9 Online Internships for International High School Students
High school internships give you practical experience that goes beyond what you learn in the classroom. As a high school student preparing for college applications, internships can help you explore possible career paths, build professional skills, and make useful connections. Online internships in particular allow you to work with teams from different locations, develop digital communication skills, manage deadlines independently, and learn commonly used tools and software—skills that are useful in both college and future jobs.
Why should I do an online internship as an international student?
A US-based internship can give you direct exposure to American work and academic expectations, which is especially helpful if you plan to apply to US colleges. These internships can help you understand how US-based research, communication, and project standards work, making you better prepared for future coursework. In addition, American colleges often value global experience and cross-cultural learning, so completing a US-hosted internship can highlight your ability to collaborate across time zones and work in diverse environments. It may also help you build connections with US-based mentors who can offer guidance or letters of recommendation later on.
If you’re an international high school student looking to gain experience with a global focus through a virtual internship, we’ve put together a list of 9 online internships for you. This list includes key details to help you understand what each program offers and how to apply.
1. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
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. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
2. Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) - Communications, Digital Media, and Curriculum Division Internship Program
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and above
Application deadline: Applications usually close around the end of March
Program Dates: 8-10 weeks between May and August, dependent on the intern's profile.
Cost/Stipend: A stipend will be provided.
The Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) offers a diverse range of internships in fields such as communication, marketing, digital media, and more for high school and college students. You will work with professional curriculum developers to create global goals and work on activities related to sustainability. Some tasks that you might undertake are: conducting interviews, recording and transcribing them, editing and arranging photos, conducting research, writing, and more. As an intern, you will also be involved in content creation, brainstorming social media campaigns, graphic design, video creation, content strategy, and more. Work descriptions and requirements can be viewed here.
3. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Eligibility: High school students applying for the virtual internships should be at least 15 years old at the start of the program.
Application deadline: February 2
Program dates: June 18 - August 8th (8 weeks)
Stipend: Unpaid
George Mason University’s ASSIP is an intensive 8-week internship for those interested in STEM to gain experience in research while developing their scientific communication. As a part of the program, you will work with a faculty researcher who will serve as your mentor. You can choose your mentor according to your areas of interest and whether they are available to offer you a remote internship opportunity. During the program, you will get the chance to become acquainted with cutting-edge equipment and technologies, hone your scientific writing, and explore STEM careers through talks and meetings. The program wraps up with the annual ASSIP Research Symposium and Celebration. One of the major benefits is that participants have the opportunity to have their names published in scientific journals and present their work at scientific conferences.
4. Internships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply.
Application deadline: 1st November.
Program dates: September - December (Fall) | February - May (Spring) | June - August (Summer)
Cost/Stipend: There are limited paid positions available
The FPRI internship program targets high school students who aim to make a career in international relations. You will gain experience in a professional setting related to foreign policy and international relations while developing critical skills. The program focuses on enhancing your critical thinking, communication, and collaboration abilities through work experience. As an FPRI intern, you will get the opportunity to engage with professionals in the foreign relations community and attend weekly seminars featuring guest speakers. The roles include research intern, special events intern, communications intern, and operations intern. Additionally, upon selection, you can also gain the chance to work on a research paper for potential publication through FPRI. The program will provide you with a valuable platform to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice and build on your professional skills.
5. SHTEM: Summer Internships for High Schoolers
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in grades 11th and 12th and are above the age of 14 at the time of application are eligible to apply.
Program dates: Typically 8 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January
Cost/Stipend: None
Stanford's SHTEM: Summer Internship Program, hosted by one of the most prestigious universities in the world, is a solid opportunity for high school students who are interested in interdisciplinary research. You will work on group projects with like-minded peers and gain experience conducting research. You will work with Stanford’s faculty, who will serve as your mentors for your research and guide you through the process. The internship develops your experimental skills, data analysis, and problem-solving.
6. EnergyMag Research Internship
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have taken at least one honors science or honors English class are eligible to apply
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; you can apply here.
Program Dates: Flexible
Stipend: Unpaid
EnergyMag offers virtual research internships to students looking to gain experience in the renewable energy sector. You will gain insight into research and analytical skills, alongside work experience, by researching companies, analyzing technologies, and conducting market research. You can choose between a 20-hour work week and an 8-hour work week. You will get to experience research writing by working with the company. This program is aimed at equipping you with skills in both science and business that will be useful in the future, no matter the profession you choose. Internship tasks will be based on your graduation date, academic record, and experience. You will be assigned a mentor, who will brief you, mentor you, and share feedback on your work. Your written analysis and work will be published on the EnergyMag site.
7. Medicine Encompassed
Eligibility: High school students with some experience in the field of their interest.
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Program Dates: Runs throughout the year
Stipend: Unpaid
Medicine Encompassed is a student-led nonprofit organization to raise awareness and enhance access to information about medical careers. ME offers multiple roles in the organization, focusing on committees that focus on various medical fields such as anatomy, surgery, neurology, and more. As an intern, you will be expected to develop content for the Medicine Encompassed medical curriculum, covering different branches of medicine. Current available positions include writers, editors, and resource creators. Responsibilities for these positions include drafting accurate articles, revising blog and social media resources, and making study guides and slideshows for students.
8. Forage Virtual Internships
Eligibility: Available for all high school students
Program Dates: Flexible dates
Application Deadline: Flexible, on a rolling basis
Cost/Stipend: None
Forage Virtual Internships are an opportunity for students to do flexible 5- to 6-hour internships at top companies and firms to gain practical exposure to professional careers. You can gain experience in entrepreneurial, medical, marketing, law, security, and data-related fields. Some of the companies that you can work with on the platform are JPMorgan, Pfizer, PepsiCo, Accenture, and more. The simulations are great and insightful to help you gauge your interest in a career in the field and make the decision to commit to it or not. Forage is a great opportunity for high school students; it’s accessible, free of charge, and has multiple options to explore.
9. Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program
Eligibility: All female and non-binary high school students enrolled in grades 9th-11th are eligible.
Application Deadline: Applications usually close around mid-March.
Dates: 2 weeks, starting in July
Stipend: No stipend for international students
Girls Who Code is an organization that aims to address the gender gap in technology and computer science-related fields. Their Summer Immersion Program offers an opportunity for female and non-binary students to gain experience in coding and network with industry professionals. The program requires no previous knowledge. The intensive two-week program will introduce you to intermediate topics in computer science and teach you game design as well as the step-by-step process of web design. Although not an internship, the program provides you with a chance to gain mentorship from renowned industry professionals and promotes women's participation in STEM. The classes will be live and virtual, sponsored by companies such as MetLife, Logitech, and more.
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