FUSE FAQs 2026-2027 Academic Year

FUSE Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for FUSE funding?

To be eligible, undergraduate students currently enrolled in any degree program must have secured an unpaid or underfunded internship, research, or similar applied learning experience that is at least four weeks long and comprises a minimum of 100 hours during the fall, winter, or spring terms, and 160 hours for the summer term. Summer and winter applicants must be enrolled as undergraduate students through William & Mary's main campus, St. Andrews, or a study abroad program for the following semester. They must be in good academic, financial, and disciplinary standing at the time of application and maintain this standing throughout the internship.

Can international students receive FUSE funding?

Yes. International students with questions about work authorization are advised to consult the Reves Center. Additionally, students classified as non-resident aliens need to complete additional forms through the Tax Analysis Office.

What qualifies as underfunded?

An internship or applied learning experience is considered underfunded if it provides compensation that is below the current minimum wage in the location where the experience takes place. If you are being paid a stipend, divide the amount you will be paid by the number of hours you are working to determine if the experience is underfunded.

Are there internships or situations that don’t qualify?

The following criteria will result in automatic disqualification from the FUSE funding process:

Independent or unsupervised internships
Internships supervised by other undergraduate students
Internship sites owned or managed by a member of the intern’s family
Experiences that don’t meet the minimum hour requirement in one term
Inaccurate representation of the experience or employer information
Honor code, academic or disciplinary conduct violations
Transferring or withdrawing from the university before, during, or after the internship

Can I participate in an international internship?

For any international internship, it is essential to consult William & Mary’s international travel policy. Students seeking to intern abroad while receiving funding should review the university’s travel alerts page for the country of interest. If the country is listed on the university’s travel advisory list, students must complete a petition which will be reviewed by the W&M International Travel Review Committee. Undergraduate students are prohibited from traveling to countries on the Restricted Destinations list.

Students traveling to any other country for their FUSE experience must secure CISI international travel insurance, attend a pre-departure orientation through the Reves Center, and provide emergency contact information to the university.

Why was I not awarded FUSE funding or why was the amount I was awarded less than I requested?

Here are common reasons that students are awarded less than they requested or aren’t awarded:

Incomplete applications
Insufficient details or explanations for budget requests (e.g., requesting money for clothing without providing an itemized list)
Requests for budget items that are not eligible (e.g., hardware, software, car insurance, gym memberships, toiletries, laundry, etc.)
Lack of required details in the offer letter (e.g., employer’s name and contact information, proof of offer, start and end dates, total number of hours to be worked, modality with a schedule of on-site and remote days if it’s hybrid, and whether it’s unpaid or underfunded)

How is funding distributed?

Our office will collaborate with students receiving awards to ensure all requirements are met. Whenever possible, awards will be distributed prior to the start of the experience. The funding will be disbursed as a direct deposit refund through the Bursar’s Office.

What are the funding requirements?

Prior to accepting FUSE funding managed through the Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement, you must complete one of the following prerequisites: My Active Career Exploration (MACE) (all 6 sessions), Career Readiness Foundations (all 4 modules), or SCHEV Developing Career Readiness Skills modules (Course Foundations and at least 3 modules).

*If you have already completed the SCHEV Developing Career Readiness Skills modules for a previous FUSE award, you will need to complete the SCHEV Internship Toolkit modules (Getting Started and Modules 6-8).

Awardees are required to enroll in and complete assignments for a 0-credit internship course during the term they are receiving funding. Information about registration will be shared after award notification and acceptance.
The internship supervisor must submit an evaluation of the intern’s performance including verification that the required hours were completed during the award term.
Students must complete a self-evaluation reflecting on the experience’s impact on their academic and career goals.
Recipients are expected to write a thank you note to donors and participate, if available, as requested for activities such as information sessions and donor-recognition events.
Awardees must produce a PowerPoint slide and participate in an Internship & Applied Learning Showcase.

If a student does not complete the full experience or any of the requirements for any reason, they will be responsible for repaying the full award amount.

Inclusion in Publicity Materials & Donor Events

Acceptance of an award by a student implies their agreement that William & Mary may use the student’s name and likeness in materials related to FUSE funding. Recipients may request an exemption from this by writing to the Internships & Applied Learning Team.