NASA OSTEM Internships: Requirements and Admission

NASA OSTEM Internships

NASA OSTEM Internships give more than 2,000 students a year the chance to work on real projects at NASA centers, most with a stipend. Current eligibility covers only college students from undergraduate to graduate level who are US citizens, so high school students can no longer apply.

US citizens only

Stipend

NASA OSTEM at a Glance

Host

NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM)

Field

Research, engineering and non-STEM projects at NASA centers; areas depend on the position

Grades and age

College students only under current rules: full-time or part-time students (undergraduate through graduate level) at an accredited technical school, college or university; recent graduates may apply for the three sessions immediately after graduation. Applicants must be 16 at the time of application with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. High school students are not eligible.

Citizenship and residency

US citizens only.

Cost

Most interns receive a stipend based on academic level and session length; a few opportunities are volunteer positions, noted in the project description.

Dates and format

Three sessions a year: summer runs 10 weeks, and fall and spring run 15 weeks each. Interns typically work 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, on projects at NASA centers under NASA mentors.

Application dates

The summer 2027 deadline is March 1, 2027 at 11:59 pm Eastern, and the fall 2027 deadline is May 24, 2027; applications go through NASA STEM Gateway. These sessions are for college students only.

Application materials

Create a profile in NASA STEM Gateway and enter experience and skills directly in the application form; no resume upload and no recommendation letters are required. Applicants may apply to multiple positions across centers.

Size and selectivity

The website says OSTEM provides internships to more than 2,000 students a year, a total across all education levels; the number of applicants and the acceptance rate are not published.

About NASA OSTEM

NASA OSTEM Internships are run by NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement and let students work on real projects at NASA centers under NASA mentors, in research and engineering as well as non-STEM roles. There are three sessions a year: summer runs 10 weeks, and fall and spring run 15 weeks each. The website says OSTEM provides internships to more than 2,000 students a year, and most interns receive a stipend based on academic level and session length.

Current eligibility requires applicants to be US citizens, at least 16 at the time of application, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and enrolled at a technical school, college or university from undergraduate to graduate level. The website offers no path for high school students and does not publish an acceptance rate. The summer 2027 deadline is March 1, 2027.

Under current official eligibility, high school students can no longer apply for NASA OSTEM Internships. High schoolers interested in space and Earth science can consider NASA SEES in this library, and those interested in government labs can look at Navy SEAP or AFRL Scholars.

How to Apply to NASA OSTEM

High school students cannot apply for OSTEM internships at present. US citizens in 10th or 11th grade who are interested in space and Earth science can apply to NASA SEES in this library.

Once in college, applicants must be US citizens, at least 16 and hold a 3.0 GPA. The summer 2027 deadline is March 1, so consider setting up a STEM Gateway profile in the fall of freshman year.

OSTEM encourages applying to multiple positions. Fill in your experience and skills completely in your profile, since the system uses them to match you with positions across centers.

NASA OSTEM: Frequently Asked Questions

Can high school students in Irvine still apply for NASA internships?

Not at present. NASA's OSTEM internship eligibility requires applicants to be enrolled college students (undergraduate through graduate level) or recent college graduates, and the page offers no path for high school students.

Which NASA-related programs can an Irvine student interested in space apply to in high school?

Look at NASA SEES in this library. It is funded by NASA and run by UT Austin's Center for Space Research for US citizens in 10th or 11th grade, with two-week on-site projects and virtual projects.

Are NASA OSTEM internships paid?

Most interns receive a stipend based on academic level and session length; a few opportunities are volunteer positions, noted in the project description.

When should an Irvine student apply for NASA internships after starting college?

The summer 2027 deadline is March 1, 2027, and the fall deadline is May 24. Applicants must be US citizens, at least 16 and hold a GPA of 3.0 or higher; recommendation letters are not required.

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