15 Pharmaceutical Sales Internships for Undergraduates
- Stephen Turban
- Nov 13, 2025
- 10 min read
If you’re an undergraduate interested in a career in pharmaceutical sales, an internship is one of the most practical and rewarding ways to understand how the field works and start building relevant skills.
What is a pharmaceutical sales internship for undergraduates?
Pharmaceutical sales internships let you see how sales and marketing teams operate, how products are presented to clients, and how professionals manage relationships in the healthcare industry. While many people assume pharmaceutical internships are mostly about lab work and research, there are plenty of roles focused on sales, marketing, and client management.
Why should I apply to a pharmaceutical sales position?
These internships are particularly rewarding because companies often look for students who already have some exposure to both business and healthcare. Completing one of these internships gives you an advantage if you plan to pursue a career in the industry or want a stronger resume for future opportunities.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 15 pharmaceutical sales internships for undergraduates! If you're looking for more prestigious internships, check out this set of blogs!
15 Pharmaceutical Sales Internships for Undergraduates
Location: Multiple global offices
Cost/Stipend: Paid; housing support available for relocating interns
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective
Program Dates: 10–12 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by role; typically opens in the fall
Eligibility: Current undergraduate or graduate students with a minimum 3.0 GPA; additional requirements may apply
Johnson and Johnson Student Internships in Marketing offer students hands-on experience in pharmaceutical sales strategy and product promotion. You work with a team of Johnson and Johnson professionals on active marketing initiatives, usually focused on a specific product or product area. Assignments may include developing and launching marketing campaigns, building partnerships with external stakeholders, managing product lifecycles, and ensuring compliance with legal regulations around pharmaceutical promotion. You also take part in networking events, meet senior leaders and project directors, and build mentorship relationships with current marketing employees.
Location: Multiple Lilly offices across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Paid; includes housing and relocation support
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective
Program Dates: 10 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Opens in early fall; closes late fall or early winter
Eligibility: Current juniors pursuing degrees in Marketing, Business, Communications, Informatics, or related fields; U.S. work authorization required
Lilly’s Marketing Internship places undergraduates into ongoing pharmaceutical sales and marketing strategy development for a 10-week program. You’ll work on one or two primary assignments based on office needs, with project areas including market research, branding, global marketing, social media and digital marketing, and new product development. Outside your work, you’ll receive guidance from employee mentors, attend professional development and events, and participate in social activities with other interns and current employees. Based on your performance and company openings, you’ll be considered for a full-time return offer after graduation.
Location: Multiple; Business, Supply Chain & Communications internships are available in Maryland, Delaware, and Indiana
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: 10–12 weeks in May/June - August
Application Deadline: Rolling application review beginning the preceding summerEligibility: Current undergraduate freshmen, juniors, and seniors | Business internships prefer majors in Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, Supply Chain, or Engineering
AstraZeneca Business, Supply Chain, and Communications Internships give undergraduate students hands-on experience in the development and sales lifecycle of pharmaceutical products. You work across departments to complete tasks such as identifying slow-moving inventory, developing marketing presentations, collaborating with manufacturing and research teams for product launch, and tracking production data to manage logistics and sales timelines. You also take part in professional development workshops, including resume writing support, career guidance from a company mentor, networking events, and intern activities. At the end of the internship, you present a poster to AstraZeneca employees and fellow interns to showcase what you learned.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type | Financial aid available
Application deadline: Cohorts throughout the year, including summer
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10–20 hours/week, for 8–12 weeks | Open to high schoolers, undergraduates, and gap-year students
The Ladder University Internship Program is an eight-week virtual internship where you work on real projects with start-ups and corporate businesses. Founded by Harvard entrepreneurs, the program focuses on applied learning through assignments guided by start-up founders and supervisors with experience at places like Harvard Business School, McKinsey, Google, and Microsoft. You’ll develop problem-solving and project management skills, gain insight into entrepreneurial practices, and receive weekly mentorship from your manager and a Ladder Coach. The program ends with a final project presentation to strengthen your resume and professional portfolio.
Location: Multiple locations available
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: 12 weeks over the summer
Application Deadline: Varies; check internship postings on website
Eligibility: Current undergraduate and graduate students | Marketing internships typically recruit students majoring in business, sales, marketing, or engineering, with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Dow’s internship program provides Commercial Sales & Marketing opportunities for undergraduate students interested in applying their business skills to the pharmaceutical, chemical manufacturing, and materials science industries. You’ll be assigned a project directly supporting Dow’s growth and sales goals tailored based on your personal interests and skill sets, which you’ll pursue under the guidance of a designated Product Mentor. As a result, tasks can vary greatly; however, you’ll generally apply skills in assessing customer needs, analyzing market trends, developing competitive sales positioning and growth strategies, and creating value propositions. Other activities include networking events, skill development programming, and discussions with former interns who have become Dow employees.
Location: Multiple locations worldwide
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: 12-week programs; opportunities and timelines vary yearly
Application Deadline: N/A
Eligibility: Current undergraduates with a GPA of 3.0 or above | Individual internship postings may have additional requirements or preferred skills
Abbott Laboratories Student Internships in Sales give undergraduate students hands-on experience in pharmaceutical marketing and product strategy, especially in the area of nutrition pharmaceuticals. You work with a professional marketing and sales team to conduct market research, develop branding plans, prepare presentations, and create marketing materials. You also learn how to use technology and financial analysis to improve sales techniques. Throughout the internship, you attend departmental meetings, connect with senior leadership, and take part in networking events. Many interns present their work to division executives at the end of the program.
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.
Stipend: $26-$29/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: June - August
Application Deadline: October 31
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students
The Pfizer Futures Summer Internship program hosts undergraduates for pharmaceutical opportunities across sectors, including its Sales and Marketing teams. You’ll be assigned to a specific site based on your skills and company needs, supporting a Pfizer professional team with ongoing marketing and sales strategies. While the internship entails substantial independent assignments, you’ll have structured mentorship support to provide regular feedback and guidance. You’ll deliver presentations at team meetings, contribute to strategy development sessions, and collaborate across Pfizer departments and external corporate and health care partners.
Location: Options available at multiple BMS offices
Stipend: $23-$34/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very Selective
Dates: 10-12 weeks over the summer
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted from August to March; applying early is strongly encouraged
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (Rising seniors only accepted if attending graduate school the following year)
Bristol Myers Squibb Student Internships in Research and Development Quality give undergraduate students experience in pharmaceutical discovery, development, and quality management. You support key functions such as drug and molecular entity development, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and planning for clinical trials and product release. Your tasks may include assisting with product development protocols, evaluating clinical quality and patient safety, checking pharmaceutical compliance with regulatory standards, and analyzing data for business reports and quality improvement.
Location: Carlsbad, CA, Boston, MA, Dublin, IE, Remote
Cost/Stipend: Paid ($18-$23/hour); housing and travel assistance are also provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Approximately 2 months over the summer
Application Deadline: April 30 (Application review begins in advance of deadline)
Eligibility: Current undergraduate and graduate students
Ionis Pharmaceuticals’ Undergraduate Internship Program provides placement opportunities within their Commercialization and Alliance Management teams, where students can gain hands-on experience in the pharmaceutical sales lifecycle. You might contribute to initiatives, including bringing new products to market, contributing to branding campaigns, developing marketing materials and strategies, or cultivating cross-organizational relationships to build sales partnerships. You’ll be assigned a company mentor to guide your development throughout the program, attend social and networking events with employees across departments and levels at Ionis, and deliver a final presentation on your internship achievements to your mentor, peers, and company management.
Location: Boston, MA; San Diego, CA; London, UK; and Oxford, UK
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: Late May/Early June - August
Application Deadline: Recruitment begins in October; interviews take place November - March | Applying early is strongly advised
Eligibility: Current undergraduate and graduate students
Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Summer Intern Program offers undergraduate students the chance to work across departments, including placements in pharmaceutical sales through the Market Access and Commercial business teams. You take on a primary assignment for the summer, focused on areas such as launching newly approved treatments, developing pricing strategies, building partnerships with healthcare professionals and insurers, and creating value demonstrations to support sales and coverage. You also attend professional development workshops, industry research training, networking events, and career discussions about future opportunities in the pharmaceutical field at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and beyond.
Location: Most opportunities are offered in Rahway, NJ, and West Point, PA; other placement areas include Boston, MA; Cambridge, MA; Durham, NC; Wilson, NC; Elkton, VA; and South San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Paid plus housing/relocation assistance
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: 10-12 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Recruitment begins in September; applying early is strongly encouraged | Some additional opportunities may be added in late fall and early winter
Eligibility: Current undergraduate and graduate students
Merck Student Internships in Marketing and Sales give undergraduate students the chance to work on specialized pharmaceutical initiatives through individually posted positions. In marketing roles, you help develop strategy and create promotional materials such as videos and social media posts. In sales internships, you work with in-person and online commerce teams to increase customer engagement, conduct product surveys, and help plan pharmaceutical industry meetings and trade shows. You also work on search engine optimization, track user engagement and sales data, and conduct market research to support Merck product campaigns. Depending on your role, you may present a summary of your work to company leadership at the end of the summer.
Location: Remote
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: 10 weeks over the summer
Application Deadline: Recruitment takes place in November-December
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students | Check the site for specific criteria when the recruiting period begins
Novartis’ Sales Rotational Internship Program exposes undergraduate students to the pharmaceutical sales lifecycle through hands-on work. You’ll receive two different assignments for the internship; for each, you’ll work within a specific territory with a designated account and product focus. You’ll complete professional-level sales projects analogous to the entry-level Territory Account Specialist role at Novartis, which can include market and client research, tailoring sales pitches to specialized regions, and preparing consumer presentations. You’ll additionally attend networking events, gain access to a collection of online educational resources and professional development training materials, and be considered for a post-graduation career based on performance.
Location: Multiple locations offered
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very elective
Dates: 12 weeks over the summer
Application Deadline: Recruiting begins in August/September; applying early is recommended
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 | Specific internship postings may have additional requirements
The Roche Internship Program in Pharmaceutical Sales and Marketing offers undergraduate students a three-month summer placement focused on real-world marketing and sales initiatives. You work with a professional team on assignments such as designing sales programs and events, developing strategies to market new products, and presenting your work to senior Roche staff. You also participate in marketing strategy committees and receive guidance on your independent projects. Beyond your core work, you take part in team-building activities, volunteer field trips, and networking sessions with Roche employees.
Location: Mettawa, IL
Cost/Stipend: $20.30 - $36.50 per hour plus relocation assistance
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: 10 weeks in May-August
Application Deadline: Application review begins once
Eligibility: Rising undergraduate seniors majoring in business, marketing, sales, biological sciences, pharmacy, or similar | Students should have a strong academic and extracurricular record
AbbVie Pharmaceutical Sales Internship gives undergraduate students comprehensive training and hands-on experience in regional pharmaceutical sales. During the first five weeks, you attend company orientation events, learn effective sales techniques, and gain expertise in your assigned AbbVie product. In the second half of the internship, you are placed in a designated sales region to complete customer-facing work under the supervision of a District Manager or Sales Representative. At the end of the internship, you create a sales role-play scenario to demonstrate your ability to communicate product value.
Location: Woonsocket, RI
Stipend: $25/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: May 27 - August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling review beginning
Eligibility: Rising undergraduate seniors | Preferred majors include Business Administration/Management, Economics, Health Administration, Public Health, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or similar
CVS Pharmacy Growth and Innovation Internship offers undergraduate students a unique opportunity to combine pharmaceutical sciences with business analytics and community health outcomes. You work with a professional team to improve patient experience, medication adherence, and healthcare cost reduction by evaluating and updating CVS business opportunities, products, and services. Assignments include analyzing pharmacy engagement data, identifying underserved communities, and developing initiatives to strengthen CVS services and expand its customer base.
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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