Student Engagement

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.

HGHI Summer Research and Internship Programs

The Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) offers returning Harvard undergraduates the opportunity to participate in paid summer research and internship placements. These opportunities connect classroom knowledge and skills to the complex issues in the field. They range from placements in laboratories and research groups, to field work with hospitals and community health clinics, to office-based internships with NGOs and international organizations.

Positions begin at the beginning of June and run for approximately 10 weeks.

Applications for Summer 2025 Internships and Research Opportunities are now closed. Stay tuned for updates on future opportunities.

Independent funding applications remain open until March 15, 2025.


Summer Opportunities


Application Instructions

Research & Internships: Application Instructions

How to Apply:

  1. Visit the Centralized Application for Research and Travel (CARAT) site and find the Harvard Global Health Institute (Research & Internships) funding source.
  2. Complete all the required fields in CARAT.
  3. Upload the following four documents in PDF format:
    • A. Cover Letter (500 word max)

      This is your cover letter, so please articulate why you want this position, how this experience will enhance your learning, and the ways you see it connecting to your future goals. Be specific! This should include details about the skills you’ll bring to this specific position and include examples from relevant experiences. This should not be a narrative essay or academic paper. Some organizations ask that you address specific topics in your personal statement, so please make sure to check the position description for any specific application instructions.

      Address your statement to the “Selection Committee” and include a heading in the following format at the top:
      • First and Last name & Graduation Year
      • Concentration & Secondary Field, if applicable
      • The name of the organization or lab to which you are applying
    • B. Resume (1-2 pages)
    • C. Unofficial transcript

      Obtain a copy of your latest online unofficial transcript including your fall course grades. To access your unofficial transcript:
      • Login to harvard.edu.
      • Select Student Home at the top of the page.
      • Under Grades, select Current Level, and then select View Unofficial Transcript.
      • In the Academic Institution drop down menu, select Harvard University.
      • In the Report Type drop down menu, select Harvard College.
      • Click View Report.
      • Your Unofficial Transcript should open. (If you have a pop-up blocker, you may have to disable it to allow this page to open.)
      • Download and save in pdf format.
    • D. References

      Please note – these are not letters of recommendation.
      • You must provide the name and contact information for two references, who may be contacted during the internship selection process to comment on your candidacy. We recommend choosing:
        • One academic reference: This should be from a faculty member, TF, Proctor/Tutor, RD, etc. who can comment on your academic initiative, interests, and competencies; and
        • One professional reference: This should be someone who knows you in a professional capacity and who can comment in detail about the positive skills and traits you possess.
      • You can use this template or upload another document, but for each reference, you MUST provide the following information:
        • Recommender’s Name
        • Recommender’s Position and Title, if relevant
        • Recommender’s Organization
        • Recommender’s Email Address (this should be their professional address, whenever possible, versus a gmail or other free address)
        • Recommender’s Telephone Number
        • 1-2 sentences about the capacity in which you know your recommender.
      • Please notify your references that they may be contacted in February or March by our internship host organizations regarding your candidacy. If you would like to provide additional references, you are welcome to do so, though we do not recommend exceeding four.
  4. Submit!

    Important note: All application materials must be submitted to HGHI, and contacting organizations directly during the application and selection process is prohibited. Circumventing HGHI’s selection process may result in the withdrawal of your application from consideration.

    If you have questions, please see these FAQs; you can also email HGHI_StudentEngagement@harvard.edu. For help with your cover letter and resume, please refer to these resources from OCS.
Research & Internships: Selection Process and Timeline

Selection Process and Timeline:

  • Each application is read by a committee at HGHI that makes the first round of decisions and narrows the pool to the top candidates. Generally, there are about 5 finalists for each internship. Applications are evaluated based on your:
    • Personal statement and whether you make a convincing argument for why the internship is a good fit;
    • Resume and whether you demonstrate that you have the experience to complete the tasks of the internship;
    • Transcript and the connection between your coursework and the skills needed by the organization;
  • All applicants will be notified at the end of February if they are a finalist or not.
  • Once finalists are selected, the host organization will review applications and decide who they want to contact for interviews. Interviews occur in March. There is a short turn-around time for interviews, so if you are selected as a finalist, it’s important that you respond to interview requests quickly. Organizations may or may not contact your references at this point.
    • Note on interviews: Each organization has their own internal selection process, which means you may not be called for an interview, even if you are a finalist. It also means that some organizations will contact you faster than others, so don’t worry if you don’t hear from organizations at the same time as other applicants.
  • HGHI will make offers via email beginning in mid-March, and students will have three days to accept or decline the position.
    • Note on acceptance timeline: We understand that 3 days is not a lot of time to make a decision, 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 of time, as this is not fair to the other students who are also waiting to hear about the same position. If this situation arises for you, please let us know if there is any additional information we can provide that will make your decision easier, and we will do our best to help.
  • Students who do not receive offers will be notified on a rolling basis as decisions are made. All applicants should hear results by the end of April.
    • Note on Offers: If you are a finalist for multiple internships, once you accept a position, you will be automatically withdrawn from consideration for other internships.
  • Once a student has accepted a position, they should begin working on the program requirements immediately to ensure they meet the deadlines to receive funding.
Independent Funding: Application Instructions

IMPORTANT: You should enter your recommender in CARAT before starting any other application materials. Ask your recommender in advance, and complete the Reference part of CARAT as soon as possible so that your recommender has all the instructions for submitting the letter, which is due by the application deadline.

How to Apply:

  1. Visit the Centralized Application for Research and Travel (CARAT) site and find the Harvard Global Health Institute Funding for Independent Projects and Internships funding source
  2. Complete all of the required fields in CARAT, including the budget section.

    If you don’t know your available dates yet, you can enter June 1st for a start date and August 15th for an end date. (This is not exact and is just for the purposes of the application.)
  3. Provide one reference:

    In CARAT, you will be asked to indicate one recommender. It is best to ask someone who knows you well and can comment about your performance in a context similar to the internship or research placement you are seeking, therefore:

    If you are applying for funding for a research-related role, your letter of recommendation should be from a faculty member, TF, Proctor/Tutor, RD, etc. who can comment on your academic initiative, interests, and competencies.

    If you are applying for funding for an internship or volunteer role, your recommendation should be from someone who knows you in a professional capacity and who can comment in detail about the positive skills and traits you possess.

    Do not submit a reference from a family member.

    Below are instructions on how to enter a reference request, and additional instructions are also available directly in CARAT:
    • If your recommender is a Harvard affiliate, search for them by their last name, and their information will auto-populate when you click “enter.” If your recommender is outside of Harvard, manually completed the name, title, and email fields.
    • Once your recommender’s information is entered, click the “Send reference request” button that appears.
    • CARAT will send an email request to your recommender with a URL link, which will bring them to a page in CARAT where they may upload a PDF letter of reference. The deadline for the letter is the same as the application deadline
  4. Upload the following four documents in PDF format:
    • A) Personal statement (750 word max) Please articulate why you want this position, how your former experiences have inspired you to pursue this type of summer experience, how this experience will enhance your learning, and the ways you see it connecting to your future goals. Be specific!
      • For internships, please describe the internship or type of work you will be pursuing and how this experience will further your personal and professional goals.
      • For research, please describe the research question or problem you will be exploring, the advisor(s) you plan to work with, the types of methods that you plan to employ, and why you feel this project is important.
      • If you plan to volunteer, please describe the types of projects you plan to work on, and how you think you will grow personally and academically through the experience.

        Please address your Personal Statement to the “Selection Committee” and include a heading in the following format at the top:
        • Name and Graduation Year
        • Concentration and Secondary Field, if applicable
        • The name of the organization to which you are applying
    • B) Resume (1-2 pages)
    • C) Unofficial transcript

      Obtain a copy of your latest online unofficial transcript including your fall course grades. To access your unofficial transcript:
      • Login to harvard.edu.
      • Select Student Home at the top of the page.
      • Under Grades, select Current Level, and then select View Unofficial Transcript.
      • In the Academic Institution drop down menu, select Harvard University.
      • In the Report Type drop down menu, select Harvard College.
      • Click View Report.
      • Your Unofficial Transcript should open. (If you have a pop-up blocker, you may have to disable it to allow this page to open.)
      • Download and save in pdf format.
    • D) Proof of acceptance to the program or organization with which you will be working (If you have applied but have not yet been accepted, upload a sheet with the approximate date of the application results.)

Submit!

If you have questions, please see these FAQs; you can also email HGHI_StudentEngagement@harvard.edu. For help with your cover letter and resume, please refer to these resources from OCS.

Independent Funding: Selection Process and Timeline

Selection Process and Timeline:

  • Each application is read by a committee at HGHI.
  • Most decisions are made without interviews, but some applicants may be asked to come for an in-person interview in February/March.
  • Final decisions will be announced via email in mid to late March, and students will have one week to accept or decline the award.

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.

Can freshmen apply for these opportunities?

All returning Harvard College undergraduates are eligible to apply for the opportunities unless it specifically states a different requirement in the internship description. Preference is given to sophomores and juniors for I-SURGH, but all applications will be evaluated.

How many summer internships and/or research placements can I apply for?

You may apply to up to three positions across SURGH, I-SURGH, and Internships.

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.

Whom do I contact if I get an error message in CARAT or have a technical issue with my application?

If you encounter a technical problem in CARAT, please contact HUIT Support at ithelp@harvard.edu or call them at 617-495-7777 for assistance.

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.

Am I eligible to apply for independent funding for a volunteer position or an opportunity that is shorter than 8 weeks?

All independent funding proposals should be for projects that are a minimum of 8 weeks long. If you would like to apply for independent funding for a volunteer opportunity or independent experiences related to Global Health that is less than 8 weeks long, please email HGHI_StudentEngagement@harvard.edu before submitting an application.

Are there restrictions regarding where I can travel for an independent project?

There are rules governing which countries students can travel to with Harvard funding. Here is a link to Harvard’s Global Support Services (GSS) page with the rules, and the country rankings are available here. Funding cannot be provided for “High Risk” countries, and while travel is not prohibited to “Elevated Risk” countries, there are extra precautions that you would need to take before traveling.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Current & Past Undergraduate Interns

Cohort 2024
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Cohort 2023
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Cohort 2022
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Cohort 2021
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Cohort 2020
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Photo Contest

Students have shared photos from their HGHI summer internships around the world. We are excited to share some of their beautiful work here.

Congratulations to Sasha Tunsiricharoengul, Winner of our 2024 SURGH Summer Internship Photo Contest!

Sasha’s winning photograph captures two majestic elephants wading through the serene landscapes of Bangkok’s Ancient City, Thailand’s largest open-air museum. Taken during her impactful summer internship at the Foundation for Children with Disabilities, Sasha’s image not only showcases the breathtaking beauty of Thai cultural heritage but also reflects her enriching experience as part of HGHI’s Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health (SURGH) program.

2024 Photo Contest
2019 Photo Contest
2018 Photo Contest
2017 Photo Contest
2016 Photo Contest