UCLA Summer Internships: A Comprehensive Guide for Students

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) offers a diverse range of summer internship programs designed to provide students with invaluable hands-on experience, foster professional development, and facilitate career exploration. These internships cater to various academic interests and career aspirations, offering opportunities both on campus and globally. This article provides a detailed overview of the different UCLA summer internship programs available to students.

On-Campus Internship Programs

UCLA provides numerous on-campus internship opportunities across various departments and centers, allowing students to engage with the university community and gain practical skills.

UCLA Recreation Internships

UCLA Recreation offers multiple summer internship opportunities geared towards applicants interested in entering into the field of collegiate recreation and related fields. Selected interns gain firsthand experience in a comprehensive recreation program at one of the most dynamic universities in the country. General responsibilities include, but are not limited to, program development, administrative operations, and special projects for both the department and in a specific functional area. The goal of the summer internship program is to foster the development of emerging professionals by immersing them in diverse and fast-paced recreation programming.The interns live together in university housing for a duration of 8 weeks and gain professional experience in a variety of areas within UCLA Recreation.

Internship Details:

Duration: 8 weeks (with a possible early start date for some positions).
Dates: June 15 - August 7, with a May 31 early start date for some internship positions (Youth & Family Programs and Aquatics).
Location: UCLA Campus.

Required Qualifications:

Be at least 18 years of age.
First Aid/CPR Certifications (Required by the first day of employment).
Submit to a criminal background check.
Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree or pursuing a graduate degree.
Experience working in a recreation department and/or related field.
Possess effective interpersonal skills and a strong desire to learn.
Willingness to work variable and extended hours.
Legally allowed to work in the United States.
Each functional area may require additional certifications and/or specific skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

Currently working in recreation and/or related fields, and actively pursuing a career within that field.

Available Internship Positions:

Aquatics Intern: Provides support for aquatics operations and program staff, particularly through facilitation of aquatic certification courses. Duties include facility operations, staff training and development, aquatic event and programming management.
Competitive Sports Intern: Assists with the summer Competitive Sports programming, including the completion of several projects including the management of Club Sports youth camps, esports projects and activities, and martial arts program support. Interns also assist in the planning for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Facility and Special Events Intern: Works with the Sports Venues Event Operations (SVEO) unit, gaining experience in facility and special event management. This includes working with SVEO managers, assisting with managing day to day operations at Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles Tennis Center (LATC), and Drake Stadium along with event management in each of these venues. They support in event planning from start to finish including participating in meetings, creating production schedules/diagrams as well as any event day of assistance and post-event billing. They work with and build a relationship with campus and off campus partners on event needs.
FITWELL - Facility Intern: Proposes an initiative to optimize UCLA’s Recreation’s satellite fitness facilities management by creating an assistant manager role. This intern also supports the daily operations of BFIT, KREC, and Drake Stadium with a focus on space and equipment management. This position will contribute to fitness equipment layout design, and collaborate with campus partners for programming and initiative development. Additionally, the intern will assist in the student onboarding process.
FITWELL - Health & Fitness Programs Intern: Contributes to an ongoing effort to create and deliver health fitness programming via an online platform. The Intern will assist with further creation of an online Movement Library, create online training program templates, and assist with streamlined execution of online health and fitness programs.
Student Activities Center (SAC) and Special Events Intern: Assists in the creation of leadership trainings for staff as well as develop in-service trainings for the summer staff meetings. The intern will serve on various committees with their supervisor. They will also be responsible for implementing new policies or protocols they feel would be beneficial to the SAC team. They will help with and lead certain parts of special events and student group events in the building, gym and WAF stadium. Lastly, they will work closely with the tenants and student organizations represented in the SAC and present to the Blue and Gold Ambassador board as well.
Sunset Canyon Recreation Center (SCRC) Facility Intern: Assists in the project and facility management of the SCRC Seismic Improvement construction project. They also assist in day to day operations of the North Zone, which include SCRC, Sunset Tennis Courts, Hitch Basketball Courts, and Sycamore Park and Tennis Courts. This position will include support in supervision of the SCRC Operations student staff, management of the daily activities, events, visiting groups, and support to the SCRC tenants. The intern will also assist in the creation of training and development programs and summer staff meeting for SCRC student staff.
Youth and Family Programs, Logistics Intern: Oversees all logistics for UCLA Recreation youth summer camps, including transportation, field trips, and ordering supplies.

UCLA Brain Research Institute (BRI) Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (BRI-SURE)

The UCLA Brain Research Institute (BRI) sponsors a summer undergraduate research experience (BRI-SURE) pathway program for students currently participating in the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) and other honors research programs. This program solicits applications from college-level students across the nation.

UC-HBCU Neuroscience Pathways Program

The UC-HBCU Neuroscience Pathways Program is an 8-week summer enrichment program for undergraduate students that attend historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States. The program is open to any undergraduate student that majors in a natural science and is in good academic standing.

Superior Opportunities for Maximizing Access (SOMA) to Neuroscience Program

The Superior Opportunities for Maximizing Access (SOMA) to Neuroscience Program is named after the cell bodies of neurons housing the genetic programs for critical cellular functions. The SOMA program is open to all undergraduate and Master’s students, supporting participation in neuroscience and, ultimately, the pursuit of a neuroscience doctoral degree. Each year, we welcome a group of interested students from Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) - e.g. CSU Long Beach, CSU Los Angeles, CSU Dominguez Hills, and CSU San Bernardino, etc.

Center for Community Engagement Summer Internship Scholarship

The Center for Community Engagement offers the Summer Internship Scholarship to increase student access to internships, support career preparation, and help offset potential financial hardships associated with a summer unpaid internship. All scholarship recipients are required to complete a 195CE internship course during the summer session A (10-week) quarter simultaneously while their internship occurs. Recipients of internship scholarships are required to submit a short post-internship reflection of their experience along with a short video and photo.

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Eligibility Requirements (for Summer 2025):

Must have secured, or be in the process of securing an unpaid internship during Summer 2025.
Local internships (within California) will be prioritized.
The application will ask: In which city and state is your internship located? Please note that local internships (within Los Angeles County, and then within California) will be prioritized.
Please describe how your internship relates to your career interests. Include any specific fieldwork or research interests you may have.
How did you find your internship?
What is the length of the internship?
Provide your current resume.

Important Dates (for Summer 2025):

Applications open: March 22, 2025
Application deadline: May 2, 2025

Global Internship Program

UCLA’s Global Internship program offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on work experience by interning with organizations and companies abroad for academic credit. Internship placements are approximately 8 weeks long in all program locations. Internships are for academic credit only and are unpaid. UCLA partners with local providers in program cities to assist with placing students at internship sites based on their career goals, personal interests, and experience. While completing the internship, students will also be enrolled in 1 or 2 online courses, earning 4 or 8 units of academic credit. Online courses follow Summer Session A and will last for a total of 10 weeks.

The Global Internship Program offers an array of work opportunities in diverse career sectors and locations throughout the globe.

Additional Opportunities

Beyond structured internship programs, UCLA encourages students to explore other experiential learning opportunities such as fellowships and volunteer programs. These experiences are ideal ways to gain hands-on experience and make important connections related to future career goals.

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Fellowships

Gain unique professional development experience with fellowships, which offer short-term learning opportunities in a wide variety of fields of interest.

Experiential Learning

Gain invaluable real-world experience related to your interests, passions and goals through internships, fellowships, volunteer programs and other experiential learning opportunities. Internships are an ideal way to gain hands-on experience and make important connections related to your future. Here, you have access to hundreds of stellar opportunities, both on campus and around L.A. You may earn academic credit, too.

Leadership and Community Engagement

UCLA offers numerous opportunities to develop leadership skills and engage with the community. Students can boost their leadership skills in a multitude of meaningful ways on campus and off. With over 1,000 clubs and student organizations you have ample opportunities to pursue leadership roles. Participate in community-service projects managed by the Community Programs Office Student Association, which strives to help students from underserved areas. Hone your public speaking and communication techniques with the Bruin Leaders Project. Participate in leadership workshops and the LeaderShape Institute, which promotes leading with integrity.

The Benefits of Internships

Internships provide students with a myriad of benefits, including:

Hands-on Experience: Internships offer the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting, gaining practical skills and experience.
Career Exploration: Internships allow students to explore different career paths and industries, helping them to identify their interests and passions.
Professional Development: Internships foster the development of essential professional skills, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management.
Networking Opportunities: Internships provide the chance to build relationships with professionals in their field, expanding their network and opening doors to future opportunities.
Increased Employability: Internships enhance a student's resume and make them more competitive in the job market.

Los Angeles: A Hub of Opportunity

Los Angeles is home to a diverse range of major industries, offering students a wealth of internship opportunities. From Hollywood and the music industry to technology, healthcare, and finance, L.A. provides a dynamic and vibrant environment for students to gain valuable experience.

Startup UCLA and Entrepreneurship

Love to invent, improve and revolutionize? Develop and launch new ideas with Startup UCLA and connect resources through Bruincubate. If you’re interested in the music industry, entrepreneurship, professional writing or community engagement and social change, sign up to take the related minor.

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