Janice Lozano
The number of hours worked by student interns varies depending on factors such as the industry, the student's course load, and whether the internship is paid or unpaid. While the federal government in the United States sets standards for what constitutes a paid internship, it does not specify minimum or maximum work hours. Typically, unpaid internships for undergraduate students are limited to 10 to 20 hours per week during the academic year, while summer internships or those during a semester break can require up to 40 hours a week. Paid internships may also involve full-time work, especially in co-op programs where students alternate between semesters of work and study.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Federal government rules | No minimum or maximum hours set |
| College credit internships | Rules set by the college |
| Unpaid interns over 18 | No legal limit on working hours |
| Paid internships | May work more than 40 hours per week |
| Undergraduate students | 10-20 hours per week |
| Average internship duration | 3-4 months |
| Summer internships | Up to 40 hours per week |
| Part-time internships | 10-20 hours per week |
| Co-op internships | Alternating semesters of full-time work and studies |
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What You'll Learn
Undergraduate internships: 10-20 hours per week
Undergraduate internships are usually part-time, with students working between 10 and 20 hours per week. This is because interns are typically also taking classes and juggling multiple schedules, so their time is limited.
During the academic year, internships should not exceed 20 hours per week. This is to ensure that the intern's main focus can remain on their education and maintaining their grades.
The number of hours an intern works is usually determined by their employer, who will be aware of and accommodate their intern's school schedule. The number of hours an intern works will also depend on their course load. Students who take on additional credits will average ten or fewer work hours per week, whereas those taking an average or below-average number of credits may work upwards of 10 hours per week, and up to 20 hours.
In the summer months, interns may work additional hours, and these can reach up to 40 hours per week. This is because many students are not enrolled in courses during the summer, so they have more time available to work.
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Paid internships: typically full-time
The number of hours worked by interns varies depending on factors such as the industry, the student's major or skillset, their level of experience, and their semester course load. Paid internships are typically full-time, with medical interns, for example, working more than 40 hours per week. Summer internships or those during a semester break can also require up to 40 hours a week. In contrast, during the academic year, internships are typically part-time, ranging from 10 to 20 hours per week.
Full-time internship hours with pay can vary depending on the intern's status and whether they are considered an employee. For instance, a medical intern is typically expected to work more than 40 hours per week as they are in their first year of a specialty training program. On the other hand, undergraduate students still in school usually work between 10 to 20 hours per week for unpaid internships.
Co-op internships are a type of paid, full-time internship that alternates with semesters of full-time studies. While these internships can take longer to complete, they help offset the cost of tuition, and co-op students are often hired as permanent employees after graduation. Research internships can also be valuable, providing direction for future graduate studies, and they may be funded by outside organizations.
The federal government sets standards for interns regarding payment but does not dictate work hours. As such, the number of hours worked is determined between the employer and the intern, with most employers understanding that interns may have multiple commitments. During the spring and fall, an intern's work schedule is highly dependent on their course load. Students with additional credit hours may work ten hours or less per week, while those with an average number of credits may work upwards of twenty hours per week.
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Unpaid internships: no legal limit on hours
The number of hours an intern works varies depending on several factors, including whether the internship is paid or unpaid, the industry, the student's schedule, and the employer's needs. While the federal government in the US sets some standards for interns, including what is and isn't considered a paid internship, they have not set any standards for work hours. This means that for unpaid internships, there is no legal limit on the number of hours an intern can work.
For undergraduate students still in school, unpaid internship hours per week are usually limited to 10 to 20 hours. This is because an intern's primary objective is their education, and they need to balance their internship with maintaining their grades and graduation schedule. During the academic year, internships are typically part-time and should not exceed 20 hours a week. Students who opt to take additional credit hours will typically work ten or fewer hours per week.
However, during the summer or when a student is not enrolled in courses, internships can require up to 40 hours a week. This is because students can devote more time to their internships when they do not have the added responsibility of attending classes. Many interns also opt to work additional hours during the summer months due to the availability of overtime pay from employers.
It is important to note that the hours set for an internship are determined through a conversation between the employer and the intern, taking into account the intern's availability and the employer's needs. College career centers that routinely place students in internships should be knowledgeable about the pertinent laws and advise students on their rights and responsibilities.
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Summer internships: up to 40 hours per week
Summer internships, or internships undertaken during a semester when the student is not enrolled in courses, can demand up to 40 hours of work per week. This is because students typically have more availability during the summer months, allowing them to work longer hours.
The number of hours worked per week is generally dictated by the student's semester course load. As a student's primary focus should be on their education, grades, and graduation schedule, internships during the academic year are usually part-time, ranging from 10 to 20 hours per week.
However, it's important to note that there are no federal regulations mandating maximum or minimum work hours for interns. The hours worked are often determined through discussion between the employer and the intern, with employers typically accommodating the intern's availability and needs.
While there are no legal limits on the number of hours an unpaid intern above the age of 18 can work, internships requiring more than 20 hours per week should ideally be paid, as most students cannot commit a significant amount of time to an unpaid opportunity.
Full-time internship hours with pay can vary depending on the intern's status and whether they are considered employees. For example, medical interns are expected to work more than 40 hours per week as they are physicians in the first year of specialty training.
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Co-op internships: paid, full-time work semesters
The number of hours a student intern works varies depending on the organisation and the student's academic schedule. On average, student interns work between 10 and 20 hours per week during the academic year. However, during breaks and summers, interns may be required to work full-time, which is typically 40 hours per week. Some internships may also be longer, lasting between 3 and 4 months, to coincide with a student's semester or summer break.
Co-op internships, also known as Cooperative Education, are full-time paid positions in a student's field of study. Unlike internships, co-ops are typically longer, ranging from 4 to 6 months, and students are discouraged from taking any other classes during this period. While on a co-op, students retain their full-time student status, allowing them to maintain benefits such as medical insurance and student loan deferment. The longer duration of a co-op allows students to gain deeper, practical work experience and build professional relationships within their chosen industry.
Co-ops provide students with the opportunity to apply their coursework in a real-world setting and work on projects from start to finish. Northeastern University, for example, has a signature learning program that offers co-ops and has seen 93% of its graduates employed full-time within nine months of graduation, with 59% receiving job offers from their co-op employers.
The pay rate for co-op positions and internships can vary depending on the industry, the student's field of study, and their level of expertise. Internships may be paid or unpaid, with hourly wages ranging from minimum wage to $22 or more per hour for technical skillsets. Similarly, student interns can expect to earn between $9 and $20 per hour, with the rate being higher for accounting and computer science students.
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Frequently asked questions
Undergraduate students who are still in school and are doing unpaid internships typically work between 10 and 20 hours per week.
The federal government does not set a minimum or maximum number of hours for interns to work. If the internship is for college credit, the college may set some rules.
Interns are expected to work more hours during the summer months, which can be upwards of 40 hours per week. During the academic year, interns work fewer hours, averaging between 10 and 20 hours per week.
