14 Boston Hospital Internships for College Students
- Stephen Turban
- 8 minutes ago
- 10 min read
For college students interested in healthcare, hospital internships can be a strong way to explore professional environments while developing both academic and practical skills. These programs allow you to gain early exposure to medical settings, contribute to ongoing research or patient care projects, and build an understanding of how different healthcare teams operate. Internships also help you strengthen critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills that are essential in any medical or research career.
Why should you intern in Boston?
Boston is home to numerous hospitals and research institutions, including Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital, which offer internships for college students. Internships in these institutions provide the chance to learn from experienced professionals, observe clinical practices, and contribute to projects that support public health and medical innovation. You’ll also join a diverse community of peers and mentors who share your interests in medicine, science, and community health.
To make the process easier, we’ve put together a list of 14 Boston hospital internships for college students.
If you are looking for online paid internships, check out our blog here.
Location: Computational Health Informatics Program (CHIP), 401 Park Drive, Fenway neighborhood, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Paid or course/thesis credit option available
Application Deadline: March 9 (tentatively)
Dates: June 9 – August 15 (tentatively)
Eligibility: Current U.S. undergraduate and graduate students with strong quantitative and programming skills
This internship provides a research-focused experience in computational health informatics and artificial intelligence applied to biomedical and public health challenges. You will be mentored by faculty at CHIP, engaging with data analytics, machine learning, and digital surveillance in healthcare settings. You’ll participate in weekly didactic sessions, seminars, and journal clubs to deepen theoretical knowledge alongside practical projects. The work includes analyzing large healthcare datasets, clinical decision making via high-throughput molecular data, and public health informatics. You should have proficiency in programming languages such as R, Python, or Stata and be prepared to multitask and work independently.
Location: Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA, or Charlestown, MA
Stipend: Paid internship — if external support or college credit is not available, interns are paid an hourly rate as MGH temporary employees
Application Deadline: January 30
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Eligibility: Primarily rising juniors and seniors in undergraduate college; exceptional rising sophomores considered; majors typically include psychology, biology, neuroscience, or pre-med; neurodiverse students strongly encouraged to apply
This nine-week summer program at the Lurie Center for Autism (Massachusetts General Hospital) provides you with training in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research, including clinical, preclinical, and translational areas. During the internship, you will be matched with a faculty mentor to guide a semi-independent research project, with regular mentoring and weekly seminars on ASD and fundamental research methods. You will gain experience in tasks such as study design, patient recruitment, biosample processing, and data analysis, among others. You will also get opportunities to observe clinical care in specialties including neurology and psychiatry. The internship is full-time (35 hours/week), in-person, and culminates in a final presentation for Lurie Center staff and peers.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Cost: None
Application Deadline: Applications are currently closed and will open in March
Dates: May – August (Summer Track)
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with a GPA of at least 3.0
PACaRI at Boston Children’s Hospital runs for 12 weeks and combines clinical observation with research tasks. After a short orientation, you’ll spend one day each week in the operating room shadowing anesthesia technicians. You will also work with a small group on a research project and participate in scheduled lectures and workshops focused on anesthesiology and pediatric care. Your weekly responsibilities include clinical observation, reviewing scientific literature, and completing structured activities such as interview practice and application preparation. The program ends with a research presentation. It’s a practical option if you’re interested in healthcare roles in pediatric settings and can accommodate up to about 25 hours of involvement per week.
Location: Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Stipend: Unpaid
Application Deadline: February 1 – March 1 (tentatively). Fall and Spring options are also available
Dates: Summer: May – August (tentatively). Fall and Spring options are also available
Eligibility: Undergraduate students; no requirement to be enrolled; various project focuses
As an intern with the BMC Autism Program, you’ll assist with projects that support children and families affected by autism spectrum disorder. Depending on your interests, your work may include contributing to research, developing family resources, observing clinical appointments, or supporting initiatives like Teens Engaged as Mentors (TEAM). The internship can be completed in person, remotely, or in a hybrid format, with some activities requiring on-site participation. Interns typically commit 4–15 hours per week and receive regular supervision to support their professional development and project goals.
Location: Women’s Sports Medicine Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Unspecified
Application Deadline: March 1
Dates: July 1 – 31
Eligibility: Undergraduate (premedical) and medical students
This one-month summer internship is designed for undergraduate students interested in premedical studies and those considering careers in medicine or sports medicine. The program provides you with direct exposure to the field of women’s sports medicine through a combination of clinical shadowing and hands-on research. You will have the opportunity to observe orthopaedic surgery, attend outpatient clinics, and participate in physical therapy sessions, gaining insight into the multidisciplinary care provided to female athletes. In addition to clinical experiences, you will complete a research project under faculty supervision, which may involve data collection, literature review, or analysis of patient outcomes. The program is structured to help you build foundational skills in clinical observation, patient interaction, and research methodology.
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: No stipend; self-funded with minimum personal funding of $35,000 per year required for students and $70,000 per year in salary for MDs
Application Deadline: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis
Dates: Minimum commitment of at least four months (start and end dates arranged individually)
Eligibility: Local full-time undergraduate and graduate/medical students enrolled in an accredited college or university; international students meeting J‑1 visa requirements; MDs funded by home institution; graduating seniors not eligible; post‑baccalaureate students eligible
In this visiting research program, you will participate in orthopaedic research that spans clinical, translational, and basic science projects. You’ll work with faculty and staff whose functions include biomechanics, biomaterials, new materials, surgical techniques, and device design. As an intern, you are expected to be literate in Microsoft Word and Excel, and prior coursework in statistics or computer science is considered helpful. You must be currently enrolled in an academic program and be able to commit to at least four months on-site. The program requires that you secure your own funding, demonstrated by a personal bank statement if you are a student or proof of salary if you are an MD, as no stipend is provided.
Location: Mass General Brigham (Brigham and Women’s Hospital/HMS-affiliated sites), Boston, MA
Cost: Free program; housing provided at no cost; one-time stipend of $5,000; limited travel grants available based on need
Application Deadline: February 1
Dates: June 1 – July 24
Eligibility: Undergraduate rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and first-year medical students; commitment to Native American health; no prior research experience required; U.S. health insurance required if accepted
In this research internship, you will conduct an eight-week basic science or translational research project under the guidance of a Mass General Brigham faculty mentor, with structured mentoring and cohort-based activities. The program includes clinical shadowing, career development seminars, weekly talking circles, networking events, and required orientation in the first days of the program. The program’s mission centers on preparing future leaders in Native health through research training, mentorship, and community-focused professional development. You do not need prior lab experience, and the team matches you with a preceptor.
Location: Mass General Brigham hospitals, Boston, MA
Cost: Free program; stipend $5,000 for the eight-week program; housing not specified
Application Deadline: February 1
Dates: June 1 – July 24
Eligibility: Undergraduate rising senior, senior, pre-med, or first-year medical student; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; strong interest in research/medicine and in serving communities with decreased access; priority for applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds
Over eight weeks, participants take part in mentored research and clinical exposure at Mass General Brigham, one of the largest Harvard Medical School teaching hospital systems and a leading NIH-funded academic medical center. Each student works on a defined research project with structured guidance in scientific writing and presentation, including crafting an abstract and delivering a final presentation. You’ll also take part in social outings designed to foster informal networking and community building. You will be paired with a mentor who supports your academic and professional development, with a focus on careers in research, medicine, and public health in underserved communities.
Location: Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Unspecified
Application Deadline: Unspecified
Dates: Unspecified
Eligibility: Undergraduate students at 4-year institutions (preferably in Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Psychology)
At the Loddenkemper Research Laboratory, you can participate in pediatric epilepsy research, focusing on both clinical and laboratory-based project work. Your tasks may include data collection, assistance with neurophysiology studies, or support for ongoing clinical trials centered on epilepsy and related seizure disorders. The position is suitable for those planning careers in medicine, neuroscience, or psychology. Some of the key elements of the program include participation in lab meetings, potential opportunities for shadowing, and the chance to work with patient data. This hands-on hospital setting provides you with regular mentorship from established professionals in the field.
Location: Codman Square Health Center (with time at Boston Medical Center & Mass General), Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Paid; up to $6,000 stipend
Application Deadline: February 28 (tentatively)
Dates: May 12 – June 20 (tentatively)
Eligibility: Undergraduate college students
This six-week program allows you to shadow clinicians in primary care, HIV, sexual health, and substance use disorder clinics across multiple Boston hospital settings. You will spend time at Codman Square and at partner institutions such as Boston Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital. The program pairs you with a mentor, involves you in a quality improvement project, and includes didactic training on HIV, STI, and HCV care. The position is paid, with a stipend of up to $6,000 for the summer. Selected interns gain direct clinical exposure and an understanding of health disparities in urban communities.
Location: Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: Minimum 12 months commitment; flexible scheduling
Eligibility: Undergraduate college students interested in exploring medical careers
The Medical Career Exploration Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital offers undergraduate students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a Harvard-affiliated hospital environment. You will be expected to commit to a minimum of 12 months and 140 hours of volunteering, which includes 60 hours as ambassadors in Patient Access Services and 80 hours in departmental roles. As a Patient Access Ambassador, you will greet patients, assist with directions, answer questions, and escort visitors, gaining direct interaction with patients and families. Alternatively, you can serve as a Central Transport volunteer, assisting with patient transport, laboratory specimens, and equipment movement, providing insight into hospital logistics and behind-the-scenes operations. The program culminates with the opportunity to shadow a physician for a day and receive a recommendation letter upon completing the hours.
Location: Boston Children’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Unspecified
Application Deadline: Opens in January
Dates: Eight-week program (specific dates not provided)
Eligibility: Undergraduate students interested in neonatal medicine, including research and clinical care; encouraging applicants from underrepresented groups
The Newborn Medicine Summer Student Research Program is organized by the Harvard Program in Neonatology, involving Boston Children’s Hospital and BIDMC. This program offers motivated undergraduates an intensive experience in laboratory and clinical research related to neonatal care. You will observe newborn care in hospital clinics and NICUs, and engage in bench, translational, or epidemiological research projects. The program includes weekly conferences and teaching sessions led by faculty mentors. It aims to develop your understanding of neonatal medicine, research methodologies, and clinical practices. The internship encourages applications from students from diverse backgrounds, especially underrepresented groups in medicine.
Location: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Unspecified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: Flexible throughout the year (varies by internship)
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students interested in social work or healthcare social services
BIDMC offers social work internships designed to provide college students with experience in healthcare social services within a major hospital setting. As an intern, you will gain exposure to patient care coordination, psychosocial assessments, discharge planning, and community resource linkage under the supervision of licensed social workers. The internship provides direct insight into the role of social work in acute care, chronic illness management, and patient advocacy. You will learn communication and counseling skills pertinent to patients and families facing health challenges. The program typically allows flexible scheduling, accommodating academic calendars and student availability.
Location: Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: Summer or academic year, flexible
Eligibility: Undergraduate students interested in public health, social work, or medical fields
This program offers internships for college students interested in healthcare delivery in underserved populations. You could assist with patient intake, health education, and data collection, or participate in community outreach initiatives. The experience emphasizes the social determinants of health and gives students exposure to community health models in Boston. Though unpaid, the internship is valuable for students considering careers in public health, healthcare policy, or community medicine.
Bonus Option - Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type. Financial aid is available
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply here.
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks. Open to undergraduates and gap year students!
Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, virtual internship program where you work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of the internship, you will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup you are working with, and present your work at the end of your internship. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source - Boston Children’s Hospital logo