Fully Funded Classics Summer Internships in Rome and Isthmia
Classics majors and minors are invited to apply for our exciting summer internships in Rome and Isthmia, Greece.
Internships in Rome will run from May 20 to July 11, 2026 and be supervised by Notre Dame Rome. Interns in Isthmia will be under the supervision of Prof. Alessandro Pierattini (ND's School of Architecture) from June 15 to July 15, 2026.
Funding
Interns receive full funding to cover the costs of insurance, housing, food, miscellaneous expenses, and organized excursions (as available). Support and funds have been generously provided by the Department of Classics's McNulty Fund, the Glynn Family Honors Program, the Nanovic Center, ND Rome, and the Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures.
Eligibility
Notre Dame Classics majors or minors. Graduating seniors are not eligible. We will consider applications from both Classics majors and minors, but preference will be given to majors.
Classics summer internship opportunities may change over time depending on the needs of host institutions in Rome and Greece. Here are some examples from recent years.
Student Interns will digitize original manuscripts from the historical archive.
“The Archive owns a precious heritage which attests the intellectual activity of the Roman College's Jesuits, from its foundation in 1551 until the suppression of the Society of Jesus, which occurred in 1773. After the suppression of the Society of Jesus in 1773, it has been buried and walled up. Once brought to light from its hiding place, in 1878 it has been placed in a mansard of the Roman College, then the seat of the incipient NATIONAL CENTRAL LIBRARY OF ROME. More than 5,000 manuscripts prove the lessons of rhetoric, grammar, philosophy and theology, delivered over the course of two centuries, as well as the study of Greek and Latin classics, astronomy, mathematics, physics and languages such as Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Arabic.”
In the first week, Dr. Irene Pedretti will teach students how to read manuscripts and how to use the program of digitalization. In the following weeks students will be assigned a manuscript and work at transliterating and typing under her supervision.
About 20 hours of work per week. Latin is required.
In addition to their internship work, students will have the opportunity to take field trips to various artistic and historical sites, organized by our Rome Global Gateway.
Through the Global Professional Program, I gained firsthand experience as an archivist and applied the Latin skills I have developed in Notre Dame’s Classics Department. My internship at the Pontifical Gregorian University challenged me to grow as a Classicist and gave me greater clarity about my future career path. I am incredibly thankful for the GPE program, ND Rome, and the Classics Department for this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Student Interns will digitize images from the Academy's renowned research Library.
“The Arthur & Janet C. Ross Library contains 172,000 volumes in the fields of classical studies and the history of art and architecture (chiefly Italian, medieval, and Renaissance) with strong collections in ancient Mediterranean art and archaeology, classical literature, ancient topography—including the history of the city of Rome—and related fields such as epigraphy, numismatics, and papyrology.”
About 20 hours of work per week. No language requirement.
In addition to their internship work, students will have the opportunity to take field trips to various artistic and historical sites, organized by our Rome Global Gateway.
Thank you for the funding to allow me to participate in the GPE summer internship program! I was able to work at the American Academy of Rome to help digitize and catalogue their archaeological collection. I was able to learn skills to work directly with material culture and saw a new part of the field of Classics. This was an incredible opportunity that I would not be able to participate in without working abroad in Rome and it was only through the program and funding that I was able to intern there.
Student interns will translate the website from Italian into English, lead groups of visitors (in English), learn how to catalogue volumes and digitalize the archive, partake in didactive activities and provide library assistance to scholars visiting the Biblioteca.
About 20 hours of work per week. Italian required.
In addition to their internship work, students will have the opportunity to take field trips to various artistic and historical sites, organized by our Rome Global Gateway.
This summer, I had the most incredible internship experience at Biblioteca Angelica in Rome! Living and working in the historic center of Italy allowed me to deepen my Italian language skills, explore the country's rich culture, and build meaningful new connections. I'm truly grateful to all of those who helped to make this opportunity possible.
Example 4. Archaeological work in Isthmia (mid June - mid July)
Isthmia is located at a very strategic location and was the site of the Sanctuary of Poseidon. This was one of the four temples where Greeks from all over the Mediterranean came to celebrate Pan-Hellenic games.
Student Interns will work with archaeological artifacts (pottery, coins, bones, etc.) found in Isthmia under the supervision of Professor Alessandro Pierattini and Jean Perras. Duties may include mending, washing, photographing and shelving artifacts; managing excavation data and organizing archival files and labels; and scanning records and inserting data.
No language requirement.
In the summer of 2024, I participated in the Classics department’s summer internship at the archaeological museum and site of Isthmia, Greece. There, I and the other interns helped the archaeological museum staff at Isthmia work on several projects relating to organizing the museum’s digital and physical archives and database and conserving artefacts in the museum. We also visited multiple sites (Mycenae, Nemea, Corinth, Pylos, Perachora, and Athens) to learn how to read the architecture and plan of archaeological sites. The internship greatly enriched my life both personally and professionally, as it gave me the opportunity to experience archaeology and conservation work firsthand. Moreover, it gave me the chance to meet and befriend other students with similar interests and for us to engage in both the modern and the ancient cultures of Greece together. I walked away from the internship with not only new skills and knowledge but also lifelong memories, and for all of these elements of the program I am very grateful.
Other Internship Opportunities
Internships give students an opportunity to polish the critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills they develop during their studies here and apply them in a professional setting. Internships are also a valuable way for students to explore various career options and build their professional networks.
Recent internships range from a marketing intern at Epson America to an archaeological intern at Mesa Verde National Park to a social media consultant at the Vatican Museum's Patrons for the Arts.
There are several paths to discover and fund your internship:
Beyond the Dome's Opportunity Hub helps students find, fund, and connect with internships across career fields.
Notre Dame’s Career Center has exciting Global Internship Initiative opportunities for Arts and Letters students. Check out their Global Internship Initiative.
The Nanovic Institute's European Internship and Service Grant supports undergraduate students who have arranged summer internships or volunteer opportunities in Europe.
The University of Michigan Summer Research Opportunity Program offers outstanding undergraduates the opportunity to conduct research across a variety of disciplines.
Internships are available through the Smithsonian Museum for students to learn about museum and library research opportunities.
The Getty Villa in Los Angeles offers summer internships to multicultural undergraduates and all graduates to help the Getty Foundation.
This list is compiled for your information and convenience. The Department of Classics does not necessarily endorse these programs. You should always conduct your own due diligence before attending any program.
