Fall 2026 Cohort Timeline

July 2026: Positions finalized and advertised.

August 2026: Internship applications close; interviews scheduled, matches made, and offers issued.

October – December 2026: Fall cohort internships underway.

November 2026: Spring positions finalized and advertised.

January 2027: Spring application and interview cycle; fall cohort evaluations completed.

February – May 2027: Spring cohort internships underway, wrapping with evaluations and program refinement for the next cycle.

SCALE Student Process

Confirm that you are a U.S. citizen enrolled at one of the three participating universities: University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Metropolitan State University, or the University of St. Thomas.
Confirm your registration as a SCALE student through the national program. If you are not a SCALE student, register with the national SCALE program through your university’s point of contact.
Browse open internship positions on the Minnesota SCALE internships page, hosted by the Minnesota National Security Ecosystem.
Complete the Minnesota SCALE internship application.
Interview with host companies that contact you after reviewing your application materials.
Submit your rankings of top-choice internship positions to Minnesota SCALE.
Minnesota SCALE coordinates final placement based on mutual fit between you and the company.
Attend a mentor orientation and get set up with your host company before your start date.
Internships are typically 12 weeks with the option to extend by mutual agreement, subject to continued availability of funding.
Complete a post-internship evaluation and share your experience to help shape future cohorts.

Submit a standardized position description to the Minnesota SCALE program at MNSCALE@natsecmn.org.
Minnesota SCALE will post your open positions and collect applications from registered SCALE students at all three university partners.
Minnesota SCALE will vet applicants to ensure they meet program requirements before passing qualified candidates to you for interviews.
Interview candidates you select from the Minnesota SCALE applicant pool.
Submit your rankings of top-choice candidates to Minnesota SCALE.
Get matched by Minnesota SCALE with your candidates.
Issue offer letters and complete necessary onboarding for your matched interns.
Assign a mentor and attend orientation before the student’s start date.
Pay interns and submit reimbursement requests to Minnesota SCALE.
Provide feedback through the post-internship evaluation.