Internships

About MISTI Internships

MISTI Internship

Your internship abroad in a company or research lab can last 3–12 months, depending on the site. Most students go during the summer, but internships are available year-round. All MIT students—undergraduates, graduate students, and graduating students—are eligible, and opportunities are available in every major.

MISTI program managers will work closely with you to understand your educational focus and career aspirations, your language proficiency, where you want to travel—and the kind of impact you want to make.

Once you're matched with an internship at one the world's leading companies, universities, or research institutions, MISTI will work with you to ensure that all of the logistical (housing, travel) and administrative (visa, stipend) arrangements are made.

Internship requirements vary by organization, so please visit our program pages and requirements page for complete information.

For undergraduates, most MISTI countries require:

Letter of recommendation (We do not request this as part of the Launchpad application, so you do not need to prepare it by the Launchpad deadline. This may be requested in Step #5 if it is required.)
Proficiency in the language of the host country (e.g., two years of university-level language courses or the equivalent)
One for-credit course on the culture, politics, or history of the host country
Good academic standing at MIT (4.0 or better)
Completion of pre-departure prep and training sessions

Though not required, UROP or relevant work/internship experience is also recommended.

For graduate students, the language and course prerequisites are recommended but not required, except for the MIT-Japan Program.

Please note that graduating students must be accepted into a MISTI program prior to graduation and must depart for their trip within 90 days of commencement.

Before your internship, you’ll attend MISTI Prep and Training sessions designed to help you make the most of your experience abroad.

MISTI Internships are designed to be cost-neutral, meaning your experience is being fully funded by generous MISTI donors, your host company, or a combination of both. Your airfare and housing are covered, and you’ll receive a stipend for living expenses.

Before You Get Started

TIPS:

Here is the complete list of requirements for each country.
You should look carefully at each country program page. They provide important details about what types of internships they might have available, their placement timelines, and past student experiences.

Apply Here

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WATCH: MISTI 101 Video	COMPLETE the MISTI Quiz	EXPLORE our Program+ search to find the best fit for you!

Complete the MISTI Launchpad Application.

Decide on your top THREE choices in the MISTI Launchpad Application. You do not need to include exactly three country programs.

Do NOT list programs in your top three choices before confirming you meet their requirements or will complete the requirements by the time your MISTI program begins. Students can take required courses during IAP or their Spring semester before departing for the Summer.
Do you have questions about how to narrow down your choices? Please reach out to us at misti [at] mit.edu (misti[at]mit[dot]edu). We would be happy to assist you.

You will need:

Resume
Unofficial Transcript
Passport copy (If you do not currently have a valid passport, you may come back and complete this requirement at a later date).

Interviews can occur after the MISTI Launchpad Deadlines have passed.

Once you have submitted all of the MISTI LaunchPad application components (MISTI application, Program Selection & Questionnaire, Resume, and Transcript), it is your responsibility to reach out to the Country Program Managers for your top programs for an interview.

They will review your Launchpad Application once you reach out to them. This part of the process is for you to understand what's in store and the opportunities available in the country as well as allow the Managers to get to know you and see if you will be the right fit for their program.

After you interview with the Country Program Managers, you need to email the Program Managers for the country you would like to move forward with.

If approved by your top program, you will complete the Country-Specific Application and the Manager will start to explore internships hosts for you. You may need:

Cover Letter
Academic References

You'll be notified by the Country Program Manager if you will move forward with the MISTI program of your final choice.

The Internship Matching Process can take a few weeks or a few months to complete. You usually must complete an interview with your host internship before your host will accept you.

In the initial interview with your Country Program Manager, you will discuss with them any commitments required to move forward with your internship placement. When you select a program your Country Program Manager will do their best to place you in an internship, but it may not be guaranteed. Internship availability depends on many factors including your field, the economy in the host country, and the number of hosts available (among numerous other factors). Your Country Program Manager will explain all of these factors to you and keep you updated throughout the process.

Mandatory pre-departure sessions take place in the Spring.

P.S. If you were not accepted to the program of your final choice, you can then pick another program as your final choice. This is also depending on the availability of the other programs.

If you are a current student and have already completed a MISTI internship, and would like to go to the same country again, please contact your Country Program Manager. You do not need to complete the MISTI Launchpad Application again.

Placement Timeline

We recommend all students start the application process as early as possible, so you can speak with Country Program Managers about your expectations and timelines. This does not necessarily mean you will be placed with an internship earlier than other students. However, it does make the process clearer for you, and allows the Country Program Manager to keep an eye out for the best internship positions for you.

Deadlines are listed on each Country Program page. All Launchpad and Program Selection deadlines are rolling unless indicated otherwise.

Students are accepted later in the application process for various reasons including:

Internship hosts may have new internship availability in the Spring.
A student can bypass the visa process due to citizenship status.
A student has unique skills that an internship requires.
Alumni of the program may not need to go through the same intensive Pre-Departure Sessions or may already have the correct visa status.

Every student's situation is different which is what makes each placement so special.

If you would like more information, please check out the MISTI Homepage and each program's main page for additional details.

Launchpad Application deadlines listed are initial deadlines.

Interviews can occur AFTER the Launchpad deadlines have passed.

For a complete application timeline for each program, please review their “Application Instructions and Deadlines” section.

Country	Deadline	Country	Deadline
MIT-Africa	Dec 1, rolling thereafter	MIT-Japan	Nov 1
MIT-Arab World	Nov 1	MIT-Korea	Dec 1, rolling thereafter
MIT-Australia & NZ	Dec 1, rolling thereafter	MIT-MEET	Closed
MIT-Belgium	Dec 1, rolling thereafter	MIT-Mexico	Dec 1, rolling thereafter
MIT-Brazil	Dec 1, rolling thereafter	MIT-Netherlands	Dec 1
MIT-Chile	March 15, rolling thereafter	MIT-Portugal	Dec 1, rolling thereafter
MIT-China	Dec 1, rolling thereafter	MIT- Eurasia	Dec 1, rolling thereafter
MIT-Denmark, Sweden, Norway	Closed	MIT-Singapore	Dec 1, rolling thereafter
MIT-France	Dec 1, rolling thereafter	MIT-Spain	Dec 1, rolling thereafter
MIT-Germany	Dec 1, rolling thereafter	MIT-Switzerland	Dec 1
MIT-India, Nepal, Bhutan	March 15, rolling thereafter	MIT-Ukraine	March 15
MIT-Israel	Closed	MIT-UK	Dec 1
MIT-Italy	Dec 1, rolling thereafter (Feb 1 for First Years)

Mind + Hand = Study Abroad & Intern

Do both MISTI study abroad and internship consecutively for up to eight months! Students are welcome to plan for a spring study abroad and summer internship or a summer internship and fall study abroad opportunity (either in the same country or a different one)!