Internships & Experiential Learning: Develop Talent, Advance Projects
Looking to bring fresh ideas into your workplace, complete short-term projects, or build a future talent pipeline? Internships and co-ops offer valuable opportunities to engage with UCR's bright, motivated students while supporting your organization's goals.
The partnerships developed between the employer, the university and the student has proven beneficial to all concerned. The program is a valuable source for completing special or temporary projects and potentially filling permanent positions. Our students are dedicated, bright and highly motivated. Many employers tell us that the students bring new ideas and fresh insights to the workplace. Employers have found the program to offer a great resource for one-time projects; providing completion of special projects or simply complement the organizational or corporate goals that focus on community involvement. Interns are often recruited to career positions reducing recruitment costs and lowering training costs.
How do I get started?
Internships
An internship is generally a short-term learning experience and can be offered in-person or remote. The most popular type of internship is part-time, 10 to 20 hours per week during the academic year. This schedule allows a student to continue with course work during the internship. Summer is the preferred time for a full-time internship. A well-designed internship will provide students with professionally-oriented activities that will enable them to experience work similar to that of a new entrant in the field. Clerical or non-professional tasks must be limited to 20% or less of the overall responsibilities. Internships can be paid or non-paid. Most for-profit businesses will find it to their advantage to offer paid internship positions, particularly with regard to state and federal labor regulations.
Why Offer Internships?
- Access highly motivated students for short-term or long-term projects
- Gain fresh insights while reducing recruitment and training costs
- Strengthen your brand and commitment to talent development
- Many interns convert to full-time hires, saving time and resources
Internship Guidelines:
- Can be in-person or remote, part-time (10-20 hrs/wk during the academic year) or full-time over summer
- Should focus on professional tasks; clerical duties must not exceed 20%
- Can be paid or unpaid, though paid is strongly encouraged (especially for for-profit employers to comply with labor laws)
For help designing an effective internship, please visit our Internship Programs webpage.
Micro-Internships: Short Projects, Big Impacts
Need support on short-term, professional-level tasks? Host a micro-intern through Parker Dewey— a flexible platform matching UCR students to paid, remote, or in-person projects across industries.
- Low commitment
- Fast turnaround
- Real deliverables
Explore Parker Dewey Micro-Internships
Cooperative Education (Co-Op)
For longer-term talent development, consider a Cooperative Education program. Co-ops combine classroom learning with real-world experience, with students working full-time or part-time over multiple quarters. All co-op roles are paid and provide deeper, more sustained engagement.
Academic Credit Options
Students may pursue internships or co-ops for academic credit or purely for professional development. For credit-bearing experiences, UCR facilitates departmental approval and faculty sponsorship. We help guide students through that process.
Ready to Get Started?
Step one: Post your internship on Handshake.
Have questions? Contact our Industry Outreach Specialists for personalized guidance.
Hire an Intern
