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Internship Offer Letter & Agreement Template
Paid internship offer letter and agreement: dates, hours, pay, learning goals, confidentiality and IP, plus the DOL unpaid-intern test and UK/India notes.
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What you get
- A complete internship offer letter sample for a paid summer or semester internship
- Internship agreement clauses: schedule, pay, supervisor, learning objectives, confidentiality, IP, school credit
- The US Department of Labor's seven-factor primary beneficiary test for unpaid internships
- A learning plan table to attach to the offer
- UK National Minimum Wage and India stipend notes
Template preview
A preview of the structure. Download the PDF or CSV for the complete, ready-to-use version.
Offer details
- Intern name and school / program
- Internship title and department— e.g. People Operations Intern, HR
- Supervisor name and title
- Start and end dates— e.g. June 8 – August 14, 2026 (10 weeks)
Internship offer letter (sample)
[Company letterhead] [Date] [Intern name] [Address] Dear [Intern name], We're pleased to offer you a paid internship as [Internship title] in our [Department] team at [Company name]. You'll report to [Supervisor name], [Supervisor title]. The internship runs from [Start date] to [End date]. Your schedule will be [days and hours], for about [number] hours a week, working [on site at (address) / hybrid / remotely from (state)]. You will be paid $[rate] per hour, paid [biweekly] through our regular payroll. This is a non-exempt position: any hours over 40 in a workweek must be approved in advance and will be paid at one and a half times your regular rate. [You will also receive a (housing / transit) stipend of $(amount), which is taxable income.] During the internship you'll work on [2–3 specific projects, e.g. redesigning our new-hire onboarding survey and analyzing the results from the last 12 months]. The attached learning plan sets out what you'll learn and how we'll review progress at the midpoint and at the end. As an intern you will be eligible for [paid sick leave under (state) law / the employee assistance program]. You will not be eligible for [health insurance, 401(k) or paid vacation], unless required by law. This offer is contingent on verification of your eligibility to work in the United States (Form I-9) [and a background check]. The internship is temporary and at will, which means either you or [Company name] may end it at any time. It does not guarantee an offer of permanent employment, although we do consider interns for open roles. Please review the attached internship agreement, then sign and return both documents by [Deadline]. If you have questions, contact [Recruiter name] at [email]. We're looking forward to working with you. Sincerely, [Name] [Title] Accepted: ____________________ Date: __________
Internship agreement clauses
Attach to the offer letter. Edit to match what the offer says; the two must not contradict each other.
Clauses
| Clause | Sample wording |
|---|---|
| Term | The internship begins on [Start date] and ends on [End date], unless ended earlier by either party with or without notice. |
| Hours and timekeeping | The intern will record all hours worked in [timekeeping system], including time spent on training and required events. Off-the-clock work is not permitted. |
| Compensation | $[rate] per hour, paid on the company's regular payroll schedule, with overtime at 1.5x for hours over 40 in a workweek [and any daily overtime required by state law]. |
| Supervision and learning | The supervisor will meet the intern at least weekly and complete a midpoint and final review against the learning plan. |
Learning plan
Example rows for a People Operations intern. Replace with the real projects.
| Learning objective | Project or activity | Support | How it is assessed | Target week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyze survey data | Clean and summarize 12 months of onboarding survey results | Weekly check-in with supervisor; Excel pivot tables training | Written summary with three recommendations | Week 5 |
| Understand HR compliance basics | Shadow I-9 and new-hire paperwork audits | HR generalist | Completed audit checklist for 20 files | Week 3 |
| Present to stakeholders | Present survey findings to the People team | Presentation dry run with supervisor | Presentation and Q&A | Week 9 |
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How to use this template
- 1
Decide paid or unpaid first
At a for-profit US employer, pay at least minimum wage unless the internship clearly passes the primary beneficiary test. Most employers pay, which also widens the applicant pool.
- 2
Fill in the offer letter
Replace every placeholder, including FLSA status (interns are almost always non-exempt and paid hourly), hours per week and end date.
- 3
Attach the agreement and learning plan
The agreement sets the ground rules; the learning plan gives the supervisor and school something concrete to review at the midpoint and end.
- 4
Send with the new-hire paperwork
Interns complete the same Form I-9, W-4 and state forms as other employees. Set an acceptance deadline of about one week.
Frequently asked questions
What should an internship offer letter include?
The internship title, supervisor, start and end dates, weekly schedule and hours, pay rate and overtime status, work location, any stipends, key projects, contingencies such as I-9 verification, the at-will and temporary nature of the role, and an acceptance deadline with a signature line.
Do interns have to be paid?
At a for-profit US employer, yes, unless the internship passes the DOL's primary beneficiary test, meaning the intern, not the company, is the main beneficiary and the role is tied to their education. Interns doing productive work that paid staff would otherwise do must get at least minimum wage and overtime.
Are interns exempt from overtime?
Almost never. Paid interns are usually hourly, non-exempt employees, so hours over 40 in a workweek are paid at 1.5 times their regular rate, and state daily overtime rules such as California's also apply. Track their hours like any other non-exempt employee.
Is an internship agreement different from an offer letter?
The offer letter sets out the terms of the job: dates, pay, schedule and conditions. The internship agreement adds the ground rules: timekeeping, confidentiality, intellectual property, school credit, supervision and the learning plan. Many employers combine them; if you keep them separate, make sure they agree.
Can an intern receive academic credit instead of pay?
Academic credit supports an unpaid internship under the primary beneficiary test but does not by itself make one lawful. If the intern is effectively doing an employee's job, pay is required regardless of credit. Paid interns can still receive credit if their school allows it.