15 Summer Pharmacy Internships for Undergraduates
For undergraduates interested in pharmacy or pharmaceutical sciences, summer internships offer a way to understand how the field works outside the classroom. These programs give you hands-on exposure to areas like clinical pharmacy, drug development, regulatory affairs, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. In many cases, you’ll work alongside pharmacists, scientists, or industry professionals and contribute to ongoing projects rather than just observing.
Why Do a Pharmacy Summer Internship in College?
A pharmacy internship during college helps you understand what day-to-day work in the field actually looks like. Instead of learning about medication management or drug development in theory, you’ll see how these processes function in real clinical, research, or regulatory environments. These internships can also strengthen applications to PharmD programs, residencies, and research-focused graduate programs. Admissions committees often look for evidence that you’ve explored the field seriously and developed relevant skills.
Here’s a list of 15 curated summer pharmacy internships for undergraduate students!
For other healthcare-related internships, check out a list of summer-specific internships here, and find a list of more healthcare internships here.
1. Ionis Pharmaceuticals Undergraduate Intern Program – Ionis Pharmaceuticals
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Cost/Stipend: Hourly wage of $20–$25; travel and housing assistance for eligible non-local students
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; cohort size varies
Program Dates: 8–10 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: December 15
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduates at U.S. or Canadian-accredited institutions with a minimum 3.0 GPA and U.S. work authorization
You’ll spend the summer working alongside scientists and biotech professionals on active research or operational projects tied to RNA-targeted drug development. The program combines hands-on work with weekly meetings, presentations, and structured mentorship from Ionis staff. You’re expected to contribute directly to ongoing projects rather than just observe lab work. Lab managers and mentors help you understand how individual experiments and analyses fit into larger drug discovery pipelines. Networking events and intern activities give you exposure to different teams across the company. This program makes sense if you’re interested in biotechnology research or early-stage pharmaceutical development.
2. Ladder University Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by placement; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive selection process
Program Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: College students interested in tech, health tech, consulting, or related fields
This remote summer pharmacy internship for undergraduates places you with a startup or organization for an 8-week, part-time project-based experience. You’ll work 10–20 hours per week while receiving support from both a company supervisor and a Ladder coach. The focus is on developing professional skills such as research, communication, and project management in a real-world workplace setting. Your work typically ends with a final presentation or deliverable for the host team. Placements vary widely, including some in health tech or healthcare-adjacent roles rather than traditional pharmacy settings. This option works best if you want flexibility and are exploring career paths in healthcare.
3. Johns Hopkins Pharmacy Summer Internship Program – Johns Hopkins Health System
Location: Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective (Approx. 20 students)
Program Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: November 24
Eligibility: Students enrolled in ACPE-accredited PharmD programs who have completed at least one professional year
You’ll complete a full-time hospital pharmacy internship rotating through inpatient, outpatient, and specialty pharmacy services. The experience includes shadowing pharmacists, supporting medication management activities, and participating in department-led educational sessions. Rotations may include areas such as oncology, pediatrics, infectious diseases, and investigational drug services. You’ll also work on a capstone project that you present to pharmacy leadership at the end of the program. Structured discussions and interprofessional learning events are built into the schedule. This internship is well-suited for PharmD students considering hospital or clinical pharmacy careers.
4. UVA Health Pharmacy Internship Program – University of Virginia Health
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (hourly wage not specified)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Early spring (typically)
Eligibility: Enrolled in a Doctor of Pharmacy program and eligible for Virginia pharmacy intern licensure
This internship places you directly inside the pharmacy operations at UVA Health’s University Medical Center and affiliated practice sites, where you’ll work alongside pharmacists and technicians in real clinical settings. Your day-to-day experience can include inpatient medication distribution, sterile IV compounding, ambulatory pharmacy services, and medication histories in the emergency department, depending on your role and placement. The program is designed to complement pharmacy school coursework by giving you structured, hands-on experience in a large academic medical center. You’ll also see how electronic medical records, barcode medication administration, and automated dispensing systems are used in practice. Interns are expected to actively participate in patient-care activities and documentation, not just observe.
Note: Positions open annually and applications are submitted through the University of Virginia employment portal. Different intern roles are available, including inpatient, ambulatory, and specialty pharmacy placements, and availability can vary year to year.
5. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Summer Intern Program – Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Location: Boston, MA, or San Diego, CA
Cost/Stipend: $20–$27 per hour; relocation and housing assistance available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
Program Dates: May - August
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors in STEM fields with a minimum 3.0 GPA and U.S. work authorization
You’ll work full-time for 12 weeks within a Vertex team in areas like research, pharmaceutical sciences, quality, or regulatory affairs. Interns are assigned defined projects that connect directly to ongoing company work. The program is designed to show how different functions collaborate to move therapies from development to commercialization. In addition to project work, you’ll attend career panels, leadership sessions, and networking events. The internship ends with a capstone presentation to team members and leadership. This experience works well if you’re considering industry roles in biopharma rather than clinical practice.
6. Novo Nordisk Internship – Novo Nordisk
Location: Clayton, NC; Plainsboro, NJ; select international locations
Cost/Stipend: Paid position
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Program Dates: 10 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling; typically closes by March
Eligibility: Bachelor’s or master’s students with 1-2 years remaining and fluency in English
This internship places you on a functional team working on real projects in areas like clinical development, quality, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, or business operations. You’ll follow a structured onboarding process and receive mentorship from professionals within your department. The experience is designed to show how a large biopharmaceutical company operates across scientific and operational functions. Networking sessions and site-based activities are built into the program to help you understand different career paths within the company. Some roles offer exposure to global healthcare initiatives and cross-team collaboration. This summer pharmacy internship for undergraduates works well if you’re interested in industry roles within an established pharmaceutical organization.
7. A Summer of Science Internship – Novartis Biomedical Research
Location: Cambridge, MA or San Diego, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (competitive with local internship wages)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Late May/early June – August (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: December
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who have completed at least three semesters or four quarters of college, are at least 18 years old, and are interested in pursuing a PhD in a biomedical field
This is a full-time, 10-week summer research internship within Novartis’s Biomedical Research division. You’ll work on your own research project under the guidance of a scientist mentor, contributing to ongoing drug discovery work in areas like oncology, neuroscience, and immunology. A defining feature of this program is its cohort-based, residential model, in which interns live together in college dorms and learn alongside one another. Beyond lab work, you’ll take part in scientific seminars, professional development workshops, and group activities designed to expose you to careers in the life sciences industry. You’re expected to design experiments, analyze your own data, and present your work to the broader research community. This program is best suited for college students already committed to biomedical research who want structured, industry-based experience before applying to PhD programs.
8. Novartis PRISM Program – Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
Location: Cambridge, MA or Emeryville, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid research position (pay comparable to first-year graduate student stipends)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: August/September – two years
Application Deadline: December
Eligibility: Recent college graduates or current seniors who intend to pursue a PhD in a STEM or biomedical field and can commit to a two-year program
The PRISM program is a two-year, postbaccalaureate research and mentoring experience designed to prepare recent graduates for competitive PhD programs. You’ll conduct an independent research project under the supervision of a Novartis scientist while working in a professional industry research environment. Alongside lab work, you’ll participate in scientific communication training, professional development, and research presentations at seminars and conferences. This program is longer and more intensive than a typical internship, with a clear focus on PhD preparation and research independence. You’ll also be part of a research community that includes scientists, postdocs, and other interns. PRISM is a strong fit if you’ve finished or are finishing college and want substantial, sustained research experience before applying to doctoral programs.
9. IPSF Student Exchange Programme (SEP) – International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation
Location: Global
Cost/Stipend: €42 application fee; travel and housing costs vary
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Varies by host country
Program Dates: April – September (2 weeks to 3 months)
Application Deadline: November – February (summer cycle)
Eligibility: Pharmacy undergraduate students
This international exchange program places you in pharmacy-related settings such as hospitals, community pharmacies, research labs, or pharmaceutical companies. Exchange length varies from two weeks to three months, depending on the host country and site. The program combines hands-on pharmacy experience with cultural immersion in a different healthcare system. You’ll gain exposure to how medications are managed and regulated outside your home country. Many host organizations also coordinate social or cultural activities alongside work placements. This program is a good fit if you’re interested in global pharmacy practice or international health systems.
10. FDA Pharmacy Student Experiential Program (PSEP) – U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Location: Various FDA locations
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; limited positions
Program Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: December 13
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in ACPE-accredited PharmD programs
This experiential program places you within FDA centers focused on drug evaluation, biologics, or veterinary medicine. You’ll work on regulatory projects related to drug safety, labeling, compliance, or medication error prevention. The experience focuses on regulatory pharmacy rather than direct patient care. Educational sessions and multidisciplinary meetings are built into the program to explain how regulatory decisions are made. You’ll present your work to FDA staff at the conclusion of the experience. This program is well-suited for PharmD students considering careers in regulatory science or public health policy.
11. FDA ORISE Research Participation Program – U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Location: Silver Spring, MD; St. Louis, MO; other FDA facilities
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Program Dates: May – August (10–12 weeks)
Application Deadline: April
Eligibility: U.S. undergraduate students in STEM fields
This research-focused internship places you on regulatory science projects within FDA centers such as CDER (Center for Drug Evaluation and Research), CBER (Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research), or NCTR (National Center for Toxicological Research). You’ll work under the mentorship of FDA scientists on topics like drug metabolism, toxicology, or safety assessment. The program emphasizes scientific research that directly informs regulatory decision-making. In addition to lab or analytical work, you may attend drug review meetings and contribute to data analysis. Interns present their findings to agency staff at the end of the program. This experience is well suited for students interested in research or regulatory science careers rather than clinical pharmacy.
12. University of Kansas Pharmaceutical Chemistry Summer Research Program – University of Kansas
Location: Lawrence, KS
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 4–8 students
Program Dates: May 26 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Preferably juniors who have completed organic chemistry
You’ll spend 10 weeks conducting full-time research focused on drug-related chemistry under faculty supervision. Projects may involve pharmaceutical formulation, analytical chemistry, or physical-organic chemistry approaches. The program is structured around independent research rather than coursework. You’ll receive training in laboratory safety, instrumentation, and experimental design early in the summer. The experience concludes with a poster presentation at a university research symposium. This program is a good fit if you’re interested in the chemistry behind drug development.
13. ASPET Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) – American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Location: Host universities across the United States
Cost/Stipend: $4,600 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive national fellowship
Program Dates: 10 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: U.S. undergraduate students in pharmacology-related majors
This fellowship places you in a faculty-mentored laboratory to study pharmacology or experimental therapeutics. You’ll conduct experiments, attend research seminars, and analyze data throughout the summer. Participants also complete ASPET’s Pharmacology Immersion Program, which introduces concepts in drug discovery and development. The program emphasizes scientific communication through oral or poster presentations. You’ll gain exposure to academic research environments at leading institutions. This fellowship is best for students considering graduate study in pharmacology or biomedical research.
14. AMCP Foundation/Pfizer Managed Care Internship – AMCP Foundation
Location: Various managed care settings across the United States
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend; approved expenses reimbursed
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 8 students selected annually
Program Dates: 10 weeks during summer
Application Deadline: January 8
Eligibility: Enrolled PharmD students with U.S. work authorization
This internship places you in managed care environments such as payer organizations, PBMs, or specialty pharmacies. You’ll work on projects related to formulary management, benefit design, or medication adherence programs. The experience focuses on population-level pharmacy decision-making rather than individual patient care. You’ll receive structured mentorship and develop a personalized career plan with guidance from managed care pharmacists. The program concludes with a capstone presentation at the AMCP Nexus conference. This internship is a strong option if you’re exploring non-clinical pharmacy career paths.
15. Gilead Internship Program – Gilead Sciences
Location: Foster City, CA; other U.S. locations
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship with housing stipend and benefits
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Program Dates: 10–12 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: September – February
Eligibility: 18 years or older, rising sophomores through graduate students with U.S. work authorization, with a minimum of 2.8 cumulative GPA
This internship offers full-time project-based work across research, manufacturing, policy, or commercial teams. You’ll be matched with a mentor who supports your professional development throughout the summer. Interns contribute to active projects rather than simulated assignments. The program includes leadership sessions, networking events, and cohort activities. Eligible students receive housing and travel support, along with paid holidays. This experience works well if you want broad exposure to careers in the biopharmaceutical industry.
Image source - Ionis Pharmaceuticals logo