Policy on Undergraduate Internships and Employment

Many undergraduate students desire to augment their classroom learning experience by working or interning at Princeton. The Policy on Undergraduate Internships and Employment establishes the criteria and requirements for offering training or research opportunities to both Princeton and visiting undergraduates.

Planning guidance regarding internship stipends

In most cases, departments appointing internships must provide stipends. The purpose of the stipend is for interns to offset expenses incurred during the internship, not to serve as wages. 

The University offers planning guidance on weekly stipend rates for undergraduate interns to ensure internship opportunities are broadly accessible to all undergraduates, while maintaining flexibility for program sponsors to adjust rates according to their programmatic needs and objectives. The planning guidance is updated annually to reflect incremental increases in the cost of food, housing, and out-of-pocket expenses; it is communicated early in the academic year. 

For Summer 2025, the planning guidance suggests a weekly stipend of $730 for undergraduate interns; this guidance also applies for on-campus senior thesis researchers.

Process for new internship programs 

Departments who wish to establish a new internship program must submit an Undergraduate Internship Planning Sheet for review. Approval is contingent upon the sponsoring department meeting the criteria and requirements set forth in the Policy on Undergraduate Internships and Employment. The Office of Undergraduate Research manages the review and approval process for Princeton administered internship programs.