Thinking about getting real-world experience while you’re still in high school? An internship is one of the best ways to test out your interests, build confidence, and see what it’s actually like to work in a professional environment. Instead of just reading about a field, you get to live it, which means working in a lab, helping run a community program, or shadowing professionals who do the work every day.
Why should you participate in internships for high school students in Georgia?
Georgia offers numerous opportunities for inquisitive and motivated students. From research laboratories to art museums and community programs, there are ample avenues for gaining practical experience. These internships help in identifying your strengths, broadening your professional network, and exploring potential career paths. Whether you’re researching cancer biology in a university lab, tackling engineering challenges at Georgia Tech, or shadowing doctors at one of Atlanta’s busiest hospitals, high school internships provide valuable experiences that cannot be gained from textbooks alone.
To get you started, here are 14 of the top internships for high school students in Georgia.
14 Internships for High School Students in Georgia
1. Emory Winship Cancer Institute: Summer Scholars Research Program
Location: Emory Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, GA
Stipend: $2,400
Dates: June 8 – July 17
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Rising and graduating high school seniors (16+) who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute Summer Scholars Research Program is a six-week, full-time internship that immerses you in the world of oncology research. As a participant, you will be paired with a mentor, either a physician or a research investigator, and work on an independent project in a lab or clinical setting. The program includes expert lectures on topics like cancer biology, treatment development, and public health, as well as field trips to institutions like the CDC and Georgia Tech. You’ll learn essential laboratory skills, data collection methods, and analytical techniques as you conduct your research. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings at a symposium attended by researchers, clinicians, and peers.
2. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S., including Georgia (the Leadership Summit is held in Washington, D.C.)
Stipend: Paid
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: October 14 – January 15
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and seniors who live in an eligible area and have not participated in the program before
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program provides you with an eight-week paid internship at a local nonprofit organization, combined with leadership training. As a participant, you’ll work on community-oriented projects with nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity or the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, gaining insights into organizational operations and civic leadership. The program also includes a week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., where students from across the country engage in workshops and discussions on civic engagement, policy, and social impact.
3. GTAE’s Science, Technology, and Engineering Pipeline (STEP) Summer Internship Program
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Stipend: Unpaid
Dates: July 7 – 18
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: Georgia high school students (16+)
Georgia Tech’s STEP Program is a fully funded summer internship designed to give high school students practical exposure to engineering research. Over two weeks, you will work in small teams to tackle open-ended “challenge problems” inspired by real Georgia Tech research projects. Under the mentorship of faculty and graduate students, you’ll explore the engineering design process, from defining a problem to developing and testing a potential solution. The program concludes with a poster session where teams present their findings to an audience of faculty, parents, and industry professionals.
4. UGA Young Scholars Internship Program
Location: University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June 1 – July 7 (internship); July 8 – 10 (Young Scholars Pre-Collegiate Research Conference)
Application Deadline: November 3 – January 23
Eligibility: High school students (16+) who have completed sophomore year and 1 high school science course, including laboratory, and 1 algebra semester
The University of Georgia’s Young Scholars Internship Program is a five-week paid summer research experience designed for high school students interested in agricultural, food, and environmental sciences. As a participant, you’ll spend about 30 hours each week conducting research under the supervision of a UGA faculty mentor, gaining exposure to real-world scientific methods and lab or fieldwork. Alongside research, you’ll take part in workshops and site visits to agricultural centers and facilities to explore how science connects to industry and environmental management. The program culminates in the Young Scholars Pre-Collegiate Research Conference, where you’ll present your findings in a professional setting.
5. Governor’s Honors Program
Location: College or university campus in Atlanta, GA (rotates by year)
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 14 – July 11
Application Deadline: November 11 (school nominations); January 9 (student applications)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (currently 10th and 11th graders) in Georgia public, private, or home schools
The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program is a four-week residential summer experience that brings together high-achieving sophomores and juniors for advanced study in academic, artistic, and technical fields. Held on a university campus, the program allows you to focus on a chosen major—like science, math, music, engineering, or visual arts—while also exploring elective courses and enrichment seminars. Classes are taught at a collegiate level and are designed to challenge you beyond the standard high school curriculum. Afternoons and evenings include workshops, performances, and peer-led discussions that promote intellectual exchange and creativity.
6. Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP)
Location: Various law firms and agencies across Atlanta, GA
Stipend: $2,000
Dates: May 27 – July 17
Application Deadline: February 6 – March 19
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in the Atlanta metropolitan area
SLIP is a selective six-week paid internship program that is open to around 35 students per year. As an intern, you will be placed in local law firms, corporations, and government agencies, where you will assist with administrative work, legal research, and document preparation under professional supervision. The program includes weekly assignments on current legal topics and requires participants to write a 750-word essay analyzing a Supreme Court case. By working alongside attorneys, judges, and legal staff, you’ll gain firsthand exposure to how the justice system operates. SLIP also continues to support alumni through its Highest Heights Forever Initiative, which provides financial assistance for LSAT and Bar exam preparation.
7. Statesboro Youth Connect (SYC)
Location: Various locations in Statesboro, GA
Stipend: $8.25 per hour
Dates: 5 weeks from May 27
Application Deadline: March 3 – 24
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12; Must be living in Bulloch County or be children of city employees
Statesboro Youth Connect is a five-week paid summer initiative that introduces you to city government operations and professional skill-building. Running from late May, the program involves about 30 hours of participation each week. You’ll take part in sessions on civic engagement, leadership, diversity, and soft skills, while gaining exposure to various city departments. You’ll also spend time with the city’s human resources team before moving on to a work placement, which may include roles in administration or fieldwork alongside city employees or university partners.
8. Microsoft Discovery Program
Location: Microsoft, Atlanta, GA
Stipend: Paid
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: February – March (tentative)
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors living in or near Atlanta; Must have completed pre-calculus or an equivalent course
The Microsoft Discovery Program is a four-week paid internship designed for high school students interested in exploring careers in technology, product design, and software development. As a participant, you’ll work in a small team on the design phase of a Microsoft product group project, focusing on identifying user needs and creating conceptual solutions. The program includes mentorship from Microsoft employees and exposure to fields such as software engineering, UX design, and product management. You’ll also attend learning sessions on Microsoft technologies while working through real-world design challenges that simulate professional workflows.
9. High Museum of Art’s Teen Team
Location: High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA
Stipend: Paid
Dates: One-year program, including participation in an eight-week summer intensive
Application Deadline: February 1 – March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The High Museum of Art’s Teen Team is a yearlong program that selects around 15 high school students to engage deeply with art, culture, and museum operations. Through this experience, you’ll gain behind-the-scenes access to the museum and take part in planning events such as Teen Nights and other public programs designed for youth and families. The program begins with a summer intensive, where you’ll work with others on a group project while learning about the museum’s collections, exhibitions, and different career paths in the arts. Throughout the school year, you will continue your involvement by helping design and implement programming that encourages community engagement. You’ll also attend regular meetings with museum staff and art professionals who’ll offer mentorship and insights into creative professions.
10. TAG-Ed High School Internship Program
Location: Various host companies across Georgia
Stipend: $1,500
Dates: 8 weeks starting June 2
Application Deadline: Typically opens in the fall and closes early in the year
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (17+)
The TAG-Ed High School Internship Program, organized by the Technology Association of Georgia, is a highly competitive program that connects students with STEM-based companies across the state for an eight-week, project-driven summer experience. As a participant, you’ll work in pairs or small groups on defined projects in fields such as robotics, data science, or software engineering, under the mentorship of industry professionals. This format allows you to apply classroom concepts to real-world challenges while gaining insights into workplace collaboration and professional expectations. The program is centered around hands-on learning, problem-solving, and teamwork, ensuring that you develop both technical and soft skills.
11. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: All 50 U.S. states + Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, and the Pacific Islands
Stipend: $3,000
Dates: June – August (8 weeks; flexible)
Application Deadline: November 21 – January 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (16+)
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight-week paid summer internship managed by the American Fisheries Society that will introduce you to fisheries biology and aquatic science. As a participant, you will be matched with a professional mentor and will spend the summer working on field and lab projects that may include fish population surveys, habitat restoration, water quality testing, or data analysis. Depending on placement, you might work outdoors in rivers, lakes, or coastal environments, or assist with lab research and specimen examination.
12. Augusta University’s Summer Research Experiences
Location: Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 3 – July 15
Application Deadline: October 15 – January 15
Eligibility: High school students (16+) who demonstrate an interest in biological sciences, especially cancer research (bench research projects in labs); High school students under 16 (bioinformatics or community-based research projects)
Augusta University’s Summer Research Experiences is a six-week program that allows you to engage in hands-on research alongside professional scientists in the field of cancer biology. You’ll contribute to ongoing projects in areas such as cell and molecular biology, cancer immunology, computational biology, bioinformatics, population health, and clinical outcomes research. You’ll also learn key scientific principles and gain exposure to multidisciplinary approaches used in modern biomedical research. The program provides each student with individual guidance from a faculty researcher. In addition to lab work, you will attend workshops that strengthen professional and communication skills, preparing you for future academic research.
13. Grady Memorial Hospital’s Teen Experience and Leadership Program
Location: Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: May 27 – July 15
Application Deadline: January 27 – March 17
Eligibility: High school students who are 15-19 years old and have completed 9th grade
Grady Memorial Hospital’s TELP program introduces high school students to the healthcare environment through an eight-week volunteer and leadership-based experience. As a participant, you’ll complete regular shifts at the hospital, rotating through both clinical and non-clinical departments to observe healthcare professionals in action. The program integrates workshops, mentorship sessions, and interactive labs focused on leadership, communication, and teamwork. You’ll gain firsthand insight into the roles of physicians, nurses, researchers, and administrators while also earning community service hours. You might also take part in health equity research projects, where you’ll identify local health challenges, design interventions, and present findings at the Health Outcomes Research Showcase.
14. Early College Program in Art History and Curatorial Studies
Location: Spelman College, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June – July
Application Deadline: February 1 – April 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Early College Program in Art History and Curatorial Studies is a four-week, fully funded residential experience that introduces you to art history, museum studies, and curatorial practice through college-level coursework, lectures, and hands-on projects. You’ll study at Spelman College and the Atlanta University Center while engaging with professionals at institutions such as the High Museum of Art. Coursework focuses on African American and Western art, the role of museums in shaping cultural narratives, and issues of diversity and representation in the arts. You’ll also complete exhibition projects drawn from museum collections and visit regional art and cultural sites. Upon successful completion, you’ll earn three college credits from Spelman College.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
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