Summer Research Internship in Computer Science

Overview

Carnegie Mellon Computer Science Department offers a ten week Summer Research Internship Program to provide training in and development of research and other educational skills in Computer Science to undergraduate students with great promise for graduate studies. The program will typically start the last week of June. The activities will take place Monday through Friday for ten weeks during the summer. Each student will be mentored by a faculty advisor in Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science. 

The Program is intended to provide opportunities for the students to observe and undertake research processes and methodologies assigned to each student by their faculty advisor, and to attend technical talks and activities to learn about Computer Science research processes. Although the program is educational in nature, the students will not receive Carnegie Mellon degrees or academic credit for their participation and will not own intellectual property rights for their assignments at Carnegie Mellon. 

Application Information

This application is closed for 2026. 

General Information

Approximately 20 students will be admitted through a two-round selection process. In the first round, applicants complete an online application form and provide their academic transcript, curriculum vitae, and a brief statement of purpose. In the second round, applicants selected will be asked to request recommendation letters from three faculty members or a faculty panel, including a department head or dean of their institution. 

If you are selected for further consideration, you will be asked by February 15 to request recommendation letters from faculty. The recommendation letters are to be submitted by the recommenders (not by the applicant) directly to internship staff as indicated in the application.

Final admission depends on successfully matching with a faculty mentor at Carnegie Mellon University’s discretion. There is no application fee, but admitted students must pay a non-refundable administrative fee of USD 1,600 within seven days of the program start. 

Carnegie Mellon will assist with the visa process. It will coordinate with the appropriate university offices such as Human Resources, Export Control Compliance, and the Office of International Education to assist students with the visa application process, if necessary. This should begin at least three months prior to the start of the program (by March 15) to ensure timely approval should a visa be needed. 

The application period has ended for the Summer 2026 internship positions.