Career and Professional Growth

3MT Competition

The UCF 3MT challenges master’s and doctoral students to present their research in just three minutes using one slide. The competition showcases students’ ability to explain their work clearly and engagingly to a general audience, with top presenters earning scholarship awards.

Blackstone LaunchPad

The Blackstone LaunchPad at UCF helps students of all fields develop a business mindset. Located in the Student Union lobby, we provide mentoring, resources, and support to turn ideas into ventures and prepare for professional success.

Career Services

Career Services supports graduate students in connecting academic and career pathways to build skills and achieve professional goals. Services include career guidance, skill development, job search support, and opportunities to gain career-related experience.

Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership equips UCF students with the skills and mindset to create value, lead innovation, and thrive in a changing world. By treating entrepreneurship as a method for addressing uncertainty, students learn to develop startups, corporate ventures, and initiatives that drive personal, professional, and societal impact.

Experiential Learning

UCF Experiential Learning offers internships, co-ops, and service opportunities that connect academics with real-world experience to build skills and prepare students for professional success.

Fulbright Scholars

The Fulbright Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, offers international educational exchange opportunities that promote mutual understanding between the United States and other nations. Each year, approximately 8,000 grants are awarded to recent graduates, professionals, graduate students, and faculty.

Graduate Enrichment Mentoring Initiative (GEMiNi)

GEMiNi strengthens mentoring at UCF by providing resources and programs that support graduate student success and faculty engagement. The initiative promotes meaningful mentor–mentee relationships that foster academic, professional, and personal growth.

Graduate Program Handbooks

The Graduate Program Handbooks provide program-specific information on policies, requirements, procedures, and available resources. Ask your program director for the most recent copy of your program’s handbook.

Graduate Student Awards

UCF honors outstanding graduate students each year for excellence in research, teaching, and professional achievement. Nominations are encouraged, and awards are presented in April to celebrate their contributions to the UCF community.

Graduate Student Center

The Graduate Student Center is your space on campus, offering study areas, reservable conference and presentation rooms, and events and workshops to connect the graduate community. Located in Suite 213 on the second floor of Trevor Colbourn Hall, the GSC is just minutes from the Student Union, Bookstore, and Library.

Graduate Student Life

The Office of Graduate Student Life offers a variety of services to support graduate students throughout their time at UCF and prepare them for success beyond graduation.

Graduate Workshops

A variety of workshops, info sessions, and open labs are offered to equip graduate students with the skills needed to succeed during and after their programs. Topics include academic integrity, career preparation, research support, and more. All sessions are free and open to UCF graduate students, offered in-person at the Graduate Student Center or virtually via Zoom.

Handshake

An online career platform connecting students and alumni with employers for internships and full-time jobs. Features include personalized recommendations, profile management, event sign-ups, appointment scheduling, and application submissions.

Internship and Career Expo

Held each fall and spring, this university-wide event is open to all students. Connect with top employers across fields like technology, finance, healthcare, and engineering. Explore opportunities, gain industry insights, and sharpen your networking skills while making a lasting impression.

Karen L. Smith Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning

The Faculty Center supports teaching and learning at UCF by promoting the success of full-time, part-time, and graduate student faculty, which in turn benefits students, staff, and administrators.

Knights in Focus

The Knights in Focus Video Competition invites UCF graduate students to showcase how their academic work and experiences are shaping the future. Through short, engaging videos, students can highlight their research or creative projects, share their graduate journey, and demonstrate the value of graduate education at UCF. This is your chance to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Deadline to apply is January 30.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is an online platform offering over 12,000 courses and 5,000 tutorials in business, software, technology, and creative skills. Available to all UCF students, faculty, and staff, it helps you achieve personal and professional goals with expert-led content.

Lockheed Martin College Work Experience Program (CWEP)

CWEP offers undergraduate and graduate students a paid, year-round opportunity to gain hands-on experience. Participants work 15–25 hours per week for two semesters. Pay is based on class standing and position. This program does not offer academic credit, and students may not hold other paid campus positions.

Multicultural Student Center

The Multicultural Student Center at UCF fosters an inclusive campus through programs that promote awareness, cultural competency, and social responsibility. Its approach to multiculturalism includes race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, ability, spirituality, and social advocacy, empowering students to build a more connected and culturally competent community.

Office of Instructional Resources Event Production

The team provides expert support for events, including sound, Microsoft PowerPoint, graphics, video playback, recording, and live streaming. We can help with presentations, symposiums, ceremonies, workshops, or special events.

Order of Pegasus

The Order of Pegasus is UCF’s highest student honor, recognizing exceptional achievement in academics, leadership, service, and scholarly work. Recipients exemplify dedication and excellence, making meaningful contributions to both the local and global community.

Peace Corps

The Peace Corps is the United States’ leading international service organization, sending Americans abroad to address pressing global needs. Volunteers work at the grassroots level to create lasting change while becoming global citizens and serving their country. Upon returning home, they bring valuable knowledge, experience, and a global perspective that enrich their communities.

Preparing Tomorrow’s Faculty Program

Each semester, UCF offers a 12-week Preparing Tomorrow’s Faculty course for graduate students to explore teaching strategies, build a teaching portfolio, and prepare for a career in higher education. Completion earns a certificate from the Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning and can replace GTA Associate Training if completed the semester before your appointment.

President’s Leadership Council

The President’s Leadership Council honors students demonstrating excellence in leadership, academics, service, and involvement. Serving as ambassadors for UCF, 35 members support the Office of the President and represent the university at events such as receptions, Board functions, commencement, and sporting events, extending the role of the presidency through their contributions and values.

Software and Services

Access services, programs, and tools commonly available to the UCF community, and explore resources to master them. New offerings and resources are continuously added.

STARS (Showcase of Text, Archives, Research & Scholarship)

UCF’s STARS invites submissions from all faculty, staff, students, and affiliates who wish to share their work with a global audience.

Student Research Week

Each year, the UCF community celebrates research and creative scholarship during Student Research Week. Held in late March or early April, the event showcases the diverse research of graduate and undergraduate students and reinforces that research is for everyone. It offers opportunities for researchers to advance their careers and contribute to their communities.

Student Scholar Symposium

The Student Scholar Symposium showcases graduate and undergraduate research and creative work in a poster format during Student Research Week. Applications for the Symposium open on December 1.

Technology Lending in UCF Library

UCF students can borrow DSLR cameras, lenses, camcorders, microphones, laptops, iPads, and other A/V equipment through the LibTech Desk on the 2nd floor of the John C. Hitt Library. Loans are available on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations accepted. All items require a current UCF Card and have clear loan period labels.

The Lou Frey Institute at the University of Central Florida

The Lou Frey Institute promotes the development of responsible and actively engaged citizens. It advances this goal through civic education programs that foster thoughtful debate, experiential learning that builds civic and political skills, support for Florida’s K-12 civic education, and research, policy analysis, and advocacy.

UCF Abroad

UCF Abroad offers high-impact study and internship abroad opportunities. They manage programs, ensure safety and accessibility, and provide advising and support to enrich learning and professional growth.

UCF Alumni Association

The UCF Alumni Association connects graduates to the university and each other, fostering pride, tradition, and engagement. With over 380,000 members, the association provides networking, resources, and opportunities to stay involved with UCF and the broader Knight community.