Last updated: October 2026
NASA OSTEM internships are paid, in-person projects at NASA centers for US citizens in high school (graduating seniors), college, grad school or just out of school. Applications for summer 2027 close March 1, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET, and the spring 2027 deadline has already passed. Projects go up on NASA STEM Gateway on a rolling basis and mentors can select any time after you submit, so start your profile now rather than in February.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | Through NASA STEM Gateway, linked from nasa.gov/learning-resources/internship-programs |
| Summer 2027 deadline | March 1, 2027, 11:59 p.m. ET; projects post on a rolling basis before then |
| Fall 2027 deadline | May 24, 2027, 11:59 p.m. ET |
| Session dates | Summer 2027: June 7 to Aug. 13 (10 weeks). Fall 2027: Aug. 23 to Dec. 3 (15 weeks) |
| Who can apply | US citizens, 18+ by the session start, enrolled in an accredited US program (high school seniors for the summer after graduation, undergrads, grads, and recent grads for four sessions) |
| GPA | Cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale |
| Majors | STEM and non-STEM majors |
| Pay | Stipend based on academic level and session length. NASA doesn't post amounts; Iowa Space Grant lists spring 2027 stipends of $12,300 (undergrad) and $14,850 (grad) |
| Format | In-person at a NASA center, usually 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; you arrange and pay for your own housing |
The key detail most applicants miss: there's no resume upload. Mentors judge you on what you type into the STEM Gateway profile fields, so a thin profile hurts you on every project you apply to.
OSTEM mentors pick interns from what you write in your STEM Gateway profile, so you need concrete project work to describe. A remote Externship like the Wayfair n8n AI Agent Engineering Externship gives you a finished technical build to list before the March 1 deadline.
What Is the NASA OSTEM Internship Program?
OSTEM internships are run by NASA's Office of STEM Engagement. You work on a real NASA project at one of NASA's centers, under the guidance of a NASA mentor, and build technical skills and career readiness along the way. Projects change every session and vary by center, so you search STEM Gateway by location and skill set and apply to the specific projects that fit you. There are three sessions a year: a 10-week summer session and 15-week fall and spring sessions. NASA describes OSTEM as the track that "builds technical skills and gives students hands-on exposure to NASA missions," which is different from Pathways, its civil service hiring track.
Who Can Apply to NASA OSTEM Internships?
NASA sets one set of rules for every OSTEM project:
• Citizenship: US citizen. US citizens enrolled at foreign institutions aren't eligible
• Age: at least 18 by the published start date of the session
• Enrollment: full-time or part-time in a certificate or degree program accredited by a recognized US Department of Education accrediting organization
• Class year: high school seniors can apply for the summer session right after graduation; undergrads and grad students can apply any session; recent graduates can apply for the four sessions right after they graduate
• GPA: cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Major: STEM and non-STEM majors can both apply
• Limits: up to three internships as an undergraduate and three as a graduate student, six in total
International students aren't eligible. NASA's International Internship (I2) program isn't currently offered.
When Are NASA OSTEM Applications Due for Summer 2027?
The summer 2027 deadline and session dates are published by NASA, not projected: applications close March 1, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET, and the summer 2027 session runs June 7 to Aug. 13, 2027. NASA doesn't publish an open date because projects post to STEM Gateway on a rolling basis. One older repost listed a February 26, 2027 deadline; NASA's own page now says March 1, so confirm on the official page before you plan around it.
The spring 2027 deadline (September 14, 2026) has passed. Build your STEM Gateway profile now so it's ready when summer 2027 projects you want are posted.
Summer 2027 projects post on STEM Gateway on a rolling basis. Mentors can select interns any time after you submit, so apply to projects as soon as they appear.
Application deadline for summer 2027, 11:59 p.m. ET. Offers arrive by email.
Application deadline for fall 2027, 11:59 p.m. ET, for the Aug. 23 to Dec. 3, 2027 session.
The 10-week summer 2027 session runs in person at your NASA center.
How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and the employer's own postings. Treat future dates as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The program's official page is always the most current source. If it's posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.
How Do You Apply to a NASA OSTEM Internship?
Every OSTEM application runs through one profile in NASA STEM Gateway:
1. Create an account and profile in NASA STEM Gateway, linked from NASA's internship page. One profile works for applications across every center.
2. Fill in your experience, skills and background in the form fields. There's no resume upload, so put your strongest project details here.
3. Search projects by location and skill set, and apply to several. NASA encourages applying to multiple opportunities.
4. Watch for an interview request. Many mentors run a phone or video interview before selecting, though it isn't required.
5. Expect an offer by email. Selections can happen any time after you submit, up to and past the March 1, 2027 deadline.
NASA's FAQ says letters of recommendation aren't part of the OSTEM application. Iowa Space Grant says a transcript upload is required, so have an unofficial transcript ready.
Does a NASA OSTEM Internship Lead to a Job at NASA?
Not directly. NASA describes OSTEM as a skill-building program that "builds technical skills and gives students hands-on exposure to NASA missions," and it doesn't state any job offer or conversion. The track NASA calls "a structured employment pipeline into civil service" is Pathways, which hires through USAJOBS on its own schedule. An OSTEM internship still gives you a NASA mentor and a real project for your next application, including Pathways. For the full picture of NASA's student options, see our NASA internship guide.
How Do You Build a Strong NASA OSTEM Application?
Mentors pick from what's in your STEM Gateway profile, so the profile has to show three things: real project work, skills that match the project, and that you can explain what you did. Here's how to show each one.
| What to show | Why it matters here | Externship that builds it |
|---|---|---|
| A technical project you built end to end | With no resume upload, mentors read your project descriptions to judge fit | Wayfair n8n AI Agent Engineering |
| Comfort analyzing real data | Many NASA projects involve test, research and analysis work | ARCeH Health Outcomes Data Analytics |
| Security and systems thinking | IT and cybersecurity projects run at every center; honest fit if you're in a computing or non-STEM major | vCISO Cybersecurity Risk Assessment |
Apply to more than one project and more than one center. Selections are made project by project, so a wider spread raises your odds more than polishing a single application.
What Similar Programs Should You Consider?
If you're applying to NASA OSTEM, these are worth a look too:
- NASAour guide to every NASA student track, including Pathways and JPLGuide →
- SpaceXengineering internships at a commercial launch companyGuide →
- Blue Originaerospace engineering internships in commercial spaceflightGuide →
- The Aerospace Corporationtechnical internships supporting national space programsGuide →
- Lockheed Martinengineering and business internships at a major NASA contractorGuide →
NASA also runs the Pathways Internship Program, which hires interns as federal employees through USAJOBS, and the L'SPACE academies, which are free and online. Our NASA internship guide compares them. For the wider field, see our government internships guide.
FAQ
When is the NASA OSTEM deadline for summer 2027?
March 1, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET, per NASA's internship page. The fall 2027 deadline is May 24, 2027. Projects post to STEM Gateway on a rolling basis and mentors can select any time after you submit, so applying in the fall or early winter gives you more chances than waiting for the deadline.
Are NASA OSTEM internships paid?
Yes. NASA pays a stipend based on your academic level and session length, but it doesn't publish the amounts. Iowa Space Grant Consortium lists spring 2027 stipends of $12,300 for undergraduates and $14,850 for graduate students. You arrange and pay for your own housing near the center.
What GPA do you need for a NASA OSTEM internship?
A cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. You also need to be a US citizen, at least 18 by the session start, and enrolled full-time or part-time in an accredited certificate or degree program. Both STEM and non-STEM majors can apply.
Can international students apply to NASA OSTEM?
No. OSTEM internships require US citizenship, and US citizens enrolled at foreign institutions aren't eligible either. NASA's International Internship (I2) program isn't currently offered, so there's no OSTEM route for students without US citizenship right now. Pathways, NASA's other student program, requires US citizenship too.
Can high school students apply to NASA OSTEM?
Only graduating seniors, and only for the summer session right after high school graduation. You still need to be 18 by the session start date and meet the 3.0 GPA rule. Recent college graduates can apply for the four sessions right after they graduate.
Do you need a resume or recommendation letters?
No to both. STEM Gateway has no resume upload, so you enter your experience and skills in the form fields. NASA's FAQ says letters of recommendation aren't part of the OSTEM application. Iowa Space Grant notes a transcript upload is required, so have one ready.
Does a NASA OSTEM internship lead to a job offer?
Not directly. NASA frames OSTEM as hands-on skill building and doesn't promise conversion to a job. Its civil service hiring track is the Pathways Internship Program, which you apply to separately on USAJOBS. An OSTEM project and mentor can strengthen that application.
The March 1 deadline is months away, but mentors select early and your profile is the whole application. If it's light on project work, a remote Externship gives you a finished build to describe before summer 2027 projects fill.
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.
