Semester in the City

Semester in the City
Semester in the City students

16

UNH credits at no additional cost

400

Hours of hands-on learning

 

Boston

Live in apartments in the BU/BC area

What is Semester in the City?

Since 2016, the University of New Hampshire has affiliated with the College for Social Innovation (a Boston non-profit) to bring undergraduates the opportunity to earn 16 UNH credits while spending a semester in Boston in a rigorous 30+ hour per week internship with a leading social change organization.

Interested, but want to stay in New Hampshire? Check out Semester for Impact!

Important Dates & Reminders

Spring Participation Application Deadlines: 
      Final: November 15

Fall Participation Application Deadlines: 
        Final: April 28

Apply to SITC anytime for a future semester
Check out Application Tips & Tricks! 

Questions?

Reach out to Surovi Yasmin (surovi.yasmin@collegeforsocialinnovation.org) from the College for Social Innovation - our Boston partner - or talk with your advisor for additional questions.

Resources to learn more about Semester in the City:
        See the pre-recorded info-session ANYTIME!
        Chat with a Semester in the City Alumnus!

Learn more about SITC

Quick Facts

  • Same tuition cost as one semester at UNH (financial aid applies!)
  • Matched with a dedicated mentor/supervisor
  • Wednesday evening course (includes dinner)
  • Friday seminar/reflective workshops (includes breakfast & lunch)
  • Cool perks:
    •  Unlimited MBTA Pass
    •  $595.00 stipend to help defray costs during the semester
    • Approximately $2000 post-service education award
    •  Access to AmeriCorps' network of Employers of National Service, who prioritize hiring AmeriCorps alumni
    •  Opportunities to connect with state and national leaders in civic service

FAQs

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ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

UNH students must meet the following requirements in order to participate in Semester in the City: 

  • Students may apply to participate in their sophomore, junior, or senior year, with a declared major* and 2.5 cumulative UNH GPA or higher**, with priority given to students with above 3.0.  
    • *Undeclared students are eligible to be considered by petition and must have at least 12 earned UNH credits at time of study away.
    • **Students with a GPA between 2.0-2.5 are eligible to be considered by petition. 
  • Once you have completed the SITC program application here, you will need to complete the eligibility application form to confirm that you are in good academic, financial, and judicial standing, and that you will represent UNH in a positive light. You can complete the eligibility form here.
  • International Students must get authorization from the Office of International Students & Scholars to participate in Semester in the City.

Semester in the City (SITC) Boston students will serve with leading social sector organizations four days a week, for 15 weeks.  

Social Sector Placements in Boston

Every placement will be a little different, but in each case the student will have a dedicated mentor – a hand-selected high-performing, high-potential leader.  Students will spend roughly 20 percent of their time shadowing senior leaders, 40 percent of their time doing front-line service for the organization, and 40 percent working on a special project. Social Innovation Fellowships will gain 400+ hours of work-based learning, allowing students to learn more about themselves and their passions while also building their skills and their networks.

Learn more about the internships.

In addition to the internship, SITC Boston students engage in two weekly reflective and skill-building courses to connect to one another, build their networks and community, share and reflect on their experiences and support one another as changemakers.

The Social Innovator's Tool Box

Fellows will be enrolled in a foundational course that meets one evening a week, “The Social Innovator's Tool Box”, which will introduce students to different approaches to social change and social innovation.  Students will explore how impact investing, advocacy, action tanking, social entrepreneurship, and movement building can advance progress on issues students care about.  The course will use case studies and discussions with leading change-makers – as well as the emerging academic literature on social innovation – to illuminate different pathways to change.

Workshops for Skill-Building and Reflection

For 14 Fridays - as well as a three day orientation at the beginning of the semester and a two-day student-led research conference at the end - Semester in the City students will participate in skill-building and reflective workshops designed to accelerate self-awareness, problem-solving ability, and larger societal issues. As part of the Friday workshops, Fellows will engage in team-based community research projects and will meet with leading social innovators from diverse fields and backgrounds.  Students will also participate in workshops designed to build proficiency in Communication, Critical Thinking, Creativity and Collaboration.

Credits

You will receive the same number of credits you would at the University of New Hampshire as a full-time enrolled student, which is 16 credits (Enrolled in INCO 505A,  INCO 505B, & INCO 505I). You'll also fulfill your Social Sciences Discovery requirement.  In some cases, all or some of the credits will also count toward academic major or minor requirements and/or core distribution requirements. View the list of pre-approved majors that accept Semester in the City credits. Be sure to speak with your academic advisor or department chair, even if your department is not on this list.

Cost

This program costs the same as one semester at UNH! You continue paying your standard tuition and mandatory fees and there are NO special fees. Financial aid will continue to come from UNH. See the 2023-24 academic year breakdown of estimated costs below.

Financial Benefits & Perks

  • Receive a $595 stipend
  • A monthly CharlieCard (MBTA transportation pass, subway, tram and bus system) is provided (valued at $360)
  • Food reimbursements (valued at $400)
  • Meals provided to participants during Orientation and classes

Fall 2023 & Spring 2024 Estimated Expenses

  • UNH costs based on student living on-campus in a 3-5 person apartment (single room).
  • Financial aid will be reviewed based on the costs for SITC; this may necessitate a change in aid. Make an appointment with a Financial Aid Advisor to discuss.

 

  

Semester 
in the City 

UNH On-Campus Student 

Tuition/costs breakdown

  

  

  

In-State Tuition 

$7,760 

$7,760 

Out-of-State Tuition 

$17,645 

$17,645 

New England Regional Student Program 

$13,580 

$13,580 

UNH Fees (SITC Participants only pay Tech Fee) 

$110 

$1,796 

Additional fees vary by program of study 

 

  

 

  

  

  

Subtotal 

In-State 

$7,870 

$9,556 

(appears on Webcat) 

Out-of-State 

$17,755 

$19,441 

  

NE Regional Student Program 

$13,690 

$15,376 

  

  

  

  

Room, Board and Misc Costs (Discretionary Costs): 

  

  

SITC Apartment (single) vs UNH Apartment (single) 

$4,750 

$4,968 

                      SITC Apartment (double) = $3,375, UNH Apartment (double) = $4,765 

  

Food (*USDA Average vs UNH's Core Meal Plan) 

$1,120 

$2,431 

Travel to/from Boston 

$250 

$0 

Books & Supplies 

$500 

$500 

Transportation (MBTA Pass) vs average estimated 

$0 

$450 

Misc./Personal Expenses (average estimated) 

$1,700 

$1,100 

SITC Participants can use monthly stipend to cover discretionary costs 

-$600 

  

Total Room, Board and Misc. Costs 

$7,720 

$9,449 

  

  

 

  

Total Cost 

  

  

  

  

In-State 

$15,590 

$19,005 

  

Out-of-State 

$25,475 

$28,890 

  

NE Regional Student Program 

$21,410 

$24,825 

 

Boston Residential Program

Fellows will live together in Allston*, a neighborhood in Boston with a large student and young professional population, near Boston University and Boston College. Each apartment building will have a Resident Advisor who will organize community activities and occasional field trips for Fellows. A Resident Director will be on call 24/7 and is responsible for oversight and management of the residences. Participants will pay College for Social Innovation directly for their housing in Boston, which will cost about the same as an average room of similar size on campus. Participants may use their financial aid to help cover the cost of room and board.

Learn more about the apartments, what's provided, and living in Boston here or take a virtual tour in the videos below!

*It is not mandatory to live in the provided apartments if you have other accommodations in Boston.

Application Process

Before applying:

The application consists of several sections and most students complete it in less than 30 minutes.

You will be asked to submit:

  • a resume OR a LinkedIn profile
  • 2 references (not recommendations)
  • responses to short answer questions

​After you have applied to the program (see button below), you must also complete the eligibility form here

You'll also have an opportunity to indicate your placement preferences and tell us about the social issues that matter to you on your application and during the interview.

Application Tips & Tricks

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION