Austin Summer Internships: Opportunities for Students and Youth

Austin, Texas, offers a variety of summer internship programs designed to provide students and youth with valuable experience, skills development, and career exploration opportunities. These programs cater to different age groups and interests, ranging from high school students to undergraduates, and cover diverse fields such as STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), hospitality, natural resources, and public service.

Home to Texas Program: Investing in Future Leaders

The Career Success program addresses the issue of talent loss from small and mid-sized Texas towns by offering the "Home to Texas" program. This initiative encourages first-year undergraduates from UT Austin to return to their hometowns for a full-time summer internship and community research engagement.

Program Details

Eligibility: First-year undergraduates at UT Austin are encouraged to apply. Transfer students in their first year at UT Austin are also welcome to apply if spots are available in their community, with preference given to students completing their first year on a college campus.
Funding: Participating students receive funding to support their summer experience. Students in unpaid internships receive a $5,000 scholarship, while those in paid internships earn a minimum of $5,000 for the summer.
Internship Focus: Participating employers offer broad professional development opportunities related to teamwork, time management, and office communication. While alignment with a student's academic major or career interests is possible, it is not guaranteed.
Commitment: Students should be willing to commit to the entire length of the program to maximize their "Home to Texas" experience.
Course Enrollment: Participants are enrolled in a zero-credit course, EXP 000, which appears on their transcript.
Community Selection: Home to Texas communities are selected based on community needs, student interest, and funding availability.

Application Process

Once selected into the program, students receive a list of participating community employers and internship descriptions and rank their preferences. Applicants should be open to any internship offered through the program. The priority application deadline is February 15th.

High School Internship Programs

Several programs provide high school students in Austin with opportunities to gain leadership skills, work experience, and explore potential career paths.

City of Austin, Bank of America, and Quality of Life Foundation Partnership

This partnership offers high school students a paid summer internship, allowing them to develop leadership skills and gain work experience in various career fields based on their interests.

ELSIP Interns

ELSIP interns also participate in two educational field trips, enhancing their learning experience.

Get Ready! Summer Internship Program

This program provides STEAM-based internship opportunities for youth, enabling them to work in a professional environment, develop a strong work ethic, gain valuable work experience, and learn more about STEAM-centered careers. The program aims to increase knowledge, engagement, and work experience in these fields.

City of Austin Internship Opportunities

The City of Austin offers various internship programs across its departments, providing students with diverse learning experiences.

Aviation Department Internships

Internships with the Aviation Department are located at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Campus. Interns are placed based on their future career interests within the Aviation Department Divisions.

Austin Convention Center and Palmer Event Center Internships

Students can intern with various divisions of the Austin Convention Center and Palmer Event Center to gain knowledge about convention events and the hospitality industry. These divisions include:

Read also: SU and the City

Accounting
Administration
Building Maintenance
Environmental Compliance Services
HR
IT
Marketing
Parking Services
Purchasing
Public Event Services
Safety and Security
Sales

Interns are assigned to a specific unit for the duration of the program.

Austin Police Department (APD) Youth Program

The APD Youth Program was developed as a pilot program in 2024 to create a path for the recruitment of local youth into the Austin Police Department (APD).

City of Austin’s Youth Forest Council

This immersive, yearlong paid internship connects young people (ages 16-20) in Austin to careers in natural resources and public service.

Other Internship and Engagement Opportunities

Beyond the structured internship programs, Austin offers additional opportunities for youth to engage in community initiatives and develop valuable skills.

Youth Esports Coaching

Opportunities exist to coach youth esports in games like Fortnite, Rocket League, Valorant, and others, requiring availability two days a week.

Read also: Your Path to a Healthcare Career

Congressional Internships

Local opportunities are available to intern with Congressman Doggett, both in Austin and in Washington DC. The application opens on February 16, 2026 and closes on March 13, 2026.

STEM Conference

Texas A&M hosts a STEM conference on APRIL 18th at their College Station campus for all high school students.

Water Quality Project

A local opportunity exists to submit a project focused on developing actionable solutions to water quality issues, restoring ecosystems, or raising awareness about environmental threats while gaining leadership experience.

Austin Youth Climate Equity Council

The Austin Youth Climate Equity Council activates the next generation to lead at the intersection of climate change, environmental justice, and community resilience. Applications for the Council will open in mid August.

Workforce Readiness Internship Program

This 6-week, paid professional internship program prepares rising 10th-12th grade students for the workforce through hands-on training, skills development, and meaningful work experience. Interns explore various career paths, gain practical skills, and develop a deeper understanding of industry expectations and are able to earn course credit through a culminating capstone project.

AISD Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee (ESAC)

The purpose of the Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee (ESAC) is to engage AISD students, staff, parents, and community members in advancing environmental education and sustainable operations that enhance learning and support resilient, healthy, and equitable school communities. Schools can place requests on Voly. The AISD Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee maintains a list of members that are interested in sharing their knowledge and experiences with students.

tags: #city #of #austin #summer #internships