15 Online Psychology Internships for Undergraduates
- Stephen Turban
- Sep 5
- 11 min read
Updated: Oct 19
If you’re an undergraduate student looking for ways to boost your resume before graduating, consider an internship! As graduate school admissions and the job market grow increasingly more competitive, it’s strategic to, particularly in fields like psychology, seek out internships! Psychology internships can provide valuable exposure to the field, develop a professional skillset beyond classroom learning, and help you network with peers and mentors in the field while strengthening your resumes.
If you’re looking to pursue an internship during the academic year, or to have more flexibility over the summer, consider online psychology internships! In this blog, we’ve narrowed down a list of some of the top online psychology internships for undergraduates.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10%
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort (Spring: January, Summer: May, Fall: September, Winter: November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students able to work 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free and unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Vary; 4-month internship
Application Deadline: Varies; internships begin throughout the year
Eligibility: Students enrolled in an academic program; non-students may also participate as volunteers
The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers intensive, valuable psychology internships for undergraduates to work directly with people in need of support. This opportunity is a particularly good fit for students planning to pursue a career as a mental health service provider. Interns begin with 3 weeks of onboarding and role-play training for the position, preparing them to assist clients with a professional and empathetic attitude. You will staff NAMI’s HelpLine, where individuals in need of support (or their family and friends) seek out resources for treatment, recovery, support programs, and education on mental health conditions. Psychology students who want to specialize in supporting younger individuals can request to staff the Teen & Young Adult HelpLine, while those considering family therapy can support the Family Caregiver HelpLine Service. General service is also available for interns who want to support a broader cohort of people.
Location: Online; some options in-person
Cost/Stipend: Paid or unpaid for academic credit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Spring, summer, fall, and winter sessions
Application Deadline: Varies by season
Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students enrolled part-time or full-time in psychology or education programs (requirements vary by internship)
The APA offers a set of online internships for undergraduates studying psychology, designed to train effective psychology researchers, educators, and policymakers. Specialization options include Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Publishing, Communications, Digital Strategy, and PK-12 Education, allowing psychology students to explore opportunities beyond therapy and psychiatry. Tasks might include researching ways to improve school psychology education, analyzing engagement with APA’s social media, researching equity in psychological research, or writing press releases for APA’s publications.
Outside of their work experience, interns will also attend educational workshops, participate in group discussion sessions, and maybe even undertake group research projects. As you intern for a specific APA-affiliated workplace, you can make connections in the field to plan for your future career. A unique aspect of the IIP is the option to choose academic credit instead of payment, allowing you to get ahead on your degree requirements.
Location: Online or Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: February 17
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students
Baylor College of Medicine offers a meaningful summer internship for undergraduate students interested in the intersection of healthcare and ethics. You will spend the summer researching issues in medical ethics alongside faculty from interdisciplinary fields. Psychology students might explore topics such as the ethics of AI and psychological impacts, the ethics of psychedelic use in therapeutic treatment, or equity in mental healthcare and access.
Outside of research, you will attend regular online lunch-and-learn sessions with faculty across Baylor College of Medicine, learning about varied careers in healthcare policy, biomedical ethics, and topics in medicine and psychology. A series of programming in professional development will further help interns use their research experience to plan for the future.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free and unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: N/A
Dates: Self-determined; 200-hour minimum commitment within one year, with at least 4 hours/week expected
Application Deadline: Rolling; volunteers can start at any point in the year
Eligibility: Must be at least 18, pass a background check, and complete a rigorous training program
The Crisis Text Line is a free 24/7 text message and web chat mental health support network where Crisis Counselors offer live support for individuals in severe distress. This online volunteer opportunity trains students in crisis management and de-escalation, teaching skills in empathetic listening and collaborative problem-solving to keep texters safe. After training, volunteers can immediately begin serving as Crisis Counselors, chatting with individuals who reach out for support. This opportunity is suited for students seeking flexible scheduling and who are comfortable working in a high-stress environment where texters may be in a dangerous situation. Volunteers have access to a Success Coach and Supervisor to speak with when feeling overwhelmed or uncertain of how to handle crises.
Volunteers will gain first-hand knowledge of how to best support people with mental health concerns and prepare for more advanced training or degrees in counseling, social work, and/or psychology. Strong-performing volunteers are eligible for recommendation letters based on performance
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free and unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: N/A
Dates: Self-determined; volunteers may begin or end at any point in the year
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Must be at least 18, pass a background check, and complete mandatory training
Operated by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), the NSAH provides live support both over the phone and through online messaging for survivors of sexual violence. This volunteer opportunity for undergraduates allows psychology students to directly assist individuals who are experiencing or have experienced sexual assault in finding resources and receiving empathetic listening and support. Before beginning to answer hotline calls, volunteers must complete a 40-hour Essential Skills training, including asynchronous online courses, live classes, and conversation simulations. Interns will also receive one-on-one guidance from an experienced training facilitator and shadow calls from current hotline workers, preparing them for an important but stressful role. After training, interns will start supporting individuals calling or messaging the hotline on a regular shift schedule. This opportunity lets students train for future careers as therapists or social workers while also tangibly supporting survivors of violence and abuse.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free and unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: N/A
Dates: Flexible; requires at least a one-year commitment at 3 hours per week
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Volunteers must be 18 years old and located in the United States
Crisis Counselors for The Trevor Project provide live support for LGBTQ+ youth at risk of suicide or in need of support for other mental health conditions or bullying, or abuse. Volunteers can work either over the phone for TrevorLifeline or digitally via TrevorChat/TrevorText, depending on their preferences and availability. You will begin with a 40+ hour training program, learning about LGBTQ+ identity, crisis counseling skills, conversation structuring, and preparation for the wide range of common hotline topics. After completing training, you will begin counseling youth seeking support at a minimum of 3 hours each week. Note that this is not just a summer internship, but an expectation for at least one year of service. You can optionally choose to pursue this opportunity as a University Practicum, for academic credit. A detailed page on the Crisis Counselor program is available here.
Location: Virtual or in-person
Stipend: Unpaid (Virtual) | $5,000 stipend plus funded travel and housing (Residential)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: June 2 – July 20 (Virtual) | May 27 – August 1 (Residential)
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (excluding graduating seniors) planning to attend graduate school; virtual applicants are often current freshmen and sophomores
Undergraduate students seeking an online psychology internship can consider the LGS - SOAR program at Emory, which provides mentored research opportunities for students across STEM, Humanities, and Social Science Disciplines. Virtual students will attend Research Discipline sessions in their field of interest, where they’ll study advanced topics in psychology and related fields under the guidance of current LGS students. You’ll also have networking opportunities with graduate students, learning about the graduate school admissions process, academic experience, and the process of completing PhD dissertations or Master’s theses. If you’re seeking hands-on research experience, you can consider the more competitive in-person option, where you’ll work under the guidance of a professional researcher from Emory or another Atlanta research institution to complete a final research report and presentation you’ll deliver at the SOAR Research Symposium.
Location: Remote, Hybrid, and Onsite (Raleigh, NC) options available
Cost/Stipend: $20/hour for undergraduates | $25/hour for graduate students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduates, as well as graduate students
The North Carolina DHHS offers online psychology internships for undergraduates in the fields of social work, behavioral health, and other human service areas during a 10-week research-based program. While internship details and requirements vary by placement, you can expect tasks including data collection, generating research reports, and creating charts to visualize research results. You’ll work alongside HHS staff and external partners to support the psychological well-being of North Carolina residents through programs such as family and individual support groups, public treatment opportunities, and specialized care for incarcerated individuals.
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Semester, summer, and year-long internships | Exact dates set with internship coordinator
Application Deadline: Accepted throughout the year
Eligibility: Current undergraduate and graduate students | Additional criteria may apply depending on the internship
Internships at the International Social Service - USA allow you to support global child protection for youth separated from family members and caregivers across borders by applying your psychological knowledge. The Intercountry Case Management Internship, in particular, is well-suited to psychology students, where you’ll provide casework services to clients and external agencies, prepare correspondence and program reports, and support advocacy efforts on the state and national level. You’ll also contribute to research and data collection projects on child safety from a psychological and sociological perspective, building research skills while making real-world change. Internships may be eligible for academic credit at your school. Opportunities can be obtained through coordination between ISS-USA and your university advisor.
Location: Remote, Hybrid, or Onsite in Cleveland, OH
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; varies by placement
Dates: Early June – April
Application Deadline: March 21
Eligibility: Current undergraduate and graduate students with prior knowledge of their chosen department field
Cleveland’s MetroHealth System provides online psychology internships for undergraduates through its Behavioral Health department. Your tasks will vary based on the Department’s needs at the time of your internship, but they often include project management support, developing educational behavioral health resources, and using data analysis to find places for improvement in clinical services. You’ll be assigned a primary project to work on throughout the internship, designed in collaboration with Department staff, which you’ll present to departmental and senior MetroHealth leadership teams at the end of the program. You’ll have access to additional career development opportunities through faculty mentoring, clinical shadowing experiences, and networking with former interns and MetroHealth staff.
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: $16.50/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: September 22 – December 12
Application Deadline: August 22
Eligibility: Undergraduate juniors, seniors, and recent graduates
A unique online psychology internship for undergraduates with a shared interest in literature or marketing is hosted by the publishing company W.W. Norton & Company, where you’ll contribute to the publication of books about mental health topics. You’ll work through the publication lifecycle, by copyediting, creating press releases and social media campaigns for upcoming releases, researching marketing opportunities through media connections and book review publications, and designing flyers and posters for release events. You’ll also have access to career development opportunities through networking events and educational sessions with Norton staff.
Location: Remote and Hybrid options available
Cost/Stipend: $20/hour (Undergraduates) | $25/hour (Graduates)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; varies by internship
Dates: September 8 – December 4
Application Deadline: March 25 – May 12
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students in Massachusetts (permanent residents or enrolled at a Massachusetts school) with a minimum GPA of 2.5 | Some internships may have specific degree or experience requirements
Massachusetts’ Department of Public Health offers a variety of internships for Massachusetts college students looking to apply their course of study to improving community health. Psychology students interested in supporting equity and quality of human services might contribute to projects making behavioral health and other healthcare services more racially and linguistically accessible, increasing health literacy through improving community outreach programs, or developing strategies for local health workforce development in psychological and medical services. As some internships require occasional on-site work or are only open to graduate students, you should carefully review listings to ensure your eligibility.
Location: Virtual
Stipend: $5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; about 25 students admitted
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: Applications open
Eligibility: Undergraduate students, especially those from underrepresented groups
Students looking for a remote internship opportunity in neuro-psychology research can consider NSURP — a program that funds undergraduates to complete unique microbiology-related projects. Students in psychology and neuroscience fields can explore projects in neuromicrobiology, studying how microorganisms can influence the brain in conditions like autism, depression, and Alzheimer’s. Accepted students will be matched with researchers from across the world to pursue projects linked to their interests and career goals. You’ll design a project alongside your mentor, which you’ll then complete completely virtually with ongoing mentor and program support. You’ll also attend virtual lectures from professional researchers, professional development sessions, and NSURP-wide educational seminars, gaining extra networking and learning experience beyond your own project and mentor engagement.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: £275
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open registration
Dates: August 15 – September 12
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students worldwide
The Cambridge Centre for Innovation and Development provides 4-week research training internships for students interested in neuroscience, human behavior, psychology, and cognition. You’ll start the program with a literature review focus, studying current topics in neuroscience and psychology, and learning how to synthesize existing research to find gaps in scholarship to develop your own projects. You’ll then develop a research proposal based on your area of interest, work on presentation skills, and learning data analysis techniques for advanced projects. In the final week, you’ll apply your new skills to completing a literature review project in psychology, cognitive science, or neuroscience.
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 aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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