Students need 70 hours per term for a half credit, which is about 6 hours per week. But because of additional costs for academic credit on overloads, many students work more than the actual internship requirements. A full credit is 140 hours during a 14-week term. Students are encouraged to avoid extensive off-campus work hours, but extra work is a negotiated decision between the student and the internship site supervisor. Students and the internship site may jointly decide to continue the internship without academic credit, or students with new internship learning and responsibilities may sign up for additional credit if the coordinator approves.
Compensation is negotiable between the student and the internship supervisor.
Most for-profit businesses compensate students. Rates vary depending upon the skills that students bring and the amount of training investment of the business. Non-profits often don't have the budget to compensate students on an hourly basis but may have more variety or flexibility, if not an honorarium to help with travel costs.