Qualifications for an HBS Internship

Full-Time Internship (the 444 course): 

Students who are working full-time hours (30-40 hours per week) at an internship will register for the 444 course and must meet the following:

• Accepted into HBS major or minor
• Earned HBS Upper Division Status (UDS) or admission to a business minor
• At least a junior (60 earned credits) by the semester you intern

In addition, the internship position must meet the following:

• Hours: 30-40 hours per week
• Pay: Minimum wage or higher (unless interning at a nonprofit or government agency)
• Length: Usually 12 weeks or more
• Duties: Significant duties directly related to your HBS major or minor

Business Majors: Up to 3 internship credits count toward to the major requirements. The only exceptions are the concentrations with the Management Major where internship credits count towards university electives.

Business Minors: Internship credits count towards university electives.

Part-Time Internship (the 344 course): 

Students working part-time hours at an internship will register for the 344 course and must meet the following:

• Accepted into an HBS major or minor
• Earned HBS Upper Division Status (UDS) or admission to a business minor
• At least a junior (60 earned credits) by the semester you intern

In addition, the internship position must meet the following: 

• Hours: 12-29 hours per week
• Pay: Minimum wage or higher (unless interning at a nonprofit or government agency)
• Length: Usually 12 weeks or more
• Duties: Significant duties directly related to your HBS major or minor

Business Majors: Up to 3 internship credits count toward to the major requirements. The only exceptions are the concentrations with the Management Major where internship credits count towards university electives.

Business Minors: Internship credits count towards university electives.

Employment Changes: 

According to HBS Policy, students are not allowed to change employers during the internship semester, except in extenuating circumstances and only after reviewing those circumstances with the Internship Coordinator and subsequently receiving approval for the change. Terminating an internship mid-semester and subsequently requesting permission to enter into another internship agreement are considered employment changes and are not permissible under this policy.

Extenuating circumstances that might warrant changing employers under this policy do not include, for example, a 'better' internship site, less travel to the internship, better pay/benefits, and/or the inability to obtain a work visa with an employer upon graduation or the promise of obtaining a work visa with a new internship employer.

Note: International students are advised to discuss their strategy for selecting internship employers as it relates to work visa availability with their advisor, program director, or internship coordinator prior to beginning an internship.

If students are having trouble with an employer or the work environment, they should contact the HBS Internship Coordinator for assistance.