15 Remote Social Work Internships for Undergraduates
- Stephen Turban
- Oct 3
- 11 min read
If you’re an aspiring undergrad looking to make the most of your years studying in the field of social work, a remote internship is one of the most effective ways to gain early exposure.Â
Remote opportunities give you accessibility, flexibility, and a wider range of options. These kinds of programs can give you the chance to see what social work is like in practice while developing skills you can only learn outside the classroom. With remote work, you get flexibility. And along the way, as you work with respected organizations and nonprofits, you’ll connect with mentors, expand your network, and gain valuable insight into the settings that make it possible for social work to make an impact.
To help you get started, we’ve collected 15 of the best remote social work internships for undergraduates. Each program was selected for its relevance, reputation, cost transparency, and ability to provide meaningful experiences and mentorship guidance to support you in your future in social work.
15 Remote Social Work Internships for Undergraduates
Location:Â Fully online
Cost/Stipend:Â Varies by program (not specified)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Highly selective; selects for high-performing students
Dates:Â Vary by cohort; typically an 8-week program
Application Deadline:Â Varies by cohort
Eligibility:Â Undergraduate and graduate students
Ladder Internships is a company founded by Harvard entrepreneurs. Its focus is connecting high school students to internships with the world’s most high-growth start-ups. Among their partners, you get to choose from a variety of industries such as mental health, tech, non-profit, and media.
As part of the program, you will be taking part in fully remote social work internships over 8 weeks. Every week, you will meet with company teams and managers for 10-15 hours to work on assigned tasks. The time is yours to use, garnering real-world experience and meeting with real teams and venerable mentors along the way.
Getting in the program is no easy feat. It’s a highly selective program, but as long as you make it through the selection process, it’s a worthwhile experience to bring out your a-game!
Location:Â Varies, including fully remote roles
Cost/Stipend:Â Paid and unpaid internship opportunities available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Not highly selective; depends on the specific position
Dates:Â Opportunities available year-round
Application Deadline:Â Varies by role
Eligibility:Â Typically undergraduate or graduate students; specific requirements vary by role
The American Red Cross is a highly reputable and well-known organization. Notable for putting in impactful work on emergency aid during disasters and other emergencies, they are part of the largest humanitarian network in the entire world.
The remote social work internship program under the American Red Cross is highly varied. Depending on the specific role you apply for, and whatever arrangement you make with your supervisor, you can look for an internship from 4 to 10 weeks. With a presence across the globe, you can connect with your national, regional, or local Red Cross offices for opportunities closer to where you are!
Location:Â Primarily on-site, with occasional remote internships
Cost/Stipend: $2,800 – $4,200
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Moderately selective; all applicants must pass a background check
Dates:Â Start in May; end date varies by department assignment
Application Deadline:Â Rolling admissions
Eligibility:Â College students
DOROT, Inc. is a non-profit based in two locations: Manhattan and Westchester. It’s a company that focuses on making impactful work with older adults. Their Spring/Fall College Internship programÂ
Here, interns will be working 8-10 hours a week in a highly supportive environment with DOROT’s managers and teams. Offering a wide range of opportunities from evaluation and impact, visual and creative art projects for marketing and documentation, helping to facilitate remote classes, and providing administrative support.
DOROT’s internship program varies from in-person to hybrid and the occasional remote option, depending on their needs. Overall, it’s a neat opportunity to get involved with social work oriented toward the elderly.
Location:Â Remote
Cost/Stipend:Â Paid internship (exact stipend not specified)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Highly selective; multiple assessments in the application process
Dates:Â Rolling, based on agreement with supervisor/office
Application Deadline:Â Varies by role and country office
Eligibility: Undergraduate students; no immediate relatives working at UNICEF; proficiency in at least one of UNICEF’s working languages (English, French, or Spanish)
UNICEF is a highly reputable international organization—an agency under the United Nations! Founded in 1946 to provide emergency aid to children in World War II, it now addresses long-term needs in disadvantaged parts of the world.
The UNICEF Internship Programme offers one of the most credible and meaningful internship experiences working with some of the most diverse teams in various backgrounds. Typically, the internship goes between 6 and 26 weeks. Depending on the office you will be assigned, along with considerations for your qualifications and interests, you should look forward to working on areas of research, database management, communications, and other similar areas.
Location:Â Remote and onsite (Fairfield, CT; Lexington, KY; Washington, D.C.)
Cost/Stipend:Â Paid internship (hourly wage; exact amount not specified)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Highly selective; large applicant pool per cohort
Dates:Â Rolling, varies by cohort
Application Deadline:Â Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students pursuing an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree
Save the Children is a well-known child-oriented non-profit. Placing themselves as the leading independent organization for children in need, they have their gentle hands spread across the world.
Their focus is on health, education, and economic opportunities. Interns are accepted year-round, and internship durations typically last for an entire semester. As an intern, you will be working side-by-side with real team members, depending on your particular field. Due to the sheer volume of applicants, positions are competitive, but it’s a worthwhile opportunity to apply to if their cause fits with your personal goals.
Location:Â Virtual
Cost/Stipend:Â $800/month
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Moderately selective, particularly due to the organization’s religious affiliation
Dates:Â Typically spring and summer
Application Deadline:Â Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Must be at least 18 years old, currently enrolled in an undergraduate program, authorized to work in the U.S., and willing to adhere to World Vision International’s Christian statement of faith
World Vision is a global Christian humanitarian organization focusing on improving the lives of underprivileged children and communities worldwide. It’s a heft humanitarian aid group founded in 1950 with a global reach.
Through their internships, you will be taking a 3-month virtual experience with World Vision’s high-caliber professionals working on real-world projects and programs. Depending on the team you’re paired up with, you should expect to work in marketing and engagement, data analysis and research, advocacy, IT learning & development, talent acquisition, and many others!
If you fit all the criteria except you’re not based in the U.S., there’s still the option of pursuing opportunities with your country’s World Vision office.
7. RAINN
Location:Â Varies; remote opportunities available as needed
Cost/Stipend:Â Paid internships; amount varies
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Moderately selective; internship availability varies each semester
Dates:Â Offered per academic term
Application Deadline:Â Rolling; varies by term
Eligibility:Â Current undergraduate or graduate students; no prior experience required
RAINN, which stands for Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network, is among the leading national organizations offering a 24-hour hotline for victims of sexual assault. Supporting a crucial cause in critical settings, taking an internship with RAINN means looking forward to an impactful experience.
Internships are offered per term and vary based on their departments’ needs. They may include areas for training, research, online hotline help, communications, development, and HR training. Apart from these, new internships may be offered.
Because of their highly varied internship scheme, it’s a bit difficult to land on a specific timing and schedule. With that being said, working with RAINN, you’ll get high-caliber experience with their professional teams, and is a decent option as a remote social work internship.
Location:Â Fully remote
Cost/Stipend:Â Unpaid; offers school/academic credit
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Not very selective
Dates:Â Available year-round
Application Deadline:Â Rolling; varies by opportunity
Eligibility:Â Undergraduate or graduate students
ISS-USA is an organization based in Baltimore, MD. Its focus is on child protection and social services, connecting displaced children and families to the services and support that they need to reunite with their families across the world.
Internships at ISS-USA are available all year round. Depending on your interest and qualifications, you can get connected to the Arthur C. Helton Institute, Intercountry Case Management, Repatriation programs, or the Fundraising and Communications team. It’s a highly flexible program; you will be assigned a supervisor to develop a learning agenda and schedule that meets your learning needs.
This experience is a great choice to learn how non-profits operate while working with a diverse group of individuals both internationally and domestically, while developing important skills specific to your area of interest.
Location:Â Fully virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,950–$2,250; applicants can apply for a Global Internship Program covering up to $25,000 in fees and expenses
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Not very selective; relevant prior experience is a plus
Dates:Â Varies by cohort; options include 8-week or 12-week programs
Application Deadline:Â Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled in an Associate, Bachelor, or Master’s program, have completed at least one year of study, and maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA
The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) is a world leader in international exchange. It caters to both students and professionals, offering a chance for comprehensive educational experiences abroad.
CIEE offers a wide array of areas of focus, in which you can pick your top two. Among them are communications, design, NGO, social media, sustainability & environment, and many others. Through both synchronous and asynchronous collaborations, your project-based internship will take about 225 hours in total.
CIEE is an intensive professional development choice for those who want the opportunities that focus on developing critical on-the-job skills.
Overall, The Intern Group offers a solid choice to build a good foundation of experience and to network with leading organizations across the globe.
Location:Â Fully remote
Cost/Stipend:Â Unpaid internship
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Selective; previous experience required
Dates: Typically June–August for the fall session
Application Deadline:Â Usually the first week of June for the fall session
Eligibility:Â Applicants must have prior experience in the relevant field
D2C is a nonprofit based in the U.S. What started as a humanitarian disaster aid relief effort for vulnerable children in Haiti, D2C now works on various community programs to uplift disadvantaged communities in livelihood and education.
The Remote Internship Program lasts between 4 and 12 weeks. You will be partnered with a Managing Director who will be supervising and mentoring your professional development in the program. Their specific internship offerings come out on a needs basis, but they do require previous experience in, for example, a social media and digital design internship, where you’ll have to attach a sample portfolio as part of your application.
D2C is a good choice to make, especially when your advocacies are in line with community engagement.
Location:Â Fully online
Cost/Stipend:Â Free to join
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Not highly selective; open to applicants who meet eligibility requirements
Dates:Â 6 weeks, typically from October to November
Application Deadline:Â Not specified
Eligibility:Â Open to U.S. citizens, residents, or visa holders
MobilizeGreen is a nonprofit group that started in 2014. Working together with youth volunteers, they set their sights on developing conservation awareness and environmental leadership for youth leaders.
Though not specifically a remote social work internship, MobilizeGreen’s NCCR program carries with it the relational skills to use in real-world social work. For 6 weeks, you will be taken through a modular course of both live and self-paced sessions covering nonprofit application, leadership, community engagement, grant writing and fundraising, and communications and organizational messaging. In the sixth and last week, you will be making a capstone presentation to show off a real-world project catered to your career goals.
With the structure of the program, it’s a flexible, easy-to-accomplish experience with a lot of important learnings, and you’ll be walking away with a portfolio piece you can definitely add to your arsenal when you graduate!
Location:Â Fully remote
Cost/Stipend:Â Free to apply; unpaid internship
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Not selective; rolling admissions until positions are filled
Dates:Â New cohorts begin monthly
Application Deadline:Â Rolling, at the start of each month
Eligibility:Â High school, college, and graduate students
TurnUp activism is a youth civic engagement non-profit that has its eyes set on improving youth voter turnout in the United States. As part of their mission, they work closely with grassroots communities on campaigns and programs that encourage young people to vote.
TurnUp’s remote internship focuses on grassroots activism and advocacy work on civic issues surrounding democratic responsibility. Internships do a whole host of things, meeting virtually on a weekly basis to participate in civic action, organize voter registration projects and turnout projects, perform outreach, and the like. Along the way, you develop critical communication, collaboration, leadership, research, and writing skills that you can use to further your own endeavors moving forward.
While not specifically a remote social work internship, working on community projects and grassroots communities lends towards skills relevant in the profession, alongside the networking and other opportunities you become open to through getting in touch with the group.
Location:Â Fully virtual
Cost/Stipend: $800–$2,300 depending on internship length; scholarships up to $350 available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Moderately selective; some positions require prior experience or specific skills
Dates:Â Offered year-round
Application Deadline:Â Rolling admissions
Eligibility:Â Open to all education levels
United Planet is a non-profit based in Boston, MA, geared towards peace and community action. Working in about 15 countries across 4 continents, United Planet is a wide-reaching organization.
Over the course of your internship, you will be playing a role in teams depending on your learning objectives. Overall, United Planet gives you the choice of program options between children and education, community development, global health, and environmental flexibility.
The internship hours are very flexible, with a time commitment range between 5 and 40 hours per week. Interning at United Planet gets you a large network with a vast array of things you can do to make your time worthwhile.
14. The Intern Group
Location:Â Includes remote options
Cost/Stipend: $3,000–$10,300 depending on program duration; need-based financial aid and flexible financing options available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Varies by program; some positions are highly competitive
Dates:Â Flexible, year-round opportunities; durations from 4 to 24 weeks
Application Deadline:Â Rolling admissions
Eligibility:Â Open to all applicants
The Intern Group is a reputable company that has partnered with over 130 of the top universities across 6 continents. Through their work, they connect students and graduates to award-winning international internship programs.
Among their many internships, college students looking for remote social work internships can go for their remote NGO & non-profit internships. Within these internships, The Intern Group partners with numerous organizations internationally, like Amnesty International, the Red Cross, and the World Wildlife Fund. Typically, roles include fundraising, social media management, event planning, and content creation.
Location:Â Fully remote
Cost/Stipend:Â Usually unpaid; academic credit may be available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not selective; open to applicants who demonstrate commitment to the organization’s mission
Dates:Â Openings occur on a rolling, needs-based schedule
Application Deadline:Â Varies; rolling admissions
Eligibility:Â Open to all applicants
Thaddeus Resource Center is a non-profit organization in San Dimas, CA. They work on case management, therapy, workforce training, and tutoring services for women and kids. Founded by Dr. Malcolm Robertson in 1975, the Thaddeus Foundation has garnered a decent reputation as a charitable non-profit.
As an intern, there’s a whole host of remote options to choose from. You can go for marketing, grant writing, IT, and other human resource internships.
The dates and responsibilities vary per type of internship, but as an example, their Human Resources Internship—partnered with MIT’s Career Advising & Professional Development, by the way!—can vary from a minimum of 6 months to a full 1-year internship program working under the direct supervision and close interaction with HR managers and staff.
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 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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