If you’re a high school student, you might be thinking about the most productive ways to spend your summer break. If there are subjects you’re curious about or a field you’re keen on exploring before you decide on your college major, an internship is a great place to start! Often, however, internships are location-specific, making them difficult to access if you don’t live there or can’t travel. Which is why we’ve curated this list of online internships that you can consider!

With a remote internship, you can gain valuable professional experience from anywhere in the world. These opportunities offer the same benefits as in-person internships and can help you develop new skills, explore career options, and build your profile.

Many organizations now employ remote work models and seek motivated interns for a virtual internship setup. Online internships can demonstrate your tech-savvy, time management, and independent working abilities while offering opportunities to network with professionals and gain industry insights remotely.

Take a look at these 12 online summer internships for high school students across STEM & non-STEM fields! 

1. AI Internship Program by Veritas AI

Cost: $2,490
Application Deadline: October 20, 2024
Internship Date: Start date for the cohort is November 11, 2024
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program

The AI Internship Program by Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the 8-week internship, students have the opportunity to work VC-backed startups on real-world AI/ML projects. Students work directly with mentors from Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and more.This program is a great opportunity for students who have prior experience with AI/ML and are looking to gain real world exposure to a career in the field. Students get a chance to network with industry professionals, work closely with company leadership, and receive a letter of completion from the company at the end of the internship. You can learn more about the program here and apply here.

2. Ladder Internships

Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year – summer, fall, winter, and spring.
Cost: Startup Internship Program: $1990 | Research Internship Program: $5400. Some financial aid is offered.
Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students.
Deadline: June 26, 2024, for the Summer II cohort.

Ladder Internships offers high school students the opportunity to work with startups and nonprofits across the world in a virtual setup. Students will have the freedom to choose to intern in a field of their interest, from a wide range of industries, including AI, ML, engineering, healthcare, health tech, media, journalism, business, sustainability, and more. This internship program offers students valuable insight into potential career paths. Partnered with startups across the U.S., Asia, Europe, and the UK, this program allows remote immersion in areas that you are passionate about. 

As an intern, you will engage in meaningful projects and present your work at the end of the internship. Interns also collaborate closely with startup managers and receive guidance from a dedicated Ladder Coach who serves as their mentor throughout the internship. The program offers professional development training as well!

3. Stanford’s SHTEM: Summer Internship

Dates: June-August (tentatively, based on the 2024 schedule).
Cost: Free.
Eligibility: Students who will be in grades 11-12 at the time of application, OR full-time community college students (within the first 3 years of community college), are eligible to apply.
Deadline: Applications typically close in January.

The Stanford SHTEM: Summer Internship is an opportunity for students to explore the fields of computer science and technological innovation. During this internship, you will dive into hands-on experiences that extend beyond the classroom to cutting-edge projects and collaborative projects. As an intern, you will engage in computer science research facilitated remotely with necessary materials provided for hardware projects, while maintaining regular communication with mentors and fellow group members.

Under the guidance of Stanford's faculty and industry experts, interns have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the dynamic tech landscape. The program's emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration mimics real-world scenarios within the tech industry, fostering the development of technical skills alongside teamwork and communication abilities. If selected, you will be expected to commit 30-40 hours per week to the program, so, if you are looking for an intensive experience, this internship is for you. 

4. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) - Summer Research Internship

Program dates: June 18–30, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program).
Cost: None.
Eligibility: High school students who are over the age of 14 can apply.
Deadline: Applications typically close in March.

If you’re interested in how concepts in AI and machine learning are applied in the field of medicine and healthcare, you should consider this research internship. The program will include lectures on the fundamentals of AI in healthcare, mentorship by Stanford researchers, guest lectures, and group projects involving hands-on work. During the internship, you will focus on developing innovative AI solutions to advance human health, which would include several aspects of machine learning. 

The program doesn’t offer any academic credit, but you will receive a certificate of completion. As a virtual program that is offered by a prestigious institution, this program is a solid choice for those looking to gain valuable experience virtually. As each cohort usually accepts 20 interns, the process can be quite selective.

5. Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) Internship

Dates: Fall cohort from September–December, Spring cohort from February– May, Summer cohort from June–August.
Cost: No cost and up to 10 paid internships are available in the Summer cohort.
Eligibility: All students are eligible, including international students.
Deadline: July 2024 for the Fall cohort, November 2024 for the Spring cohort, and April 2025 for the Summer cohort (All dates are tentative, based on the 2024 program).

If you’re interested in foreign relations and international policy, this FPRI internship offers relevant experience in the field. Research, Special Events/Development, and Operations are the three primary areas the internships are offered in, and you can choose one that interests you. During the program, you will be paired with a scholar/professional and receive training in industry-specific skills. You will also have the opportunity to write a research paper which could then be published on FPRI’s Intern Corner. Summer interns will also be able to attend weekly seminars on foreign policy and career pathways.

6. NASA Internships

Note: These internships are offered across NASA facilities in the country. Some virtual options are also offered.
Cost/Stipend:  No cost; Interns may receive a stipend based on academic level and session duration.
Dates: These internships are offered in 3 sessions – 

• Fall (16-week program, from late August or early September to mid-December).

• Spring (16-week program, from mid-January to early May).

• Summer (10-week program, from late May or early June to  August).

Eligibility: Open to high school students, who are U.S. citizens and have a cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale). Students should be at least 16 years of age at the time of application.
Deadline: January (Fall session) | August (Spring session) | October (Summer session).

NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships to high school and college-level students at its sites across the country, along with some virtual options. These internships offer training, mentorship, and career development to over 2,000 students yearly, along with the chance to learn from and work with leading experts in science, engineering, finance, IT, and business. 

The internships are offered in a range of subjects and disciplines, including space science, engineering, aeronautics, technology, space microbiology, computer science, and even outreach and communications. You will get to design experiments, analyze mission data, and develop innovative technologies. You can explore different internships that provide coding opportunities here by using the ‘Filter’ option to view the options open to high school students.

7. Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship

Cost: Free.
Dates: Two-week session in June.
Deadline: Applications for the 2025 session will open in September 2024.
Eligibility: Open to rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students and recent graduates

The University of Texas Southwestern’s Department of Psychiatry hosts a 2-week virtual internship for rising 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students and rising college freshmen every summer. This intensive internship program aims to highlight the range of careers available in mental health. 

As an intern, you will learn about the wide breadth of work available in mental health, including psychotherapy, neuropsychological testing, neuroscience, interventional psychiatry, and community psychiatry. Interactive sessions are led by a variety of mental health clinician-scientists, such as licensed clinical social workers, neuropsychologists, physician assistants, and psychiatrists.

8. The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program (JHIBS): Project Pipeline Baltimore

Note: Both virtual and in-person options are offered.
Stipend: In-person participants receive an hourly stipend (amount varies), while virtual interns receive a stipend of $500.
Dates: 8 weeks, June 2024 - August 2024 (in-person); 5 weeks, July 2024 - August 2024 (virtual)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors can apply.
Deadline: March 1, every year.

JHIBS offers high school students a chance to conduct research and understand clinical practices in neurological sciences under experienced faculty, staff, and student mentors.

Students can choose between in-person and virtual programs. In-person interns will also attend scientific seminars and have regular meetings with their mentors. Note that only 8 students were selected for the in-person internship in 2024. 

Under the virtual internship program, students take part in educational presentations, undergo professional development training, get an introduction to basic laboratory techniques and experiments, and are provided with mentorship training. This internship is suitable for junior and senior high school students who want to nurture a passion for a career in the neurological sciences.

9. American Psychological Association (APA) Internal Internship Program (IIP)

Dates:  Internships are offered year-round (spring, summer, fall, winter).\
Cost: Free. Paid internship opportunities are also available.
Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and even graduate students, but they need to be U.S. citizens.
Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

The American Psychological Association (APA) is a premier scientific and professional organization that represents psychologists in the United States. APA Internal Internship Program (IIP) is designed for students who are passionate about psychology and applying psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives. The internship program will allow students to gain knowledge and develop skills while building an understanding of career paths in psychology. 

Internships are usually available in policy, research, communications, operations, publishing, and education domains. Interns will have an opportunity to participate in a variety of activities within their office that will apply theoretical knowledge to practice and foster a better understanding of a workplace environment in professional psychology. Interns may also attend workshops, and discussions, and participate in group projects!

This is one of the open internships available to high school students at the moment. 

Note: Students currently residing in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, Washington, Wyoming are ineligible to apply for remote internships.

10. EPIC’s Summer Internship Program

Dates: Three weeks in July.
Cost: Free.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students in grades 9-11, including international students.
Deadline: Application is open until slots are filled. The seats are typically filled by January.

This internship opportunity offered by the Education for Persistence and Innovation Center (EPIC) at Teacher’s College, Columbia University is designed to help high school students express their challenges related to academics, peer relationships, family, or other life scenarios, and leveraging these experiences positively. Under the mentorship of EPIC researchers, students will create a multimedia narrative struggle story, and discover their potential in turning their struggles into successes.

Students will also have the opportunities to participate in research projects being conducted by faculty, lab members, and doctoral students. Students need to commit 30 hours, and attend two Zoom sessions per week. A bonus about this internship is that it will count for up to 30 hours of community service. Students who successfully complete the internship are awarded a certificate.

11. EnergyMag Research Internship

Dates: Throughout the year, including summer.
Cost: No cost or stipend.
Eligibility: Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors only who have taken at least one honors science or honors English class and have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Deadline: Applications are open all year round. You can apply here.

Open to high school and college students, EnergyMag (a non-profit organization) offers virtual research internships to students looking to gain experience working in the renewable energy sector. Students gain research and analytical skills, alongside work experience, by researching specific companies, technologies, and markets. Internships can be half-time (2-8 weeks, 20 hours per week) or quarter-time (1-9 months, 8 hours per week). 

You will acquire research and analysis skills in both science and business domains that will be immensely valuable for the rest of your professional lives. Half-time internships, in which you are expected to work 20 hours per week, are available only in the summer. They can range from 2 weeks to 8 weeks in length. 

12. High School Student Stanford Summer Internship (Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center)

Dates: Typically takes place in two phases in June and July every year (tentatively, based on the 2024 program)
Cost:  $4,500 (Based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Open to high school students who are at least 16 years old at the start of the program. Exceptional high school juniors below 16 years of age can be considered in rare cases. Recent graduates who are yet to join college can also apply.
Deadline: Applications typically close in January.

This 2-week intensive course is designed to provide high school students with knowledge of and exposure to basic and advanced cardiothoracic surgery and technical skills (e.g., knot tying, dissection, suturing, coronary artery bypass graft, and cardiac valve replacement). The program is conducted by accomplished Stanford University faculty, surgical residents, and staff, to help the interns master these three key areas – Principles of cardiac & thoracic diseases & surgery, hands-on practice of fundamental surgical skills, and key cardiothoracic surgical techniques. 

Students attend lectures from 9 am to 12 noon five days a week to learn the fundamentals of cardiothoracic anatomy and surgery while technical skills sessions take place between 1pm and 4pm. You will be provided with instruments, supplies, and simulation models to be used during the skills sessions.

Bonus - Seaside Sustainability Internship

Dates: Throughout the year, including summer.
Cost: No cost or stipend.
Eligibility: Open to high school, college, and university students, with a major/interest in STEM areas.
Deadline: Applications are open all year round. You can apply here.

Seaside Sustainability is a nationally recognized, award-winning charitable organization dedicated to community engagement, public education, and environmental conservation. It offers an exciting virtual internship opportunity, preferably for high school students interested in STEM, to contribute to the environmental cause. 

Part-time interns are offered roles in - Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Liberal Studies, Writing, Journalism, Education (especially non-traditional, non-classroom), Environmental or Marine Studies (wide spectrum), Adventure Education, Outdoor Leadership, Human Resources, IT, or Digital Communication & Multimedia. 

While there is no stipend or cost associated with the internship, exceptional interns who devote their time and effort are awarded Volunteer service awards as below (per hours worked in a 12-month period).

• Bronze Level: 100 - 174 hours

• Silver Level: 175 - 249 hours

• Gold Level: 250 + hour

Please note that Seaside Sustainability requires interns to work at least 15 hours per week and, as of now, only students who can enter a five-month term are encouraged to apply.

If you’re looking to build unique projects in the field of AI/ML, consider applying to Veritas AI! 

Veritas AI was founded by Harvard graduate students, and through the programs, you get a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI and computer science while collaborating on real-world projects. You can also work 1-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn data science and AI with us. You can apply here!

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