Psychology Internships with Housing for College Students

For undergraduate students studying psychology, internships offer invaluable experiences that can shape future career paths. These opportunities provide access to professional skill development, exposure to various career paths within the field, and networking opportunities that can significantly enhance a resume and build lasting connections. Many internships place students into mentorship relationships with faculty members to pursue summer-long projects. These internships also commonly include additional educational activities to train students in advanced research methodologies, subject-specific knowledge, and guidance on graduate school applications.

Benefits of Psychology Internships

As an undergraduate interested in psychology, securing an internship can be a pivotal step in your academic and professional journey. Internships not only provide hands-on experience but also offer a unique opportunity to explore different facets of the field. They give you access to professional skill development, exposure to career paths in the field, and networking opportunities that can both boost your resume and build connections.

Skill Development

Many internships place you into mentorship relationships with faculty members to pursue summer-long projects. These internships also commonly include additional educational activities to train you in advanced research methodologies, subject-specific knowledge, and guidance on graduate school applications.

Exposure to Career Paths

Internships offer a glimpse into the diverse career options available within psychology. Whether it's research, clinical practice, or applied psychology, you can explore your interests and gain clarity on your future career goals.

Networking Opportunities

Internships provide a platform to connect with professionals, faculty members, and fellow students. These connections can lead to mentorship, collaborations, and future job opportunities.

Featured University Psychology Internships

Here are some of the finest university psychology internships for undergraduate students to guide your search. Some of them provide housing.

1. Harvard University - Laboratory for Social Cognitive Science

Location: Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents (non-citizens considered on a case-by-case basis)

Harvard’s Laboratory for Social Cognitive Science offers a summer internship program where students conduct research on the intersection of psychology, philosophy, and sociology. Interns are mentored by Harvard researchers, working on projects in cognitive processes such as moral reasoning, social learning, and causal judgments. The program also provides training in advanced research methods in computational psychology, cognitive science, and philosophy. Professional development opportunities include social gatherings and networking events with Harvard professors, post-docs, and graduate students.

2. New York University (NYU) - PQUAR University Internship Program

Eligibility: U.S. citizens or non-citizen permanent residents

NYU’s PQUAR program is ideal for students interested in quantitatively-oriented psychology research. This internship provides experience in data analysis, healthcare, and psychology. Interns pursue quantitative research focused on aging healthcare, joining a small cohort on designated projects with support from graduate student mentors. Previous psychology-focused projects include a study of mental health in New York City, focusing on neighborhood cohesion and implications for NYC’s elderly population. The program also includes professional development workshops on graduate school admissions, faculty lectures, and coursework on advanced statistical methods for biology and epidemiology research. Additional offerings include a year-long journal club, conference attendance funding, and potential to rejoin the lab for continued research.

3. Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) - I2DB Program

Location: St. Louis, MO
Stipend: \$18/hour plus funded housing for undergraduate students without residences in the area
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~15 students
Dates: May 26 - July 31
Application deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Undergraduate and master’s students

Psychology undergraduates interested in biomedical science and bioinformatics can spend the summer at Washington University in St. Louis. You’ll work under an I2DB professor to support their ongoing research, with the option to be matched with faculty studying psychology-focused bioinformatics. To extend your knowledge outside of your immediate project area, you’ll also attend courses in biomedical informatics, statistics, and data analysis. At the end of the program, you’ll design a conference poster, present your research to WUSTL faculty and your fellow interns, and attend a cohort-wide retreat to strengthen your connections with professors across the I2DB program.

4. Rice University - Translating Research in the Psychological Sciences to the Real World Fellowship

Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Stipend: \$4,800 plus funded housing, travel, and meal stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 8 students
Dates: 8 weeks over the summer
Application Deadline: January 6
Eligibility: Current undergraduates in psychology or related fields planning to pursue graduate-level study

Rice University hosts a small group of students interested in developing and researching solutions to questions in social and individual psychology, spanning from modern technology to political engagement. You’ll work under the guidance of a Rice faculty member sharing your academic interests to develop and execute a research project. Focus areas might include social and educational mobility, AI and personality, and childhood trauma. Outside your research, you’ll network with Rice professors and graduate students and attend educational colloquia on psychological research. You’ll deliver a conference-style presentation on your research at the end of the program and receive travel funding to attend a national psychology conference in the following year.

5. University of Wisconsin - Madison - PREP Internship

Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents | Students must be rising undergraduate juniors and seniors, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and be planning to pursue a career in psychology research | Students with limited access to research opportunities are prioritized (students from low-income households, historically underrepresented groups in academia, affected by a documented disability, first-generation college students)

The University of Wisconsin - Madison’s PREP internship hosts prospective psychology PhD students and researchers for a two-month research-focused internship. You’ll be paired with a professor in one of UW’s psychology sub-fields, including Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Perception Psychology, based on matching research interests, and spend most of the internship working on a project designed between you and your mentor. Outside of your own research, you’ll participate in additional training like data science workshops and touring psychology lab facilities to build skills in advanced research protocols such as neuroimaging and behavioral neuroendocrinology. As a program geared towards future PhD students, you’ll also attend presentations on the grad school application process and a university fair with admissions representatives from over 30 graduate programs. At the end of the program, you’ll present your research at the PREP Symposium to other interns and UW-Madison professors, leading into a social networking event.

6. Boston College Cooperation Lab REU Summer Internship

Location: Boston College, Boston, MA
Stipend: \$6,000 stipend | Students not accepted through the NSF REU admissions process will not receive a stipend, but will be supported by BC in applications for external funding
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: June 3 - August 9
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions, usually beginning in late winter or early spring
Eligibility: Rising sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduate students, particularly from underrepresented and/or minority groups | Talented students not meeting criteria for REU funding may be accepted

BC’s Cooperation Lab is a research center focused on social and developmental psychology that hosts a small group of students each year for an NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates research internship. You’ll work under a mentor to study cooperation in children, with a focus on culture, evolution, and development. While methodologies used will vary based on your research topic, you’ll learn and apply skills like running studies with child subjects, quantitative and computational data analysis, and merging psychology with anthropology and evolutionary biology. You’ll additionally attend weekly lab-wide meetings, educational workshops, training in quantitative research methods, and panels on preparing for psychology PhD applications.

7. The Ohio State University (OSU): The Language of Science and the Science of Language: Buckeye Language Network Summer Research Program

Location: Center of Science and Industry, Columbus, OH
Cost: Stipend of \$4,800 (distributed at \$600/week)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, cohort of 12 students
Dates: May 19 - July 11
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students, especially those with limited research experience, from underrepresented backgrounds, or attending one of OSU’s regional campuses or community colleges

OSU’s Summer Program is an opportunity for psychology undergraduates with a shared interest in linguistics, sociology, and education to gain experience in both research and public outreach. With OSU’s Language Sciences Research Lab, you’ll pursue a research project in the connections between language, psychology, and society under 1-on-1 faculty guidance. Topics might include studying child language acquisition, perceptions of regional accents, or mental representations of plural versus singular words. You’ll additionally work at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus on a museum outreach initiative, designing interactive methods to share information on language sciences with the public. You’ll give presentations to COSI visitors, host educational activities for children, and present your final research findings to OSU faculty and COSI researchers. Other programming includes training in research ethics and human subjects research.

8. University of Maryland College of Behavioral and Social Science Summer Internships

Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: \$3,000 stipend plus funding for meals, travel to campus, housing, and activity expenses
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; admissions vary by academic department, but 15 students are accepted each year
Dates: June 2 - July 25
Application Deadline: February 10
Eligibility: Current undergraduate sophomores and juniors planning to pursue a PhD in social sciences | Underrepresented groups and minoritized students are encouraged to apply in particular

UMD’s Behavioral and Social Sciences Summer Research Initiative program supports undergraduates in psychology and other social and behavioral science fields to pursue two months of mentored research and prepare for graduate school. You’ll be matched with a psychology professor from the University of Maryland to design and execute a research project tailored to your academic interests. Outside of your work, you’ll be trained in cross-disciplinary social science research methodologies, attend educational lectures, and participate in academic discussions with UMD professors and other interns. You’ll also prepare for your next educational and professional steps through graduate school application workshops, discussions on career paths in research and academia, networking events, and an opportunity to present your work at the end of the program.

9. Summer Internship Program at Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness

Location: Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective, ~10 students
Dates: June 9 - August 15 | Students may be permitted to extend their internship on a case-by-case basis
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Rising undergraduate seniors and graduate students enrolled in an American college/university, with relevant interests and academic backgrounds in public health and health equity. International students must have valid CPT/OPT authorization.

The Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at Harvard’s Chan School provides undergraduates with the opportunity to study psychology from a public-health approach through its Summer Internship Program. Based on your interests, you’ll work on a research project either at Harvard or a Boston-area institute under the guidance of a mentor. Your work will focus on connections between physical and social health, with applications to improve global health policy and healthcare equity. You’ll also attend networking events and professional development workshops with Chan School faculty, public health researchers, and medical professionals.

10. University of Nebraska - Lincoln - Summer Research Program

You’ll work with a faculty mentor to design a research project in Psychological Sciences, Human Development & Family Sciences, or Communication with a focus on familial, friend, or romantic relationships. You’ll attend weekly seminars on advanced academic topics or research approaches in developmental and communication psychology, as well as workshops on preparing for a career in academic research. At the end of the program, you’ll share your findings with other interns and professional researchers through a conference-style presentation and receive funding to attend a national conference with your mentor in the following year.

11. Undergraduate Research in Human Development & Family Sciences (OUR HDFS) Fellowship Program

Location: Texas State University School of Family and Consumer Sciences, San Marcos, TX
Stipend: \$5,625 plus travel expenses and meals
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 12 students
Dates: October 1 - May 15 | 300 hours total; details determined with mentor
Application Deadline: August 31
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 | Applicants should be studying human development, psychology, sociology, or related fields; able to commute to campus throughout the year | Students should be attending local Texas colleges with limited STEM and psychology research opportunities

Texas State University’s undergraduate Human Development & Family Sciences fellowship combines the study of mental health, developmental and social psychology, and sociology through a long-term research and professional development program. Over the course of 25 weeks, you’ll work alongside a TSU professor and graduate student to pursue a research project and be mentored in pursuing a career in academia. You’ll collaboratively build a research focus, with past topic areas including culture and emotional well-being, family dynamics and long-term mental health, and educational performance in school-age students. You’ll additionally attend a series of lab meetings, academic seminars, and networking events to prepare you for graduate-level research and coursework.

12. University of Minnesota Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP)

Location: University of Minnesota
Stipend: \$4,000 plus funding for travel, room, and board
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~16% acceptance rate; about 60 students across 6 program areas
Dates: May 31 - August 9
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Undergraduate students at 2- or 4-year institutions interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. citizens or permanent residents (or their territorial possessions)

The Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program at the University of Minnesota hosts students interested in clinical research across disciplines, including a program in neurological disorders and addiction for students with an interest in psychology and the brain. You’ll begin with a cohort-wide “Introduction to Neuroscience” course, developing a background in clinical research and neuropsychology before beginning a research project in addiction sciences or neurological disorders. You’ll work full-time in a lab under faculty mentor.

Additional Internship Opportunities

American Psychological Association (APA) Internships

The APA Internship Program offers year-round (spring, summer, fall, winter) internships. The program is designed for students who are passionate about psychology and applying psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives. There are a variety of positions (i.e., policy, research, communications, operations, publishing, education) available to fit individual interests within APA. Learning outcomes will vary throughout departments and offices. 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.

Utah Tech University Booth Wellness Center

Interns placed at the Utah Tech University Booth Wellness Center are engaged in many aspects of the services provided. Their primary clinical responsibilities at the site are conducting mental health screenings, providing brief individual therapy, and participating in health promotion. The intern may also have the opportunity to engage in other supervised opportunities including the provision of awareness and prevention workshops, process group therapy and consultations with the medical staff, and assist in providing training, supervision or consultation to practicum students.

Intermountain Health Internships

The intern is engaged in many aspects of the clinic. The primary clinical responsibilities include providing consultation, diagnostic, and therapy services. Interns can gain a variety of experience with regards to clinical presenting concerns including mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, OCD, autism spectrum, and ADHD. The intern may provide consultation to referring physicians and care managers on patients and clinical issues. Short term therapy approaches are primarily utilized, though some opportunity for longer term therapy is available.

Valley Behavioral Health

Valley Behavioral Health is a nonprofit network of clinics with over sixty programs providing treatment for behavioral conditions, addictions, psychiatric conditions, autism, and other chronic health conditions with a continuum of care in Salt Lake and Tooele counties and additional clinics in Idaho and Arizona. Valley treats chronic lifelong conditions as well as temporary conditions triggered by traumatic life events. Treatment opportunities are with the Child, Youth, and Family (CYF) outpatient and day treatment clinics, serving children, teens, and the adult family members of these youth.

Solstice Counseling & Wellness

The selected intern’s primary responsibilities will include conducting intake assessments, providing individual, couple, and group psychotherapy as well as opportunities for psychological assessment and testing. Due to being in a rural community with limited resources and services, client problem areas can be considered broad in scope. The selected intern will be encouraged to conduct at least one psychotherapy group, facilitate free community-based workshops, engage in community outreach events, and coordinate/co-facilitate a community-based workshop for “May Mental Health Awareness Month” with the Park City interns.

Preparing for Your Internship

Securing a psychology internship is a competitive process. Here are some tips to help you prepare:

Academic Excellence

Maintain a strong GPA and excel in your psychology coursework. This demonstrates your commitment to the field and your ability to handle rigorous academic work.

Research Experience

Participate in research projects, either as a research assistant or by conducting your own independent research. This experience will enhance your application and prepare you for research-focused internships.

Relevant Skills

Develop skills in data analysis, statistical software, and research methodologies. These skills are highly valued in research-oriented internships.

Strong Application

Craft a compelling resume and cover letter that highlight your relevant skills, experiences, and interests. Tailor your application to each internship program, emphasizing how your qualifications align with their specific requirements.

Letters of Recommendation

Request letters of recommendation from professors or mentors who can speak to your academic abilities, research experience, and personal qualities.

Interview Preparation

Prepare for interviews by practicing common interview questions and researching the internship program and its faculty.

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