Mars Internship 2027–2028: Programs, Deadlines & How to Apply

Last updated: July 2026

Mars is a $65 billion+ family-owned business with 150,000+ Associates in 80+ countries, and it just got bigger: the $35.9 billion acquisition of Kellanova (Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts) closed in December 2025, creating a combined snacking business generating roughly $36 billion in annual revenue. Glassdoor ranked Mars #6 Best Places to Work 2026 in the US and #1 in Manufacturing & Energy. For the 2027–2028 cycle, summer 2027 internship applications are expected to open in September 2026, about two months from now. Mars recruits on a rolling basis and continues through January if positions remain, but most seats fill early. That means you have a narrow runway to build proof before the portal opens.

Quick Facts

The two numbers that matter: a rolling window expected to open September 2026 for summer 2027, and hiring that continues through January 2027 only if seats remain. Mars publishes no GPA minimum anywhere.

Externships are short, remote professional experience programs where you finish a real project with a real company. The Beats by Dre Consumer Behavior & Market Analysis Externship and the Amazon Fulfillment Center Operational Strategy Externship build exactly the consumer insights and supply chain evidence a September application needs. Explore all Externships.

What Is a Mars Internship?

A Mars internship is a paid, 11-week summer placement (or a 6-month co-op) that puts students into real roles at one of the world's largest privately held companies, home to brands like M&M's, Snickers, Pedigree, Royal Canin, and now Pringles and Cheez-It after the $35.9 billion Kellanova acquisition. The reviews back the culture up: Mars holds a 4.3 out of 5 on Glassdoor from over 4,400 reviews, with 87% of employees recommending the company and CEO Poul Weihrauch carrying a 91% approval rating. Glassdoor named Mars a Best Place to Work in 2022, 2024, and 2026, and TIME included Mars on its World's Best Companies 2025 list. Interns work across 10+ functional areas spanning Petcare, Snacking, Food & Nutrition, and Global Services at offices from McLean, VA to Chicago, IL.

When Do Mars Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?

Mars's calendar is documented and consistent: applications open in September, a full year before the program starts. The official careers page says recruiting continues through January "if positions are available," but the key phrase is "if." Mars recruits on a rolling basis, so the class fills while the window is still open. For summer 2027 you apply in fall 2026, roughly 9 months before the May start. One source indicates a September 30 deadline for some programs, which makes the first three weeks of September the highest-use window. Mars also runs a Sophomore Experience, a 2-day leadership program in mid-May that serves as a direct pipeline to the summer internship. Applications for that open January through April.

Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open

Mars says it on the official internship page: "Applications for the Mars Internship and Co-op Experience starts in September... We'll continue to recruit up to January if positions are available." Rolling means the class fills while the window is still open, and one source indicates some programs carry a September 30 deadline. Most applicants treat January like the finish line and apply in November or December. Don't. By then, recruiters have been interviewing for months, on-campus sessions have already run, and the January cutoff means late applicants compete for whatever seats survived the fall wave.

Which Mars Internship Programs Should You Target?

Mars offers internships and co-ops across 10+ functional areas within multiple business segments: Mars Wrigley (confectionery and snacking), Mars Petcare (Pedigree, Royal Canin, VCA), Mars Food & Nutrition (Ben's Original), Mars Global Services, plus the newly acquired Kellanova brands (Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts). Which one should you pick? The honest answer is the one whose skills you can already show, because every program interviews behaviorally against its own job description.

See the full list on the official internship and co-op page. Also note the Sophomore Experience, a 2-day leadership program in mid-May for sophomores that serves as a direct pipeline to the summer internship. Applications for that track run January through April, separate from the main internship window.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

Mars publishes the same core requirements across its internship and co-op postings:

• Enrollment: current undergraduate who has one more year of schooling remaining. You must complete 1-2 semesters after the internship or co-op. Graduating seniors aren't eligible.

• GPA: no minimum is published on any Mars internship posting or FAQ. Mars emphasizes alignment with its Five Principles, drive for results, and relationship-building over a strict academic cutoff.

• Work authorization: every posting carries the same line: you must have permanent work authorization for the US. H-1B visa holders and those using Optional Practical Training (OPT) aren't eligible. "We are unable to sponsor visas for our Early Talent programs."

• Background and screening: drug screening and background check required.

• Transportation: responsible for your own transportation to and from the worksite.

Does Mars Have a GPA Cutoff?

No published one, anywhere, and that's verified absence rather than omission: Mars doesn't list a minimum GPA requirement in any of its internship postings, which is notable compared to finance and tech companies that typically require 3.0-3.5. What actually gates you? Mars screens for alignment with its Five Principles (Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, Freedom), drive for results, and strong relationship-building skills. R&D internships specify degree fields like food science, packaging engineering, or biological systems. Supply chain roles look for data analytics and logistics backgrounds. The no-sponsorship rule is a hard stop for international students, and the return-to-coursework requirement excludes graduating seniors.

What Skills Does Mars Look For, and How Do You Build Them?

Mars's actual internship postings are strikingly consistent about soft skills and notably varied on technical ones. Across all programs, "humble and agile students who have a drive for results" and "quickly build relationships" show up as baseline expectations. But the technical ask is segment-specific: R&D wants food science and packaging engineering, Supply Chain wants data analytics and logistics, Finance wants FP&A and financial controls, and Marketing wants consumer insights and creative strategy. What does that mix tell you? Mars hires for cultural fit and adaptability first, then trains the vertical. The Five Principles aren't a poster on the wall; they're a behavioral filter in every round.

How Is Demand for CPG and Supply Chain Interns Moving Right Now?

Build These Skills Before You Apply

And every skill on the chart maps to a remote Externship where you finish a real company project before the September window opens.

How close is the overlap? The Amazon project ends with an operational strategy deliverable in the Supply Chain posting's own vocabulary. The Beats by Dre deliverable is consumer insights work that maps directly to what Mars Marketing interviews ask about. And every Externship ends with a presented recommendation to the company, which is the "communication and relationship building" line item nine of ten Mars JDs share.

What Is the Mars Application and Interview Process Like?

Mars's funnel runs about 3-6 weeks from application to decision, depending on when you enter the rolling window:

1. Find postings on your school's career center, Handshake, and careers.mars.com. Mars visits campuses for career fairs and info sessions starting September. The online application takes about 25 minutes: resume and profile required, cover letter may be requested.

2. HireVue digital video interview. If your application advances, Mars schedules a virtual interview: 2-5 pre-recorded behavioral questions with about 30 seconds of prep and 2 minutes to answer each. Total time: 20-30 minutes. Mars explicitly recommends the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

3. Panel interview or on-campus interview. For on-campus applicants, interviews typically happen within a week of the career fair. Panel interviews may follow the HireVue round for all applicants, conducted live over video or in person.

4. Decision. Mars typically reaches out within 2-3 weeks after the final interview. Indeed data rates interview difficulty as medium (4 out of 10), with 84% of candidates saying the interview fairly evaluated their skills.

There's no standardized coding test or aptitude assessment: Mars screens behaviorally, using the Five Principles as the lens. Rehearse the HireVue format: our HireVue question guide with a free AI mock tool runs the same time pressure you'll face in the real round.

What Students on Reddit Say

Three threads show the process and reputation from the inside.

How Do You Stand Out at a Company Guided by Five Principles?

Three moves, all executable before September. First, apply in the first week of September; rolling review plus a January-if-seats-remain deadline makes timing itself a filter. Mars's own page says positions fill as strong candidates apply, so week-one applications face the most open seats. Second, know the Five Principles cold: Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom aren't corporate wallpaper at Mars. They're the behavioral lens in every interview round, and candidates who can speak to them with real examples stand out from those who just studied the STAR format. Third, show up with proof in the JD's exact language. A finished supply chain optimization or consumer insights project answers "tell me about a time you analyzed data" with an artifact instead of an anecdote. And remember the program's stated goal is pipeline: interview like someone auditioning for a full-time associate role, because you're.

What Other Companies Should You Consider?

Mars's peer set in CPG splits by what you want: a food and snacking giant, or a broader consumer-goods company with similar functional tracks.

Mars is distinctive in this set for three reasons: it's privately held (no quarterly-earnings pressure), it completed the largest CPG acquisition in years with Kellanova, and its Five Principles culture consistently produces top employer rankings. The trade-off is a rolling, campus-heavy recruiting process with less public documentation than some peers.

FAQ

When do Mars internship applications open for summer 2027?

Mars internship applications typically open in September, a year before the program starts. For summer 2027, expect applications to open in September 2026. Mars recruits on a rolling basis and continues through January if positions remain, but most seats fill early. Join the Mars Talent Network at careers.mars.com and check your school's Handshake board.

Does Mars hire interns on a rolling basis?

Effectively yes. Mars opens applications in September and continues recruiting through January "if positions are available." Positions fill as strong candidates apply, so submitting your application during the September-October window gives you the best shot. On-campus interviews typically happen within a week of the career fair.

What GPA do you need for a Mars internship?

Mars doesn't publish a minimum GPA requirement in its internship postings, which is notable compared to finance and tech companies that typically require 3.0-3.5. Mars emphasizes alignment with its Five Principles, drive for results, relationship-building skills, and relevant experience over a strict GPA cutoff. Strong academic performance still helps, but it isn't a published filter.

What is the Mars interview process like?

After applying, you will receive a HireVue digital video interview with 2-5 behavioral questions, using about 30 seconds of prep and 2 minutes per answer. Mars recommends the STAR method. If successful, you advance to a panel interview, either on campus or virtually. Expect a decision within 2-3 weeks. Interview difficulty is rated medium on Indeed.

Do Mars interns get return offers?

Mars doesn't publicly disclose its intern-to-full-time conversion rate. However, the internship program is explicitly designed as a talent pipeline: the Sophomore Experience feeds into internships, and internships feed into full-time associate roles. Mars invests heavily in early talent development, suggesting strong performers are likely to receive offers.

What skills does Mars look for in interns?

It depends on the function: R&D interns need food science or packaging engineering backgrounds, supply chain interns need data analytics and logistics knowledge, and marketing interns need consumer insights and creative strategy experience. Across all roles, Mars looks for humble and agile students with a drive for results, strong relationship-builders, and alignment with its Five Principles.

Are Mars internships paid?

Yes. Glassdoor reports Mars intern salaries ranging from $43K to $77K annualized, with an average around $35 per hour. Levels.fyi shows data analyst interns earning $30 per hour ($5,200 per month). Benefits include housing and relocation support varying by location, pet-friendly offices, and product perks. One Reddit user noted Mars pays the highest internship salary at their finance university.

What is the Mars Sophomore Experience?

The Sophomore Experience is a 2-day leadership development program held in mid-May for college sophomores. It serves as a direct pipeline to the summer internship: students attend the year before they are eligible for the full internship. Applications run from January through April, separate from the main internship window. It's worth applying if you want an inside track.

The window is rolling and it opens in September. Two months of runway is enough to build proof: a remote Externship turns "interested in CPG" into a finished project a September application can point at.