15 Summer Psychology Internships for Undergraduates in 2026
If you are a college student interested in psychology, an internship can be a valuable way to strengthen your resume, build your profile, and gain practical experience in a field you want to explore. It can also improve your employability by showing initiative, real-world exposure, and experience beyond the classroom. Psychology internships can help you learn how research, counseling, mental health support, behavioral analysis, and community work operate in professional settings. For students who want something flexible and accessible, online internships can also be a practical and affordable option.
If you want to check out other more general psychology offerings, you can find a list here. Alternatively, if you’re more interested in clinical psychology, read this blog!
Why should you do a Summer Psychology Internship in College?
A summer psychology internship allows you to apply what you learn in class to real situations, which helps you understand psychology more practically. It can strengthen your resume by showing that you have hands-on experience, professional exposure, and an interest in building your career early. You may also gain experience with research, data collection, communication, observation, or client-facing work, depending on the internship you choose. These experiences can improve your chances of getting hired after graduation because employers often value applicants who already have workplace experience.
In this blog, we have narrowed down the list to 15 summer psychology internships for undergraduates in 2026, so you can find options that are relevant, credible, and useful for your career goals.
Key takeaways
This list rounds up 15 summer psychology internships for undergraduates in 2026, spanning federal research institutes, Ivy League labs, and major research hospitals, with standout hosts including the NIH, Harvard, Yale, and McLean Hospital.
Pay ranges widely, from a strong $8,000 stipend at one hospital-affiliated research program and $5,000 to $6,000 at several university labs, to a handful of research placements that offer limited funding support instead of a guaranteed stipend.
Many of these are highly selective, hands-on developmental and clinical psychology labs at top research universities, giving you the chance to work directly with faculty and graduate student mentors on active studies.
These opportunities span several states, so most require being on-site at the host university, while Ladder remains the only fully virtual option on this list.
The earliest deadlines fall in mid-to-late January for a couple of the most competitive research fellowships, with several more clustering into February, so it's worth starting applications well before winter break wraps up.
1. APA Summer Undergraduate Psychology Experience in Research (SUPER) Fellowships
Location: Various host institutions/labs of your choice in the U.S. or Canada
Stipend: $4,000 (+ $1,000 to faculty mentor)
Cohort size: ~25 fellows selected
Dates: Minimum 9 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled full-time at a U.S. or Canadian institution with a proposed psychology research project and a faculty mentor; More info here
The APA Summer Undergraduate Psychology Experience in Research (SUPER) Fellowship is a research-focused summer opportunity where you’ll design and lead your own psychology project under a faculty mentor. You will spend at least nine weeks working in a lab, gaining hands-on experience in research design, data collection, and analysis, while also participating in mentorship and professional development activities. This fellowship is especially suited if you are considering graduate study in psychology, as it emphasizes independent research and academic skill-building. You’ll also get the chance to present your work at a professional level, making it a strong addition to your academic profile. You can find more info here.
2. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies (financial aid offered); Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Undergraduates who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks
The Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, virtual internship that connects you with startups and nonprofits from around the world. These startups often range across a variety of industries, including health tech, AI/ML, marketing, journalism, and more. As part of your internship, you will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup you are working with, and present your work at the end of your internship. You will also work closely with your manager at the startup. Apply now!
3. NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Location: Multiple NIH campuses across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive
Dates: May 11 – August 31
Application Deadline: Mid-February
Eligibility: Undergraduate (and other) students (18+) who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and enrolled at least half-time in an accredited institution
The National Institutes of Health Summer Internship Program (SIP) is a full-time research internship where you’ll work directly in a lab under a principal investigator on ongoing projects in areas like psychology, behavioral science, and neuroscience. You’ll gain hands-on experience in research methods, data analysis, and scientific communication while also attending workshops, career sessions, and networking events. The program is highly flexible, as you apply broadly and connect with mentors whose work matches your interests. You’ll also get the opportunity to present your research at the end of the program, making it a strong step if you are considering graduate school or a research career.
4. Harvard Laboratory for Social Cognitive Science Summer Internship
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: $5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 2-6 positions offered
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Typically late February (tentative)
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (usually U.S. residents eligible to work in the U.S.); Prior research experience preferred
The Harvard University Moral Psychology Lab Summer Internship is a research-intensive opportunity where you’ll work closely with faculty and graduate students on projects related to moral decision-making, social cognition, and human behavior. You will assist with designing and running experiments, analyzing data, and participating in lab discussions on current research in psychology. The internship also exposes you to methods like behavioral experiments, surveys, and computational models, helping you build strong research and analytical skills. You’ll engage in weekly meetings and workshops, making it a good fit if you are interested in research careers or graduate study in psychology.
5. UC Berkeley Social Origins Lab Summer Internship
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA
Stipend: $2,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Undergraduate students interested in developmental/comparative psychology; Prior experience working with children preferred; Must be enrolled in a U.S.-based institution or be a U.S. citizen
The Social Origins Lab Summer Internship is a hands-on research program where you’ll work on developmental and comparative psychology projects, particularly focusing on how social and cognitive abilities develop in children. You’ll assist with running experiments in real-world settings like museums and camps, collect and code data, and support ongoing research studies alongside graduate students and researchers. The program also includes weekly professional development sessions on topics like graduate school and research careers, helping you build both technical and academic skills. This internship is a good fit if you are interested in child development, behavioral research, and gaining practical lab experience.
6. Spelke Lab Summer Internship
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: Unpaid; Students encouraged to secure funding through their home institution or Harvard funding programs
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 5-8 interns
Dates: Summer (minimum 8 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with an interest in developmental psychology; Experience working with children preferred
The Spelke Lab Summer Internship is a research-focused program where you’ll work on developmental psychology projects exploring how infants, toddlers, and children think and learn. You will assist with tasks like recruiting participants, running experiments (both in-person and online), coding and analyzing data, and contributing to study design. The internship also includes lab meetings, workshops, and a final research presentation, helping you build strong research and communication skills.
7. Yale University: Undergraduate Internship in Affective Science
Location: Yale University, CT
Stipend: Stipend and/or academic credit available (varies)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 5-10 interns
Dates: June 8 – August 2
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Undergraduate students interested in psychology, neuroscience, or related fields; No prior research experience required
The Undergraduate Internship in Affective Science at Yale University (Emotion, Health, and Psychophysiology Lab) is an immersive research program where you’ll study the connection between emotions and the body. You’ll work on lab- and field-based projects using psychophysiological methods such as measuring heart rate and other autonomic responses, while also gaining hands-on experience in data processing and analysis. Alongside research, you’ll attend weekly tutorials, lab meetings, and professional development sessions, helping you build both technical and academic skills. This internship is well-suited if you are interested in social psychology, neuroscience, or health-related research and want structured exposure to affective science.
8. University of California, Berkeley (LCD Lab): Summer Internship
Location: UC Berkeley – Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley, CA
Stipend: Unpaid; Limited $2,700 stipends available to selected students to offset living costs
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 8-12 interns
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 9
Eligibility: Undergraduate students, graduating seniors, or recent graduates (18+) with coursework in psychology, linguistics, or cognitive science; Must be enrolled in a college or university
The University of California, Berkeley Language and Cognitive Development (LCD) Lab Summer Internship is a hands-on research program where you’ll explore how language, cognition, and social abilities develop in children. You’ll work closely with researchers, graduate students, and the lab director while assisting with tasks like data collection, participant recruitment, stimulus creation, and data analysis. You’ll also attend weekly lab meetings and reading groups to understand the theory behind ongoing studies and present your work by the end of the program. This internship is a good fit if you are interested in developmental psychology, linguistics, or cognitive science and want structured research experience.
9. Yale School of Medicine: Undergraduate Developmental Science Summer Internship
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Stipend: Unpaid; Stipends up to $4,000 may be available for students without external funding
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 12-15 students
Dates: June 1 – July 24
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising undergraduate juniors or seniors who are U.S. citizens or international students enrolled at a U.S. institution
The Undergraduate Developmental Science Summer Internship at Yale School of Medicine (Yale Child Study Center) is a research-intensive program where you’ll work on projects related to child development, mental health, and behavioral science. You will be placed within a research team and contribute to ongoing studies using methods such as data analysis, clinical observation, and lab-based techniques, while also attending lectures, seminars, and journal clubs. The internship exposes you to a wide range of areas including neuroscience, developmental psychology, and clinical research, helping you build both technical and academic skills. You’ll also present your research at the end of the program. 1
10. University of Michigan Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) – Psychology
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Stipend: ~$5,000
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Dates: May 23 – July 30
Application Deadline: January 28
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (typically rising juniors or seniors) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents; Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and an interest in research and graduate study; Preference for students from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds
The University of Michigan Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) – Psychology track is a structured research program where you work full-time on a psychology-related project under faculty mentorship. You’ll gain hands-on experience in research design, data analysis, and academic writing, while also attending workshops on graduate school preparation, networking, and professional development. The program emphasizes building a strong foundation for graduate study, especially if you are interested in pursuing a PhD in psychology or related fields. You’ll also present your research at a final symposium.
11. Columbia-WHO Center for Global Mental Health: Undergraduate Summer Internship
Location: Virtual + Columbia University, New York, NY
Stipend: Unpaid; Limited funding (up to $2,000) may be available through external or institutional sources
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 10-15 interns
Dates: ~8 weeks (typically starting in June; ~4 days/week commitment)
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising undergraduate seniors interested in global mental health or related fields
The Undergraduate Summer Internship at the Columbia-WHO Center for Global Mental Health is a research and professional development program where you’ll explore global mental health challenges through an interdisciplinary lens. You will be matched with project-based research aligned with your interests and work closely with 1-3 faculty mentors on topics such as mental health policy, epidemiology, and intervention strategies. Alongside research, you’ll attend seminars and workshops focused on ethics, equity, and global health systems. The program emphasizes applying an equity-informed approach to mental health research, making it a strong option if you are interested in public health, psychology, or international development.
12. McLean Mental Health Research Summer Program (MMHRSP)
Location: McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA
Stipend: ~$8,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled in a 2- or 4-year college (must be a Massachusetts resident or attend a Massachusetts institution); Typically at least sophomore standing with an interest in mental health research
The McLean Mental Health Research Summer Program (MMHRSP) is a full-time, research-intensive internship where you’ll work in a neuroscience or clinical psychology lab at McLean Hospital, the primary psychiatric teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. You’ll gain hands-on experience in mental health research, working closely with mentors on ongoing projects while learning research methods, data analysis, and scientific communication. The program also includes workshops, career development sessions, and community engagement activities, helping you build a strong foundation for graduate study in psychology, psychiatry, or neuroscience. It is especially suited if you have little to no prior research experience but want structured exposure to mental health research.
13. UC Irvine Development of Social Cognition (DOSC) Lab Summer Internship
Location: University of California, Irvine, CA
Stipend: ~$6,000
Cohort size: 2 interns only
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents; Background in psychology and interest in working with children preferred
The Development of Social Cognition (DOSC) Lab Summer Internship at the University of California, Irvine is a research-focused program where you’ll study how children develop social understanding, including concepts like fairness, inequality, and prosocial behavior. You’ll work closely with researchers on NSF-funded projects, assisting with participant recruitment, running experiments with children, coding and analyzing data, and engaging in community outreach. The program also includes mentorship, training in research design and scientific communication, and opportunities to present your work at the end of the internship. This internship is a good fit if you are interested in developmental psychology and want hands-on experience working with child participants in both lab and real-world settings.
14. Johns Hopkins University Laboratory for Child Development Summer Internship
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Stipend: Unpaid
Cohort size: 3-7 interns selected from ~300 applicants
Dates: June – July (tentative)
Application Deadline: March 1 (tentative)
Eligibility: Undergraduate students worldwide; Must be comfortable working with children and preferably have prior experience with children; Background in psychology or related fields preferred
The Johns Hopkins University Laboratory for Child Development Summer Internship is a hands-on research program where you study how infants and children think and learn. You’ll work directly on ongoing projects, assisting with participant recruitment, running behavioral experiments with children, coding and analyzing data, and interpreting results. Alongside research, you’ll attend lab meetings and engage with developmental psychology literature, helping you understand both theory and application. The internship involves daily interaction with children and families, making it especially useful if you are interested in developmental psychology and want practical research experience before applying to graduate school.
15. Biomedical Informatics and Data Science at I2DB (BIDS@I2DB) Summer Research Internship
Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Stipend: $18/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~15 students
Dates: May 26 – July 31
Application deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Undergraduate and master’s students
Undergraduates studying psychology who are interested in biomedical science and bioinformatics can apply for the BIDS@I2DB Summer Research Internship at Washington University in St. Louis. You will assist an I2DB professor in their ongoing research, and you may be paired with faculty members who investigate bioinformatics with a psychology focus. You will also take courses in statistics, data analysis, and biomedical informatics to broaden your knowledge outside your local project field. By the end of the program, you will create a conference poster, present your research to WUSTL faculty and other interns, and participate in a cohort-wide retreat at the conclusion of the program.
Questions students often ask about these internships
Do I need prior research experience to apply to these psychology internships?
It depends on the program. Several of the developmental psychology labs do favor students with some experience working with children, though not necessarily formal research experience. A number of others explicitly welcome students with little to no prior lab background.
Some of these internships are unpaid. Are they still worth pursuing for a psychology career?
Yes, especially at well-known research labs or hospitals, since the mentorship and research exposure carry real weight for graduate school applications. If pay is a priority, several paid options here offer competitive stipends worth comparing first.
Do I need to already live near one of these universities to apply?
Most of these do require being on-site at the host campus for the duration of the program. Ladder remains the one fully remote option if relocating for the summer isn't feasible for your situation.