Program Overview
An Advanced Degree That Launches Your Career
The Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program prepares master's students for research and industry careers by combining specialized coursework, hands-on lab experience, and a paid internship to develop collaborative, job-ready problem-solvers.
Launch your Career
Program Philosophy
We believe an advanced degree should help you land a job and launch your career — equipping you with technical expertise, hands-on experience, and the professional skills employers value most: communication, leadership, and teamwork. We have over 28 years of success helping students transition to rewarding careers as scientists and engineers. Students gain technical expertise, hands-on experience and professional skills through focused coursework and labs, professional development training, and a 9-month paid internship. Program tracks span the fields of engineering, physics, chemistry and biology Choose one of these five tracks to set your future in motion.
Bioinformatics & Genomics Molecular Sensors & Biotechnology Optical Materials & Devices Polymer Science Semiconductors
Program Metrics
Built for Results
Our program has reshaped what students should expect from a graduate education.
98%
Graduation rate
15–18
Months to degree completion for most students
90%
Employed within 3 months of internship
$72,500
Average annualized internship compensation (2024 cohort)
Accelerating your Path to a career
Program Timeline
The master's program kicks off in the summer term on an accelerated timeline. Students take 2–3 terms of core coursework and electives, then fulfill the remainder of their degree requirements with a 9-month paid internship — typically completing the degree in 15–18 months. Economic and personal circumstances may impact this timeline. While internships are not guaranteed, students who take ownership of their journey and fully leverage available program resources significantly increase their chances of success.
6–9
Months of coursework
9
Months paid internship
54–60
Graduate credits
5
Tracks to choose from
Coursework & Labs
Industry-Driven Curriculum
Students learn foundational knowledge and skills critical to their success in a particular field and actively apply what they learn to real-world problems in the lab. With feedback from our internship partners, curricula are annually updated to meet the current demands of industry, national labs, and research settings.
Students complete 6 to 7 graduate-level graded courses (24 to 30 credits), dependent upon their track.
Career Readiness
Professional Development
Traditionally under-emphasized in science training, professional skills development is an integral part of our program and highly valued by employers. Students simultaneously build technical knowledge and practice the soft skills — teamwork, communication, leadership, networking, and inclusive mindset — critical for long-term career success.
Professional development includes resume writing coaching, interview and networking preparation, an Inclusion Workshop Series and Symposium, and ongoing mentorship through the program's alumni professional network.
Hands-On Experience
9-Month Paid Internship
During a 9-month paid internship, students apply what they've learned in classes and labs to the real-world environment of companies, national labs, and research institutes. The program facilitates introductions to program partners through annual networking and interview events.
Students who do not identify an internship from a program event receive coaching from program staff until an internship is identified. Some students elect to pursue internships outside of the program’s partner base. Though internships are not guaranteed, historically close to 98% of our students have successfully completed internships and close to 90% have regular employment within three months of finishing their internships.
Tuition & Cost
An Investment That Pays Off
The program's 2025–2026 tuition rate for both residents and non-residents is $655.20 per credit (subject to change annually). Students are assessed full fees during campus-based coursework and reduced fees when enrolled exclusively in internship credits.
Since internships are paid, internship salaries help offset tuition costs. For financial aid information, contact the UO Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships at 1-800-760-6953 / 541-346-3221.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Applications for Summer 2026 are now open. Join the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program and transform your career.