15 Summer Healthcare Internships for Undergraduates
College internships can help you translate academic learning into practical experience and strengthen your resume. You’ll gain exposure to professional workflows, expectations, and problem-solving approaches in a field you’re considering. Internships help you develop transferable skills such as communication, data analysis, or teamwork, which employers look for across roles. For undergraduates, this early experience can clarify career direction while making your applications for future jobs and graduate school more competitive.
Why should I do a healthcare summer internship in college?
Healthcare summer internships allow you to explore clinical, research, administrative, or technical roles within a complex industry. By applying classroom concepts to healthcare settings, you will build field-specific experience that can improve your employability after graduation. These internships help you understand how different healthcare roles interact, which is especially useful when evaluating graduate study or entry-level job options.
To support your search, we’ve narrowed this list of 15 summer healthcare internships for undergraduates based on the skills, exposure, and learning opportunities they offer.
1. NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Location: Bethesda, MD (and other NIH campuses)
Stipend: $3,010–$3,310
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: February 18
Eligibility: U.S. citizens/permanent residents who are at least 18 years old and enrolled in an accredited institution
In this summer healthcare internship, you will work full-time in the Intramural Research Program alongside scientists in fields ranging from molecular biology to clinical epidemiology. You’ll be matched with a Principal Investigator (PI) to conduct hands-on research in NIH laboratories or clinical settings. Beyond the lab, the program provides professional development workshops on medical school admissions and scientific communication. At the end, you’ll attend a Summer Poster Day to present your research findings to the NIH community. This internship is highly self-directed, requiring you to proactively contact PIs to secure your specific placement.
2. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: College students and young professionals
The Ladder University Internship Program offers a project-based internship experience through remote collaboration with startups or nonprofits, some of which operate in health-related fields. You work on a defined project that addresses an actual organizational need, with expectations shaped by deliverables. The flexible structure requires you to manage time, communicate progress, and adapt to feedback from a project supervisor. Instead of rotating through roles, you focus on applying your academic skills to one sustained assignment. The experience concludes with a formal presentation of your work to the company. Apply now!
3. MD Anderson Summer Program in Cancer Research
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: Up to $7,200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10-15 students
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: Undergraduate freshmen, sophomores, or juniors enrolled in a degree program in the U.S.
Located at one of the world's premier cancer centers, this summer healthcare internship provides undergraduates with intensive laboratory research experience. You’ll be paired with MD Anderson faculty to work on projects related to cancer biology, prevention, or therapeutics. The program features a curriculum of scientific lectures, professional development workshops, and networking events. You’ll gain exposure to state-of-the-art research facilities and clinical environments. The internship concludes with a poster session at the SPCR Scientific Symposium, where you present your research.
4. Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (BCMP) Summer Scholars Program
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Stipend: $6,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 5-10 students
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: Undergraduate students eligible to work in the U.S.
This healthcare internship places you inside active biological chemistry and molecular pharmacology labs. You will work on projects related to cellular signaling, cancer pathways, drug targets, or biologically active molecules, using methods such as genomics, biochemistry, bioinformatics, and cryo-electron microscopy. In addition to lab work, the program includes seminars and professional development sessions that expose you to current directions in biomedical research. You’ll have to synthesize your findings and present them at the end of the program.
5. Broad Summer Research Program (BSRP)
Location: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: $5,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 11
Eligibility: U.S. citizens/permanent residents enrolled in a four-year institution, majoring in physical, biological, or computer sciences, engineering, or mathematics with a minimum 3.2 GPA
BSRP is designed for students who want to explore the power of genomics to understand and treat human disease. You will perform original computational or experimental research in labs across the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, exploring topics such as cancer and infectious diseases. The curriculum emphasizes science communication, collaborative problem-solving, and breaking down various scientific career paths. Beyond the lab, you’ll participate in professional development seminars and social activities within the Cambridge biotech hub. The program concludes with both oral and poster presentations of the students' independent research projects.
6. Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) Internship Program
Location: Harvard-affiliated labs and hospitals, Cambridge/Boston, MA
Stipend: $5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 students
Dates: June 8 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Rising undergraduate sophomores and juniors who are non-Harvard students from U.S. colleges and universities
The HSCI Internship Program is a research-intensive healthcare internship in which you’ll spend most of your time embedded in a stem cell science laboratory. You’ll develop your project within the scope of your host lab’s ongoing research, with room to shape questions as you gain familiarity with the field. There will be weekly seminars and program-wide events, which provide structured exposure to experimental techniques, research ethics, and current topics in stem cell biology. The program also emphasizes scientific communication, culminating in a formal oral presentation with a Q&A component.
7. Wake Forest Center for Precision Medicine Summer Research Internship
Location: Center for Precision Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Stipend: $5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 6-10 interns
Dates: June 1 – July 24
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Undergraduate students pursuing Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Anthropology, Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Engineering, Health Science, and Nursing majors
This full-time healthcare internship is structured around participation in precision medicine research, with most of your schedule dedicated to a single lab-based or data-driven project. You will collaborate with a faculty mentor and their research team while also taking on a peer-mentoring role alongside a high school intern assigned to the same project. The work is integrated into ongoing studies rather than predefined exercises, requiring you to adapt to real research workflows and evolving outcomes. Communication is built into the program through multiple formats, including short mid-summer talks, a final presentation, and a research poster.
8. UM-SMART Undergrad Program
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Stipend: $4,700
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 8 students
Dates: May 26 – August 2
Application Deadline: January 23
Eligibility: U.S. citizens/permanent residents who have completed their undergrad sophomore year, have completed the relevant coursework and required lab hours, and have a minimum 3.2 GPA
Designed specifically for students interested in becoming physician-scientists, this program provides 10 weeks of full-time laboratory research. You’ll spend most of your time in a research lab and the remaining time in clinical shadowing experiences with University of Michigan physicians. The program includes online MCAT preparation, mock interviews, and seminars on the MD/PhD application process. You’ll be paired with a current MSTP fellow who serves as a "Big Sib" mentor throughout the summer. Overall, you’ll gain a comprehensive view of how bench research translates into clinical patient care.
9. Amgen Scholars Program
Location: Educational institutions across the U.S.
Stipend: Varies by institution
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~10 students/institution
Dates: Varies by institution
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens/permanent residents enrolled in accredited four-year colleges or universities and are sophomores, juniors, or non-graduating seniors with a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA, and an interest in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D.
The Amgen Scholars Program connects undergraduates to research-focused healthcare internships hosted across multiple academic institutions, each centered on biomedical or biotechnology-related inquiry. You’ll engage in laboratory research tied to areas such as drug discovery, therapeutic development, or related engineering disciplines, depending on the host site. A distinguishing feature is the shared symposium experience, in which you will present your summer projects and engage with scientists from across academia and industry. These sessions are designed to emphasize how individual research efforts fit into larger therapeutic development pipelines.
10. Summer Institute in Biomedical Informatics (SIBMI)
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Stipend: ~$4,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15 students
Dates: June 8 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: U.S. citizens/permanent residents with an interest in pursuing a PhD or research-oriented MD in translational advances in biomedicine
This healthcare internship introduces undergraduates to biomedical informatics through a combination of formal instruction and mentored research. You will split your time between structured coursework centered on clinical case studies and independent work in a research lab. The curriculum uses real disease-focused examples to show how data, computation, and biology intersect in diagnosis and treatment research. Faculty mentorship is a core component, with guidance on both technical work and long-term academic decision-making. The program concludes with a substantial written report and an oral presentation.
11. Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Program
Location: Dana-Farber / Harvard Cancer Center, Boston, MA
Stipend: Provided weekly
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 7–11 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students residing in or attending school in Massachusetts who are interested in a career in science and research
The CURE program is a summer healthcare internship for undergraduates that provides a full-time immersion in cancer research labs. You’ll be assigned an individual mentor who oversees a specific research project related to oncology, from basic biology to clinical research. The program includes scientific seminars, journal club discussions, and networking events with oncology professionals. You’ll also explore health disparities in cancer care and outcomes. The summer culminates in a final presentation where you will share your research progress with the Harvard medical community.
12. MGfC Digestive Disease Summer Research Program
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 students
Dates: 10 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: U.S. citizens/permanent residents who are medical students or undergraduates in science, math, engineering, and pre-medical programs
This NIH-supported summer healthcare internship matches students with faculty mentors at Mass General Hospital for Children to conduct independent research on digestive diseases. You will work in clinical or laboratory settings, focusing on conditions like Crohn's disease, nutrition, and gut microbiome health. The experience is designed to provide a deep dive into the pathophysiology of pediatric gastrointestinal disorders. You’ll also attend weekly lectures on gastroenterology and participate in career development workshops.
13. UT Southwestern Health Care Summer Internship Program
Location: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Stipend: $13/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30-40 interns
Dates: 8-9 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: January 30
Eligibility: Students enrolled in an undergraduate institution who have completed at least one full year of college and have a minimum 2.5 GPA
The UT Southwestern Health Care Summer Internship Program offers undergraduates a structured healthcare internship across administrative, clinical, or research-focused environments. Your placement determines whether you spend the summer supporting patient-facing operations, contributing to research activities, or working within institutional systems that support healthcare delivery. Weekly professional development sessions run alongside day-to-day responsibilities, providing a broader context on how large healthcare organizations function. You’ll summarize and reflect on your work through a poster presentation at the end of the program.
14. Dartmouth Health Undergraduate Healthcare Support Internship Program
Location: Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, NH
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited institution who have completed at least one year of coursework and are eligible for employment in the U.S.
This healthcare internship is organized around multiple tracks that reflect different functions within a healthcare system. Depending on your placement, you may support patient care teams, diagnostic services, engineering and technology initiatives, or administrative and operational projects. The structure emphasizes learning how clinical and non-clinical roles interact to support care delivery. Alongside project work, you will participate in a cohort-based professional development curriculum with exposure to healthcare leadership perspectives.
15. Brain Research Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (BRI-SURE)
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Undergraduates in honors research programs with a minimum 3.0 GPA, aiming to pursue research careers in Neuroscience or Physiology
BRI-SURE is a summer healthcare internship designed for undergraduates pursuing neuroscience or physiology-related research paths. You will conduct independent or semi-independent research within a host lab, working with real experimental or computational data rather than simulated exercises. The program incorporates journal clubs, workshops, and seminars that reinforce how research questions are framed, tested, and communicated. Training often includes data analysis, modeling, or coding, depending on the focus of the lab. Your work culminates in a research poster and written outputs that mirror expectations in graduate-level research settings.
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