hiring decisions
MS-level talents with advanced skills: Interns bring deeper subject expertise, fresh perspective, strong analytical thinking and problem- solving abilities, which can help companies stay ahead of their competition
Work on meaningful engineering projects: Interns contribute to real-world challenges with immediate impact
No hiring obligation: If there’s no match, there’s no commitment
Streamlined recruitment strategy: Access a highly skilled, pre-vetted talent pool without extensive screening efforts
Reduced onboarding and training costs: If you hire at the end of the internship, the candidate is already trained on your processes
Professional maturity and readiness: MS interns come with greater independence, leadership potential and workplace readiness
Mentorship opportunities: Watson GrIP will provide opportunities for current employees to develop their leadership and mentoring skills
Collaborative partnerships with ��ɫ and Watson College: Interns and their faculty advisors can bring advanced research skills, potentially leading to collaborative projects that can help companies innovate and solve challenging problems