Leo Burnett Internship 2027–2028: Programs, Deadlines & How to Apply
Last updated: July 2026
Leo Burnett's internship program is recognized by Business Insider as one of the top 20 internship programs in the country. Now part of the "Leo" network following a January 2025 merger of Leo Burnett and Publicis Worldwide within Publicis Groupe, the agency has 15,000+ employees across 90 countries. For the 2027–2028 cycle, applications are expected to open in fall 2026 with a fixed deadline around March 31, 2027. This is a structured 10-week cohort, not a rolling hire, so every applicant faces the same clock.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | careers.publicisgroupe.com/leoburnett. Set a job alert and check LinkedIn starting September 2026 |
| Application window (2027–28) | Expected fall 2026 opening. Deadline projected around March 31, 2027 based on prior cycles (2021 Creative: March 31 deadline, 2025 Strategy: spring 2025 deadline) |
| Rolling? | No. Fixed-deadline, cohort-based program. All applications are reviewed after the deadline closes, with selected candidates notified in late April to May |
| Eligibility | Incoming college seniors and recent graduates. No specific major required for most tracks. Creative roles prefer Art Direction, Graphic Design, or Communication Studies coursework |
| Duration | 10 weeks, full-time, typically mid-June through mid-to-late August |
| Compensation | $15 to $18 per hour (~$6,000 to $7,200 for 10 weeks). Glassdoor reports $15.48/hr average across 1,469 salary submissions; Indeed: ~$35K annualized. Paid for all US summer tracks |
| Visa sponsorship | Not publicly confirmed for US programs. Work authorization requirements vary by Publicis Groupe office. International offices (London, Hong Kong) may have different policies |
| Locations | Chicago, IL (Global HQ, 35 W. Wacker Dr.). International: London (UK), Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). New York office also recruits |
| # Programs | 4+ US tracks: Creative (Art Direction, Copywriting, Design), Strategy, Business Leadership (Account Management), Production. International offices add Media, Social, and Account Servicing |
Leo Burnett runs a fixed-deadline, cohort-based program ranked among the top 20 internships nationally. Interns earn approximately $15 to $18 per hour across 10 weeks of real client work at one of advertising's most storied agencies, now part of Publicis Groupe.
Externships are short, remote projects where you finish real work for a real company. The Wayfair AI Agent Engineering Externship and Beats by Dre Data Analytics Externship build the analytical thinking, data storytelling, and cross-functional project skills a Leo Burnett application rewards. Explore all Externships.
What Is a Leo Burnett Internship?
A Leo Burnett internship is a paid, full-time, 10-week placement within one of the most storied creative agencies in advertising history. Now operating as part of the "Leo" network within Publicis Groupe following a January 2025 merger, Leo Burnett gives interns real client work from day one. You collaborate on actual campaigns for established brands, participate in the full pitch lifecycle, and present work to creative leadership. The program culminates in an Intern Pitch Project where teams compete to solve a real client brief. Business Insider has ranked it among the top 20 internship programs in the country. Interns earn approximately $15 to $18 per hour at the agency's iconic Chicago headquarters at 35 W. Wacker Drive. Indeed intern reviews rate the overall experience at 4.0 out of 5.0 across 373 reviews, with culture scoring 3.9 out of 5.0, and Glassdoor intern ratings reach 4.9 out of 5.0 from a smaller sample.
When Do Leo Burnett Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?
Leo Burnett's internship calendar follows a fixed-deadline pattern rather than rolling review. For the 2021 cycle, creative roles had a March 31 deadline, with the program running mid-June through late August. Strategy and Business Leadership tracks followed similar timelines in subsequent years. Expect the Summer 2027 cycle to follow the same rhythm: applications open in fall 2026, a hard deadline around March 31, 2027, notifications in late April to May, and the 10-week program starting mid-June 2027. The critical insight: because this is a cohort-based program, there is no early-bird advantage from submitting in week one versus week ten. The advantage is in what you build before the deadline. Portfolios, writing samples, and completed projects determine your candidacy, and those take months to develop.
Summer 2027 internship postings are not yet live on the Publicis Groupe careers portal. This is the build window: develop your portfolio (creative roles), sharpen your writing samples, and complete projects that demonstrate real skills.
Monitor the Publicis Groupe careers page and LinkedIn for 2027 Leo Burnett internship postings. Set job alerts. Begin networking with current and former Leo Burnett employees.
Application period. Submit your application, portfolio (creative roles), and writing samples before the deadline, projected around March 31, 2027. Complete the mandatory Arctic Shores gamified assessment when it arrives via email.
Selected candidates notified. Phone screening with Talent Acquisition, followed by in-person assessment centers or virtual equivalents. Offers extended by early June.
10-week internship. Real client work, Lunch and Learn sessions, networking events, and the Intern Pitch Project presentation to agency leadership.
Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open
Leo Burnett runs a fixed-deadline application cycle, not a rolling one, so there is no early-bird advantage from timing alone. The advantage is in what you build before the deadline. With a cohort-based program ranked in Business Insider's top 20, the applicant pool is deep and the bar is creative work that stands out. For creative roles, a portfolio is mandatory, and the agency wants to see genuine craft, not rushed work. The Arctic Shores gamified assessment measures behavioral traits and cognitive patterns, not knowledge that can be crammed. The real why-start-now for Leo Burnett is this: begin developing your portfolio, completing real projects, and practicing your pitch today. By the time applications open in fall 2026, your materials should already be polished. The deadline is expected around March 31, 2027, and the structured cohort means there is no second chance once it passes.
Which Leo Burnett Internship Programs Should You Target?
Leo Burnett organizes its internship as a cohort experience with distinct department tracks. You apply to a specific track and work within that team for 10 weeks, though the program includes cross-department exposure through Lunch and Learn sessions and the Intern Pitch Project. Which track should you target? The honest answer is the one where your existing work is strongest, because creative roles require a portfolio and every track evaluates passion for advertising alongside skills.
| Program | Focus | Duration | Key skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creative Intern (Art Direction, Copywriting, Design) | Hands-on work within the creative department on real campaigns for established brands, full pitch lifecycle participation | 10 weeks | Adobe Creative Suite, portfolio of creative work, copywriting, visual storytelling, ideation |
| Strategy Intern (Planning/Brand Strategy) | Consumer research, insight mining, brand positioning, creative brief development, competitive analysis | 10 weeks | Analytical writing, consumer behavior research, cultural trend analysis, presentation skills |
| Business Leadership Intern (Account Management) | Client relationship support, campaign execution from brief to delivery, cross-functional coordination, project finance management | 10 weeks | Project management, client communication, multitasking, budget tracking, organizational skills |
| Production Intern (Broadcast/Content Production) | Support for advertising content production across TV, digital, and social media, post-production workflows | 10 weeks | Video production tools, production logistics, vendor coordination, multimedia skills |
| Media/Programmatic Intern | Programmatic media buying, campaign performance tracking, media planning, data analysis and reporting | 10 weeks | Digital media platforms, data analysis, campaign optimization, Excel proficiency |
See every open role on the Publicis Groupe careers portal for Leo Burnett. Note: following the January 2025 merger that created "Leo" from Leo Burnett and Publicis Worldwide, some internship postings may appear under either brand name. The careers portal lists 102 Leo Burnett-branded roles globally as of July 2026, with summer 2027 internship postings not yet live.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
Leo Burnett's requirements vary by track, but the general eligibility criteria are consistent:
• Education level: incoming college seniors and recent graduates for the US summer internship program. Freshmen and sophomores are not eligible for the main program.
• No specific major required for most tracks. The program values passion, curiosity, and relevant skills over a specific degree. Creative track exceptions: Art Direction prefers enrollment in Art Direction or Graphic Design coursework; Copywriting prefers a Communication Studies degree.
• Portfolio required for creative roles. You must submit a link to an online creative portfolio. Applications without portfolios are not considered. Non-creative tracks do not require a portfolio but may request a writing sample.
• Work authorization: not publicly confirmed for US programs. International Publicis Groupe offices (London, Hong Kong) may have different visa and work authorization policies.
Does Leo Burnett Require a Specific GPA?
No GPA requirement is mentioned in any Leo Burnett internship posting. The emphasis falls on creative work quality, cultural fit, and passion for advertising rather than a transcript number. For creative roles, your portfolio is the primary evaluation tool. For strategy and business leadership, analytical thinking and communication skills carry more weight than grades. The UK Leo's Futures programme explicitly states there is no need for specific qualifications or experience.
What Skills Does Leo Burnett Look For, and How Do You Build Them?
Read across six Leo Burnett intern tracks, Creative, Strategy, Business Leadership, Production, Media, and Social, and the pattern is clear. Communication and presentation skills appear in all six, creative thinking in four, and Adobe Creative Suite in three. But the skill list only tells half the story. Leo Burnett's interviews evaluate cultural fit and passion for advertising as heavily as technical ability. Indeed intern reviews (373 responses, 4.0/5.0 overall) consistently highlight the agency's collaborative culture, and Glassdoor interview reports describe a speed-dating format where you meet interviewers from different teams. Bring the skills, then wrap every answer in why you love advertising.
What Leo Burnett looks for in interns
Skills across 6 Leo Burnett intern & analyst job descriptions · 2024–2026 cycle Leo Burnett intern JDs, projecting 2027
Method: full-text analysis of six Leo Burnett intern job descriptions across Creative, Strategy, Business Leadership, Production, Media, and Social tracks. Prior-cycle basis; Leo Burnett evaluates cultural fit and passion for advertising in interviews alongside these technical and soft skills.
How Is Demand for Advertising and Marketing Interns Moving Right Now?
Advertising and marketing intern hiring right now: July 2026
Across US advertising-and-marketing-intern postings tracked this week · aggregate market data, all employers
Agency internship supply is steady heading into fall recruiting season. Creative specializations at top agencies pay more than generalist marketing intern roles, and the full-time pipeline remains deep for candidates who convert.
Method: aggregate analysis of US advertising-intern, marketing-intern, and advertising-professional postings via Adzuna, July 2026 baseline. The sample indexes a fraction of all US postings, so figures show direction and relative level, not total market share.
Build These Skills Before You Apply
And every skill in that chart maps to a remote Externship where you finish a real project before a role opens.
| Skill (from real JDs) | JD evidence | Externship that builds it |
|---|---|---|
| Data analysis, consumer insights & reporting | Strategy & Media JDs: "consumer research and insight mining, data analysis and reporting, campaign performance tracking" | Beats by Dre Data Analytics |
| Cross-functional communication & project management | Business Leadership & Production JDs: "cross-functional coordination, client communication, project management" | Wayfair AI Agent Engineering |
| Analytical thinking & problem-solving | All tracks: "analytical writing, competitive analysis, solutions-oriented mindset" | Beats by Dre Data Analytics |
How close is the overlap? The Beats project ends on the data-analysis and insight story a strategy or media interview wants, and the Wayfair project builds the cross-functional project-delivery evidence account management and production roles probe for.
What Is the Leo Burnett Application and Interview Process Like?
Leo Burnett's application process is a structured multi-stage funnel spanning 3 weeks to 3+ months from application to offer:
1. Submit your application on the Publicis Groupe careers portal. Upload your resume, answer application questions, and include a creative portfolio link (mandatory for creative roles) or writing sample. The deadline is projected around March 31, 2027.
2. Complete the Arctic Shores gamified assessment (30 to 45 minutes). This mandatory online assessment is emailed after you submit your application. It measures cognitive abilities and behavioral traits through game-like activities, not traditional test questions. There are no right or wrong answers. Check your spam folder for the email.
3. Screening call with Talent Acquisition (about 20 minutes). Discuss your motivations, knowledge of Leo Burnett, and ask questions about the process. This is primarily a communication and cultural fit check.
4. In-person assessment center or virtual equivalent. Showcase your skills and strengths across a range of activities. Some candidates report a speed-dating format where you meet 3 different interviewers (15 minutes each) from different teams and Publicis-owned agencies. Typically held in April.
5. Receive feedback or offer. Unsuccessful candidates receive feedback. Successful candidates receive offers, typically by early June, with the 10-week program starting mid-June.
So the two things to prepare are clear: a strong portfolio or writing samples (because creative roles live and die on the work you show), and genuine stories about why advertising and why Leo Burnett specifically (because the speed-dating interview format is evaluating cultural fit across multiple teams). Study Leo Burnett's iconic campaigns, know what the agency's heritage means, and be ready to explain why a specific ad you admire works. Note: Glassdoor rates Leo Burnett intern interviews as moderately difficult, with some candidates reporting long wait times between rounds.
What Students on Reddit Say
Three community threads show the agency from the inside, all paraphrased.
Leo Burnett is described as a pretty stable agency with a large roster of accounts and a generally positive reputation in the industry. Each team within the agency may have its own culture regarding hours and work-life balance, but the overall sentiment is that it is a solid place to build an advertising career.
A creative professional who participated in a boot camp at Leo Burnett described the atmosphere and scope of work as something they absolutely loved, suggesting the agency's creative culture lives up to its long-standing reputation for nurturing emerging talent.
Discussion around Publicis Groupe internships highlights that your experience really depends on which specific agency you are placed at, since agencies within the holding company have distinctly different cultures and working styles. Knowing which agency you want matters more than just targeting the parent company.
How Do You Stand Out at a Top-20 Internship Program?
Three moves, all before the deadline. First, build a portfolio that shows genuine creative vision, not breadth for breadth's sake. For creative roles, Leo Burnett's team wants to see a strong point of view, and quality over quantity is the explicit standard. For non-creative tracks, prepare writing samples, case analyses, or campaign breakdowns that demonstrate analytical depth. Second, complete a real project before you apply. A finished Externship or freelance project gives you something concrete to discuss in the speed-dating interviews, where you have only 15 minutes per interviewer to make an impression. Third, know Leo Burnett's heritage and current work. Interviewers ask why Leo Burnett specifically, and the assessment center evaluates cultural fit as heavily as skills. Study the agency's iconic campaigns, understand the January 2025 merger into "Leo" within Publicis Groupe, and be ready to articulate what excites you about the agency's creative philosophy. The UK programme's explicit hiring criteria reinforce this: creative enthusiasm, organized multitasking, and curiosity matter as much as any technical skill.
What Other Companies Should You Consider?
Leo Burnett is not the only creative agency hiring on a fall-to-spring application calendar. If you are building an advertising or marketing internship list, these are the obvious neighbors:
- OgilvyWPP-owned creative agency with comparable global reach and a strong strategy traditionGuide →
- GoogleTech giant with marketing, brand, and creative roles that overlap with agency skill setsGuide →
- MetaSocial platform with in-house creative and marketing teams at massive scaleGuide →
- SnapCamera company with creative strategy and brand marketing roles for emerging talentGuide →
- DisneyEntertainment giant with marketing, creative, and brand management internships across multiple divisionsGuide →
Our tech internships summer 2027 guide maps the whole landscape, timeline by timeline.
FAQ
When do Leo Burnett internship applications open for summer 2027?
Applications are expected to open in fall 2026, with a deadline projected around March 31, 2027 based on prior cycles. The 2021 Creative Internship had a March 31 deadline, and the 2025 Strategy Internship posted in late 2024 with a spring 2025 deadline. Monitor the Publicis Groupe careers portal and set a job alert.
Is the Leo Burnett internship paid?
Yes. All US summer internship tracks are paid. Based on Glassdoor (1,469 salary reports) and Indeed data, interns earn approximately $15 to $18 per hour, or roughly $6,000 to $7,200 for the 10-week program.
Do I need a portfolio to apply to Leo Burnett?
Only for creative roles (Art Direction, Copywriting, Design). You must submit a link to an online creative portfolio, and applications without one are not considered. Non-creative tracks (Strategy, Business Leadership, Production) do not require a portfolio but may ask for a writing sample.
What is the difference between Leo Burnett and "Leo"?
In January 2025, Publicis Groupe merged Leo Burnett and Publicis Worldwide into a new creative network called "Leo." The internship programs continue under the Leo Burnett brand within the larger Leo network. Job postings may appear under either name on the Publicis Groupe careers portal.
What is the Arctic Shores assessment?
Arctic Shores is a gamified, neuroscience-based psychometric assessment used as a mandatory step in the application process. It measures cognitive abilities and behavioral traits through game-like activities, not traditional test questions. There are no right or wrong answers, and it typically takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Can freshmen or sophomores apply to Leo Burnett internships?
The US summer internship is typically for incoming college seniors and recent graduates. Underclassmen may want to look at other Publicis Groupe programs or consider international Leo Burnett offices that may have different eligibility requirements.
Where are Leo Burnett internships located?
The primary US internship hub is Chicago, Illinois (Global HQ at 35 W. Wacker Drive). The New York office also recruits. International internships exist in London (UK), Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), and other markets across Leo Burnett's 85+ offices in 90 countries.
Does Leo Burnett offer return offers after the internship?
Return offers are possible but specific conversion rates are not publicly disclosed. Anecdotal evidence from Glassdoor reviewers suggests some interns receive full-time offers. The industry average intern-to-full-time conversion rate is approximately 51% according to NACE data.
Leo Burnett's fixed-deadline cycle means every hour of prep between now and March counts. Build the evidence before the window opens: a remote Externship gives you a finished project to point at when the Arctic Shores assessment and interviews arrive.
About the Author
Bifei Wang has spent 17 years focused on human flow and the growth of young professionals, spanning international education, career training and coaching, and recruitment process outsourcing. Over 7 years at Extern, he has had one-on-one sessions with thousands of students exploring careers in consulting, finance, tech, marketing, and data, giving him a firsthand view of how the job market has shifted for early-career professionals and what it actually takes to break in.
