The Harvard Global Health Institute equips Harvard undergraduates to tackle diverse global health challenges through critical thinking and active engagement. Collaborating with university departments and global partners, HGHI provides unique learning opportunities, fostering a global community through coursework, research, internships, and workshops, preparing the next generation of global health practitioners and leaders.
Student Engagement
Pre-arranged Internship
HGHI offers students the opportunity to intern with one of our partner organizations which include nonprofits, NGOs, and other organizations on the cutting edge of global health and health policy. Some internships are field-based, while others are office-based. Sites can also be domestic or international.
Students receive a stipend to cover travel expenses to and from their site, living expenses, and local transportation. Internships may be research based or non-research based. All returning Harvard College undergraduates, regardless of concentration, are eligible to apply for these pre-arranged internships.
If you have questions about our Summer Internships, please email HGHI_StudentEngagement@harvard.edu.
Timeline
| December | Application opens. Positions are posted |
| Early February | Application deadline |
| Late February | All applicants will be notified if they are a finalist or not |
| February – March | Finalists interview with hosts |
| March – April | Finalists notified about offers or denials on a rolling basis |
| April – May | Pre-departure orientations and requirements are due |
| June – August | Students are at internships for 10 weeks |
Examples of Partner Organizations
CDC, Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, NIH Fogarty International Center, Partners in Health, University of Global Health Equity, UNOPS*
*Please note: these are examples of partners, and their participation in the program is not guaranteed every year.
Application Details
Eligibility
All returning Harvard College undergraduates in good academic standing are eligible to apply for the opportunities regardless of class year unless it specifically states a different age requirement in the internship description.
Duration
Internships are full-time commitments for 10 weeks over the summer unless the site description specifies that the internship is longer. If an intern voluntarily elects tostay longer than 10 weeks, they are welcome to do so, but the funding amount will stay the same.
Funding
Internships are all funded. When travel is possible, stipends are designed to cover travel expenses to and from the internship location, food, lodging, and othernecessities for the duration of the internship. The funding amount is set by Harvard each year based on the cost of living in that location, and it is not negotiable. Stipends areawarded in the spring before the internship begins, and recipients are expected to budget carefully and choose economical travel and housing options.
Application Limits
Students may apply to up to three internships. If students are interested in submitting additional applications for HGHI internships, they may be able to do so with permission.
Application Process
Students submit a complete application to HGHI for each internship through CARAT. Students may not initiate contact with the host organization directly during the application process unless the site description specifically states that this is allowed. Doing so could jeopardize students’ applications.
Internship Descriptions
Internship descriptions are posted in December and designed to provide a high-level overview for what the internship will likely entail, but specific projects and day-to-day activities often are not determined until closer to the summer. Organizations hosting internships try to predict to the best of their ability what projectsthey will be working on, but these may change between the time students apply in the winter and the time that the internship starts in the summer. It is important that applicants keep this in mind while reading internship descriptions and are prepared to be flexible.
Selection of Finalists
Each application is read by a committee at HGHI that makes the first round of decisions and narrows the pool of applications to the top candidates. Generally, there are about five finalists for each internship, and all applicants are notified in mid-February if they are a finalist or not.
Interviews
Host organizations review applications of finalists and conduct interviews in late February through early March. There is a short turn-around time for interviews, so ifyou are selected as a finalist, it’s important that you respond to interview requests quickly. Each organization has their own internal selection process, which means the timeline for interviews may vary, and some finalists may not be contacted for an interview.
Offers
Hosts select their top choice(s) of students by mid-March, and HGHI makes offers as decisions are made. Offers are made on a rolling basis, and students will have approximately three days to accept or decline the position. We understand this seems like a short time period to decide, especially if you are waiting to hear about other offers. As much as we would like to be able to give everyone more time, we cannot allow individuals to hold an offer for an extended period, as this is not fair to the other students who are also waiting to hear about the same position. All finalists will be notified about the status of their applications by late April.
Training
All interns are required to participate in a comprehensive pre-departure training program led by HGHI.
FAQs
Are these internships and research placements paid?
Yes, these opportunities are fully funded. The stipend covers travel expenses to and from your site (if applicable), food, lodging, and other basic necessities for the 10 week duration of the internship or research placement.
How many summer internships and/or research placements can I apply for?
You may apply to up to three positions.
Do I need to be a Global Health & Health Policy secondary field student to apply?
You do not need to be a GHHP secondary field student to apply. These internships are funded through Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) and any returning Harvard undergraduates in good standing may apply.
What does it mean that an internship is “co-sponsored”?
The Harvard Global Health Institute works in partnership with other centers at Harvard, such as the Center for Public Service and Engaged Scholarship (CPSES) and the Institute of Politics (IOP), to offer some internships. Funding for these co-sponsored internships comes from two institutions at Harvard. There will be a primary and secondary affiliation. The primary institute will be the point of contact during the application and internship onboarding process, and applications for this placement will be processed by that institution. Please refer to the primary institution’s application instructions to ensure you meet all the requirements. The intern selected for a co-sponsored internship will have the benefits and obligations of an intern in both of programs.
Can I apply if I am on leave?
You are welcome to apply for internships while you are on leave as long as you are in good standing, are planning to return in the fall and receive Ad Board approval. Here’s a link to more information about the petition process.
If I have received funding from HGHI in the past, am I still eligible to apply for another internship or research placement?
Yes, you are still eligible to apply for another placement even if you have received funding in the past. However, you cannot receive funding for the same internship you have done previously, and you cannot receive funding for an internship co-funded with IOP if you have already received funding from the IOP previously.
Can I contact the host organization with questions or send them an application directly?
The organizations hosting internships try to predict to the best of their ability what project you will be working on before you apply. Please keep in mind, though, that the specifics of a project may change between the time you apply and the time the internship starts in the summer. The information provided is the best that is currently available, so unless the site description specifically states that you may contact the host organization, refrain from doing so. You can direct questions to HGHI_StudentEngagement@harvard.edu. If we are unable to answer the question for you, we are happy to reach out to the host organization for you or connect you with a previous intern. Do NOT submit application materials to the host sites directly. Doing so could jeopardize your application. In order to be considered for an internship funded through HGHI, you must submit the application in CARAT.
How are finalists selected?
Each application is read by a committee that makes the first round of decisions and narrows the pool to the top candidates. Generally there are about 5 finalists for each internship, and you will be notified if you are a finalist or not. If you are a finalist, the host organization will review your application and may contact you for an in-person or phone interview. Each organization has their own internal selection process at this point, which means you may not be called for an interview, even if you are a finalist. Some applicants may also be contacted for interviews with HGHI. We would love to be able to meet everyone, but unfortunately due to the high volume of applications we receive and limited number of staff, it impossible for us to interview all the finalists.
How long are the internships and how do I know when it will begin/end?
Internships are 10 weeks long. If you are participating in SURGH, the start date will be determined in advance; it will begin in early June and end in mid August. For most other itnernships, you can determine the precise start and end dates in the spring with your host institution. Please note that the stipend will not increase if you elect to do your internship for longer than 10 weeks. Internships should be continuous, so not 5 weeks in June and 5 weeks in August.
Will housing be arranged for me?
If you are participating in the SURGH program, housing is provided in the summer undergraduate research village at Harvard. For most other international internships, housing is not provided unless it states this in the site description. Your host site and staff are available to provide advice, but ultimately you are responsible for finding your own housing.
Can I take courses or have another job while I am in SURGH?
No, if you are accepted to SURGH, you cannot take summer school courses or be otherwise employed for the duration of the 10-week program.
Can I receive additional funding?
HGHI and other funding centers at Harvard aim to distribute summer funding across the undergraduate community. Therefore, students who receive HGHI funding may not accept any additional funding for their internship or research project. Students are prohibited from accepting more than one substantial Harvard-funded summer opportunity each summer. Students must disclose if they are receiving Harvard funding for any other projects at any point throughout the summer, the amount of the award, and the dates of the other project as soon as possible. HGHI reserves the right to modify awards accordingly. Failure to promptly report other Harvard-funded summer activities may be reported to the Administrative Board.
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