10 Game Design Internships for College Students
- Stephen Turban
- Nov 28, 2025
- 8 min read
If you're hoping to break into game design, internships are one of the best ways to see how games are actually made, from pre-production to final builds. You’ll learn how designers, artists, writers, and engineers collaborate with each other, what game studios look for in new designers and developers, and how real game development takes place. Along the way, you’ll meet professionals who may become collaborators and mentors in the future.
Because real-world experience is so important in game design, we have highlighted top game design internships for college students that stand out for their prestige, the quality of professional experience, and the opportunities they provide to network with industry experts. These programs will help you understand the industry better and make informed choices about your next steps. If you're looking for additional prestigious internships, be sure to check out this set of blogs!
10 Game Design Internships for College Students
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program type; full financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter), typically 8–12 weeks
Application deadline: Varies by cohort — Spring: January, Summer: May, Fall: September, Winter: November
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students able to commit 10–20 hours per week
Ladder Internships is a highly selective, virtual internship program that connects ambitious students with innovative startups and nonprofits around the world. As an intern, you’ll work closely with managers at your host organizations on real-world projects that address genuine business or operational needs. Startups span a wide range of industries, from technology, AI/ML, and health tech to consulting, marketing, and journalism, and are typically high-growth companies that have raised significant funding. The program focuses on providing practical learning, mentorship, and professional exposure, culminating in a final presentation that showcases each intern’s work.
Location: Cary, North Carolina
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Dates: Flexible start in 2026
Application deadline: Rolling; recruitment continues until positions are filled
Eligibility: Students or recent graduates with experience in game design, Unreal Engine, or scripting; must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. for the internship duration
As a Gameplay Design Intern at Epic Games, you’ll help shape the future of Fortnite and other Epic titles by contributing to the design and implementation of new features and in-game items. You’ll take part in brainstorming sessions for upcoming Fortnite seasons, fix gameplay bugs, and bring your ideas to life in Unreal Engine using Blueprint scripting. You’ll collaborate with engineers, artists, animators, and sound designers to polish gameplay elements from concept to release, learning how world-class teams iterate and ship content at scale. This internship is ideal if you’ve completed an indie game project, love multiplayer games, and want hands-on experience in design and development. With mentorship from Epic’s experienced designers and full access to Unreal Engine tools, you’ll get to create experiences that reach millions of players worldwide.
Location: Cary, North Carolina (hybrid)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship, competitive compensation
Dates: Flexible start in 2026
Application deadline: Rolling; recruitment continues until positions are filled
Eligibility: Students or recent graduates with animation experience; must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. for the internship duration
This game design internship for college students will teach you to create character-driven animations that bring Fortnite’s evolving storylines to life during live events. You’ll use Epic’s in-house rigs and Unreal Engine tools to produce expressive, story-rich animations and collaborate with designers and artists to ensure each sequence matches Fortnite’s visual style. You’ll receive one-on-one mentorship from experienced animators, honing your technical and artistic skills through real production work. To be a strong candidate, you should have a polished animation reel showcasing character and facial animation, proficiency with tools such as Maya or Blender, and an understanding of stylized motion.
Location: Remote (U.S.)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship at $43.51/hour
Dates: Summer; 12-week program
Application deadline: December 5
Eligibility: Students graduating in 2025 or 2026 studying Computer Science, Engineering, or related fields; minimum GPA 3.0; must be eligible to work in the U.S. remotely for the internship duration
This game design internship for college students combines design creativity with technical problem-solving to shape exciting player experiences. You’ll work on gameplay systems such as onboarding, events, and new mode prototypes, while also building tools and workflows that help other designers to build content more efficiently. You’ll collaborate with engineers and artists to design, test, and tune combat systems, gaining hands-on experience with C++, Unreal Engine Blueprints, and data-driven design. Ideal candidates bring both coding proficiency and a deep understanding of 2D fighting games, especially timing, hitboxes, and player feedback. This internship offers a chance to learn from industry veterans at Riot while contributing to high-profile games still in development, making it an excellent opportunity for students interested in technical design and systems-level game development.
Location: Remote (U.S.)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship at $39.13/hour
Dates: Summer; 12-week program
Application deadline: January 9
Eligibility: Students enrolled in art, visual design, or related degree programs graduating in 2027; must be eligible to work in the U.S. remotely for the internship duration
As a Visual Design Art Intern on the Teamfight Tactics team, you’ll help create engaging player experiences that combine aesthetic style with usability. You’ll design 2D User interface visuals for themed events, battle passes, and other in-game features, ensuring each interface meets Teamfight Tactics’ artistic style and supports player interaction. You’ll collaborate with UX designers, illustrators, and engineers to bring your designs directly in the game engine, creating polished visuals across PC and mobile platforms. Candidates should be comfortable using tools such as Figma, Photoshop, and Illustrator, and have a solid understanding of layout, typography, and color theory.
Location: Bordeaux, France (hybrid)
Stipend: Paid internship with a 6-month contract
Dates: 6-month internship; start date varies
Application deadline: Not provided
Eligibility: Final-year engineering or research master’s students in computer science or related fields with experience in machine learning, reinforcement learning, or control systems
The Ubisoft Research Internship provides an opportunity for high school students to explore how deep learning and reinforcement learning can make non-player characters (NPCs) more realistic and intelligent in video games. You’ll design and prototype AI systems that allow NPCs to adapt to players, make smarter decisions and behave convincingly, even when limited data is available. Working closely with Ubisoft’s AI researchers and production teams, you’ll develop hybrid models that combine traditional game AI (such as behavior trees and finite-state machines) with neural networks to simulate complex decision-making. Using Ubisoft’s research infrastructure, including GPU clusters and realistic 3D environments, you’ll experiment with combat behaviors, navigation strategies, and cooperative AI scenarios.
Location: Bordeaux, France (hybrid)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship with a 6-month contract
Dates: 6-month internship; start date varies
Application deadline: Not provided
Eligibility: Final-year engineering or research master’s students in computer science or related fields with experience in machine learning, deep learning, or reinforcement learning
This research internship allows college students to explore how Large Language Models (LLMs) and Visual Language Models (VLMs) can be used to create more intelligent and responsive non-player characters (NPCs) and bots in video games. You’ll investigate ways to combine LLMs with reinforcement learning and evolutionary strategies to improve NPC decision-making and reduce developer iteration time. Working alongside Ubisoft researchers and the Inria Flowers lab, you’ll prototype AI behaviors in realistic 3D environments, testing how NPCs can interact more naturally with players. This internship is ideal for students passionate about AI, natural language interaction, and game development, offering the chance to work on cutting-edge research that bridges machine learning and interactive entertainment. You’ll gain experience experimenting with advanced AI architectures while contributing to the future of dynamic, player-responsive game worlds.
Location: Multiple U.S. offices, primarily Playa Vista, CA, and Irvine, CA, in person
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship, $20–$50 per hour with relocation assistance and a living stipend
Dates: Late May to August, 12-week program
Application deadline: Not provided
Eligibility: Students in certificate, associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s programs graduating between December 2026 and July 2027 who live in or are willing to relocate to the U.S. for the internship duration
The Game Design Internship at Activision Blizzard places students inside teams responsible for some of the industry’s biggest game titles such as Hearthstone, Diablo Immortal, Call of Duty, and Overwatch. As a game design intern, you will be matched with a specific design focus such as systems, multiplayer, card design, or hero design, where you’ll contribute to real gameplay features. You’ll collaborate with developers across disciplines to prototype mechanics, polish gameplay loops, and assist with balance tuning to enhance the player experience. Along the way, you’ll receive training in Unity and Unreal, gain scripting exposure in Python or C#, and get regular feedback from veteran developers to help you grow quickly. With on-site internships, relocation assistance, housing options, mentorship programs, and studio engagement opportunities, Activision Blizzard offers a meaningful entry point for students seeking both creative and technical game design experience.
Location: Burbank, California, in person, relocation assistance available
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship at $36.50 per hour
Dates: May 18–August 7 or June 15–September 4
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in accredited programs in game design or related fields graduating between May 2025 and Spring 2027 who are authorized to work in the U.S., no visa sponsorship provided
In this Design Internship at Insomniac Games, you’ll work on active development across major franchises, including Ratchet & Clank and Marvel’s Spider-Man. Interns help bring gameplay concepts to life by creating level content, refining combat setups, and implementing mechanics using the studio’s internal engine and tools. You’ll gain a deep understanding of how AAA design teams move from early prototype to final polish, supported by mentorship from experienced designers. Through daily collaboration with artists and engineers, you’ll build practical skills in scripting and level construction. For students passionate about cinematic, action-oriented gameplay, this internship provides an in-depth introduction to industry-standard development..
Location: Knutsford, Cheshire East, United Kingdom, hybrid
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship at £24,000 annual salary
Dates: July 2026–2027, 12-month placement
Application deadline: December 5, tentative
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in a Bachelor’s program in game development, programming, or related fields completing a year-in-industry placement
Joining TT Games as a Programming Intern means working directly with the team behind the award-winning LEGO games to help build a new flagship title based on a major IP, developed in Unreal Engine. You will contribute to core features by coding gameplay mechanics, creating AI systems for characters, and producing scalable tools and components for designers. You’ll gain practical experience with how complex game systems are built, structured and optimized for commercial release, all while receiving guidance from industry veterans. The role is a great match for students skilled in C++, comfortable with debugging and math, and passionate about creating accessible, imaginative, family-focused games. This internship provides a strong entry point into professional development at a studio known for charm, creativity, and polished craftsmanship.
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 Harvard College graduate. 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 - Epic Games logo