Standard Chartered Externship: Trade Finance

Standard Chartered Externship – Trade Finance Corridors

Career Advancement is recruiting a small group of students to participate in a six-week externship project with senior bankers at Standard Chartered.

Students selected for the Trade Finance project will work as a team to examine trade flows into and out of the Gulf, with a particular focus on corridors connected to infrastructure, power, and data centers. The project will explore how Standard Chartered can identify and assess commercially relevant opportunities across these markets.

Working alongside senior Standard Chartered bankers, students may evaluate selected trade corridors, sectors, and market dynamics; assess areas of unmet financing need; and develop recommendations around where opportunities may exist for the bank.

Selected students will receive a $750 Metcalf Stipend for participation in the externship.

What You’ll Do

Over approximately six weeks, the student team will:

• Conduct independent market, company, and industry research
• Gather and analyze relevant trade and sector data
• Assess selected Gulf-related trade corridors and market dynamics
• Evaluate opportunities across infrastructure, power, and data centres
• Identify key market opportunities, challenges, and trends
• Translate findings into commercially relevant insights and recommendations
• Present final findings and strategic recommendations to senior Standard Chartered bankers

Program Structure

Approximately six weeks beginning on January 11th, 2027

Weekly 45-minute virtual mentoring sessions with Standard Chartered bankers

Additional checkpoints leading up to the final presentation

Independent research and project work between mentoring sessions

Final 45-minute virtual presentation to senior bankers

This is a hands-on opportunity to gain experience working on a real-world market question while receiving direct mentorship and feedback from experienced banking professionals.

Who Should Apply

Students with an interest in areas such as trade finance, global banking, infrastructure finance, emerging markets, corporate finance, international business, investing, or financial research are encouraged to apply.

No prior trade finance experience is required, but students should demonstrate strong analytical skills, intellectual curiosity, an interest in global markets, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to a collaborative project.

Students should also be prepared to commit consistently to the project for the full six-week period.

To Apply

Please submit your most up-to-date resume through Handshake by November 6th, 2026.

Career Advancement will select a small group of students to participate in the project.