15 Online Internships for Undergraduates

If you're an undergraduate student hoping to get hands-on experience in your area of interest without having to travel or spend a ton of money, online internships are the way to go! Online internships can help you build your resume, develop workplace skills, and understand how different industries operate. Whether you're focused on fields like policy, design, business, media, or research, these internships give you the chance to work on projects, connect with professionals, and learn how teams work in real settings.

Since these internships are fully remote, you can take part from anywhere without needing to move or interrupt your college schedule. That flexibility makes them a useful option if you're trying to explore different fields, gain job experience, or prepare for future roles after graduation.

To help you get started, we’ve pulled together a list of 15 online internships for undergraduates! 

15 Online Internships for Undergraduates

1. Ladder University Internship Program

Location: Remote

Cost Varies depending on program type

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective

Program Dates: 8 weeks (Summer and school-year cohorts available)

Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort

Eligibility: Ambitious high school students and undergraduates

Ladder University Internship Program gives you an 8-week virtual internship with a global startup or nonprofit. You choose a field that interests you, like AI, sustainability, journalism, healthcare, business, or design. You work on a project, such as building a machine learning model, writing a research report, designing a business strategy, or creating a marketing plan. You meet once a week with a mentor from your host organization who helps guide your work. You spend about 5 to 10 hours each week on your project. At the end of the program, you present your final work. 

2. US Department of State Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS)

Location: Virtual

Cost: Free

Dates: year-round program with multiple cohorts (Fall: September–December; Spring: January–May; Summer: May–August).

Application Deadline: July 31

Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in an accredited college or university (undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral level)

The Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) Internship Program is a remote internship for U.S. citizens who are college students. You work about 10 hours a week from September to May. You help with real government projects for offices in the U.S. and abroad. Projects are unclassified and can include research, writing, design, coding, or translation. You work with mentors who guide your tasks and give feedback. The internship is unpaid, but some schools may offer academic credit. 

3. L'SPACE Program

Location: Virtual

Cost: Fully funded 

Dates: 15-week fall and spring sessions

Application Deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents enrolled in a U.S. college or university (undergraduate or graduate level)

The L'SPACE Program is a free, online training program for U.S. college students, funded by NASA’s Lucy Mission, which explores Trojan asteroids near Jupiter. It offers two 15-week academies: one focuses on how NASA missions are planned, and the other teaches how to write and review NASA-style proposals. You attend live sessions and complete team-based projects. The program requires 6 to 10 hours of work per week outside class. After completing one academy, you can apply for a separate summer internship with NASA partners such as Lockheed Martin and the Southwest Research Institute.

4. Ford Summer Intern Program

Location: Remote roles available

Cost: Free; Hourly compensation is provided 

Dates: 10–12 weeks during the summer

Application Deadline: Varies by role; typically opens in the fall and closes by early spring.

Eligibility: Current undergraduate or graduate students pursuing relevant majors; U.S. work authorization required

The Ford Summer Intern Program is a full-time internship that lasts 10 to 12 weeks and is open to college students in the U.S. You’ll work on real projects in areas like engineering, marketing, finance, supply chain, or product development. You’ll be paid and take part in orientation, workshops, and networking events. You’ll also meet Ford leaders and learn about full-time roles like the Ford College Graduate program. Most internships are based in Southeast Michigan and follow a hybrid work schedule. If you do well, you may be considered for a full-time job after graduation.

5. Fisher Global Internships

Location: Virtual; companies based in 21 countries across 6 continents

Cost: $995 program fee + $150 deposit; additional university administrative fees may apply

Dates: Spring, Summer, and Fall internship cycles

Application Deadline: Spring: October 1; Summer/Fall: December 15

Eligibility: Enrolled Ohio State undergraduates with a GPA of 2.75+ (3.0 by the end of autumn for first-years); international students must meet CPT and course enrollment requirements

The Fisher Global Internships (FGI): Virtual Program is a remote internship for Ohio State undergraduates. You’ll be matched with a company in one of 21 countries based on your interests and goals. You’ll work on real business projects in English and build global experience. The internship is unpaid and flexible, so you can work from anywhere. You’ll also join info sessions and get support with interviews and resumes. 

6. The New York Times Internship Program

Location: Hybrid or remote; based in New York City

Cost: Free; pays a stipend 

Dates: 10 weeks in summer

Application Deadline: October 18–25

Eligibility: Open to current students and recent grads from degree-seeking or non-traditional programs; U.S. work authorization may be required depending on the role

The New York Times Internship Program is a 10-week paid summer internship focused on non-editorial roles like technology, product and design, marketing, data, and advertising. You’ll be based at the Times’ New York City headquarters, with either a hybrid or remote setup depending on your role. During the program, you’ll work with different teams, attend speaker events with senior staff, and contribute to digital and business projects that support the Times’ mission.

7. Parker Dewey Microinternships

Location: Virtual

Cost: Free; paid per project

Dates: Year-round; projects vary in length (5–40 hours)

Application Deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: Must be 18+, currently enrolled or recently graduated from a U.S.-based college or university, and authorized to work in the U.S. or have a valid ITIN

The Parker Dewey Micro-Internship platform connects you with short-term, paid projects that usually last between 5 and 40 hours. These projects are available year-round and cover areas like marketing, research, data entry, and sales. You apply directly to the ones that interest you, work remotely on your schedule, and get paid a set amount once the work is done. There’s no long-term commitment, and you can take on multiple projects across different fields to explore what fits you best.

8. Riot’s United States Summer Internship Program

Location: Remote with a one-week in-person experience in Los Angeles

Cost: Free; paid internship

Dates: 10–12 weeks during summer; start dates vary from May to June

Application Deadline: Opens in September; rolling evaluation

Eligibility: Must be 18+, enrolled in a college/university or accredited program, and graduating in the next two years; must be eligible to work in your country of residence

Riot Games’ U.S. Summer Internship Program is a 10 to 12-week remote internship for students interested in game development, engineering, art, UX, publishing, and other areas of the gaming industry. You’ll work full-time, 40 hours a week, on real projects that support existing games or upcoming features. You’ll also get an all-expenses-paid trip to Riot’s Los Angeles headquarters for one week, where you can meet other interns, connect with full-time staff, and get a feel for the company’s culture. This internship is remote-first, but you’ll work with teams based in LA, the Bay Area, and St. Louis.

9. Computer Science Research Internship Program at Yale 

Location: Virtual or in-person, depending on the project

Cost: Free; some positions offer stipends

Dates: Typically during the summer; duration varies by project

Application Deadline: Priority deadline is December 15

Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. program in computer science or a related field

The Computer Science Research Internship Program at Yale lets you work with Yale faculty on research in computer science and related fields. It’s open to undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. students. You’ll get hands-on experience in areas like AI, data science, systems, and theory. Projects depend on each professor’s focus, so you’re encouraged to check lab websites and find a match before applying. If selected, a faculty member will contact you directly.

10. Council of Foreign Relations Internships

Location: Remote, New York City, or Washington, D.C.

Cost: Free; paid internship

Dates: 10–12 weeks during spring, summer, or fall semesters

Application Deadline: Fall: Opens in June; Spring: Opens in October; Summer: Opens in February

Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students (or recent graduates within one semester); must have completed four semesters of college coursework and have U.S. work authorization

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) offers a paid internship through the Blavatnik Internship Program and the Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program. These internships last 10 to 12 weeks and are available in spring, summer, and fall. You can work remotely or in a hybrid setup at CFR’s offices in New York City or Washington, D.C. You might intern in departments like Digital Content, Global Communications, the Studies Program, or Foreign Affairs. Your tasks can include research, writing, editing, or event support. You’ll be paid hourly and also take part in a professional development program that includes training workshops and career sessions.

11. Mayo Clinic Intern in Computational Pathology and AI

Location: Remote (within the U.S.)

Cost: Free; paid at $25/hour

Dates: Full-time; typically 10–12 weeks

Application Deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: U.S.-based students or recent graduates in computer science, data science, statistics, or related fields; AI or data science coursework required; must be eligible to work in the U.S. (no visa sponsorship offered)

The Internship in Computational Pathology and AI at Mayo Clinic is a remote, full-time role where you’ll work on real healthcare problems using data science and AI. You’ll take part in projects involving image analysis, natural language processing, signal processing, and predictive modeling. You’ll also learn how to move through the full data science pipeline, from collecting data to deploying algorithms using clinical and non-clinical datasets. This internship is open to students across the U.S. and comes with a set hourly wage.

12. Berkeley Early Learning Lab's (BELL) Summer Internship

Location: Remote or In-person (Berkeley)

Cost: Free

Dates: June 2 – July 25

Application Deadline: February 28

Eligibility: Open to current undergraduate students (including graduating seniors); coursework in cognitive or developmental psychology preferred; experience working with children and programming skills are a plus

The BELL Summer Internship is an 8-week developmental psychology research program at UC Berkeley. You’ll study language and cognitive development in young children while working 15 to 25 hours a week. You’ll be paired with a graduate student or postdoc mentor and assist with participant recruitment, data collection, and stimulus design. You’ll also use tools like R, Datavyu, and LookIt. You’ll work with research methods such as eye tracking, looking time, and observational coding. Along the way, you’ll attend lab meetings, reading groups, and professional development workshops. 

13. American Psychological Association Internships

Location: Remote (limited to select U.S. states)

Cost: Free

Dates: Year-round (spring, summer, fall, winter); 10–12 weeks typical

Application Deadline: Rolling; varies by term

Eligibility: U.S.-based students enrolled at least part-time in a college or university; must have U.S. work authorization and reside in an eligible state for remote work

The APA Internship Program offers remote internships year-round—spring, summer, fall, and winter. Some roles are paid, while others offer academic credit. You’ll find opportunities in departments like policy, publishing, communications, education, and research. These internships are meant for students who want to apply psychology knowledge in non-clinical, professional settings. You’ll work directly with APA staff on daily tasks and may join workshops, group projects, and other skill-building activities.

14. Outreachy Internship Program

Location: Remote

Cost: Free to apply; $7,000 stipend for selected interns

Application Deadline: Initial Application: February 15; Final Application: April 15

Program Dates: June 2 – August 29

Eligibility: Applicants worldwide who are 18+ and belong to groups underrepresented in tech; must not have completed a Google Summer of Code or prior Outreachy internship

The Outreachy Internship Program is a 13-week paid remote internship focused on open source. It runs twice a year, from May to August and December to March. You’ll work about 30 hours per week on open source projects in areas like programming, design, documentation, research, or user experience. You’ll get mentorship, regular feedback, and a 7000 USD stipend. To apply, you need to write personal essays, contribute to a project, and collaborate with mentors. 

15. CS@Mines Virtual Computing Internship

Location: Remote or in-person (Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO)

Cost: Computing for the Good (C4G) track has a $100 fee (scholarships available)

Application Deadline: April 18

Program Dates: 6 weeks (exact dates not specified)

Eligibility: High school and community college students; no prior CS experience required

CS@Mines Virtual Computing Internship is a 6-week summer research program hosted by Colorado School of Mines. You’ll join a small computing team led by Mines undergraduates and explore real-world applications of computer science. You’ll work 5–20 hours a week and can participate remotely or in person. The program includes tracks like Computing for the Good (C4G) and DECtech. If you join C4G, there’s a $100 fee, but scholarships are available.

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.

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 

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.

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