Applications are now open for the Microsoft Research Undergraduate Research Internship 2027, a 12-week summer research programme for advanced undergraduate students interested in computing, artificial intelligence, software engineering, data science and related research fields.

The programme gives rising juniors and rising seniors an opportunity to conduct state-of-the-art research at Microsoft Research labs in the United States, working alongside Microsoft researchers and a wider research community that can include visiting faculty, postdoctoral researchers, data and applied scientists, engineers, designers and doctoral students.

Microsoft lists participating research locations in Redmond, New York City and New England.

The 2027 application offers three tracks: Research, Research Software Engineering, and Research Program Management. Applicants can select research interests spanning AI agents, machine learning, generative AI, databases, health, cybersecurity, computer vision, climate, responsible AI, software engineering and many other areas.

Applications for Summer 2027 are being accepted until October 5, 2026.

Microsoft Research Internship 2027 Overview

Category	Details
Programme	Undergraduate Research Internship – Computing
Organization	Microsoft Research
Region	North America
Country	United States
Position Type	Internship
Duration	12 weeks
Intake	Summer 2027
Target Group	Advanced Undergraduate Students
Academic Level	Rising Juniors and Rising Seniors
Locations	Redmond, New York City, New England
Tracks	Research, Research Software Engineering, Research Program Management
Application Deadline	October 5, 2026
Programming Experience	At least 2 years
References	Up to 2 reference letters
Essays	2
Research Areas	16 listed areas
Research Approaches	11 listed approaches

About the Microsoft Research Undergraduate Internship

The Microsoft Undergrad Internship Program is designed to develop talent and experience for careers in computing research.

The programme runs for 12 weeks during the summer and is specifically designed for advanced undergraduate students.

Rather than offering only conventional corporate work experience, Microsoft places interns within its research environment.

Successful students can work alongside:

Microsoft researchers
Visiting faculty
Postdoctoral researchers
Data scientists
Applied scientists
Engineers
Designers
Doctoral students
Other research interns

Participants contribute to new and ongoing research while developing practical research experience.

Microsoft also states that one goal of the programme is to encourage participants to pursue advanced degrees in computing fields.

Where Will the Microsoft Research Internship Take Place?

Microsoft identifies three research lab locations for this undergraduate programme:

Redmond
New York City
New England

These are US-based Microsoft Research environments.

Applicants should therefore distinguish this opportunity from Microsoft’s broader global internship programmes.

The programme page identifies its region specifically as:

North America

How Long Is the Internship?

The Microsoft Research Undergraduate Internship lasts:

12 weeks

It takes place during the summer.

By the beginning of the internship, approximately May, candidates must satisfy the programme’s academic and technical eligibility requirements.

Who Can Apply for the Microsoft Research Internship 2027?

The programme is specifically designed for advanced undergraduate students.

By the beginning of the internship programme, candidates must be:

Rising juniors or rising seniors

and must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree programme.

Relevant majors include:

Computer Science
Computer Engineering
Software Engineering
Information Science
Related majors

Students should check their academic progression carefully before applying because the programme is not presented as a general internship for students at every undergraduate level.

Programming Experience Requirement

Candidates must have at least:

Two years of programming experience.

The programme does not specify one mandatory programming language in the source supplied.

Applicants should therefore highlight the programming languages, software tools and technical environments in which they have meaningful experience rather than assuming that Microsoft requires a specific language for every research track.

Coursework and Methodology Requirements

Applicants must also have completed relevant academic preparation.

Microsoft states that candidates should have completed courses in:

Calculus
Probability and Statistics
And/or Machine Learning

have demonstrated training in at least one:

Social science methodology

This alternative is particularly important because the programme’s research opportunities extend beyond purely technical computing research.

Some research areas can involve questions relating to people, society, responsible technology, economics, organizations, accessibility and human-computer interaction.

Microsoft Research Internship Tracks

The 2027 application asks candidates to choose one of three tracks.

1. Research

This track is appropriate for students primarily interested in conducting research and investigating questions within Microsoft Research’s areas of interest.

2. Research Software Engineering

This track provides a route for applicants whose interests are more strongly connected to building software and engineering systems within a research environment.

3. Research Program Management

Applicants can also choose Research Program Management.

This provides another pathway into the Microsoft Research environment for candidates whose interests and skills align more closely with research programme management.

Candidates should select the track that best reflects their strengths and future goals.

What Will Microsoft Research Interns Do?

Interns are expected to put scientific inquiry and theory into practice.

During the 12-week programme, students are paired with mentors.

They are expected to:

Conduct research
Collaborate with Microsoft researchers
Work with other interns
Participate in research activities
Present findings
Contribute to ongoing or new research
Engage with the Microsoft Research community

The experience is intended to help students build both technical and professional skills.

Mentorship and Networking

The programme goes beyond research assignments.

Microsoft states that on-the-job learning is supplemented by:

Mentoring
Community building
Networking opportunities

This can provide participants with exposure to different research careers and help students understand pathways toward graduate education and advanced research.

Microsoft Research Areas for 2027

Applicants are asked to identify the research problems or subjects that most interest them.

The application lists 16 research areas.

1. AI Agents and Multi-Agent Systems

Students interested in artificial intelligence can explore research related to AI agents and systems involving multiple interacting agents.

2. Algorithms, Theory and Mathematical Foundations

This area is relevant to candidates interested in theoretical computer science, algorithms and mathematical foundations.

3. Biology, Genomics and Molecular Discovery

Microsoft Research also works at the intersection of computing and biological science.

Students interested in computational approaches to biology, genomics and molecular discovery can select this area.

4. Computer Architecture, Hardware and Infrastructure

Candidates interested in computing systems at the hardware and infrastructure level can select this research field.

5. Data Systems, Databases and Analytics

This area can be particularly relevant to students interested in:

Data
Databases
Analytics
Large-scale information systems

6. Economics, Markets and Organizations

Microsoft Research also conducts work involving economic systems, markets and organizations.

7. Health and Biomedical Research

Students can explore how computing and related methodologies can contribute to health and biomedical research.

8. Human-Computer Interaction and Accessibility

This area focuses on interactions between people and technology, including accessibility.

9. Information Retrieval, Search and Recommendations

Research opportunities can involve technologies that retrieve, rank, search and recommend information.

10. Language, Speech and Knowledge

This field includes research involving language, speech and knowledge systems.

11. Physical Sciences, Climate and Sustainability

Computing research can also contribute to physical sciences, climate challenges and sustainability.

12. Responsible Technology, AI Safety and Society

Students interested in the societal consequences and responsible development of technology can select this field.

It includes areas connected with:

Responsible technology
AI safety
Society

13. Security, Privacy and Cryptography

This area is relevant to students interested in cybersecurity, privacy and cryptographic research.

14. Software Engineering, Programming Languages and Verification

Students interested in software development and the foundations of reliable software systems can select this area.

15. Systems, Networks and Distributed Computing

Research can also involve computer systems, networks and distributed computing.

16. Vision, Graphics and Multimodal Media

This research area includes computing involving visual information, graphics and multimodal media.

Research Approaches

Microsoft distinguishes between a research area and a research approach.

Research areas describe what problems or subjects candidates want to explore.

Research approaches describe how candidates might investigate those problems or develop solutions.

Applicants can choose from the following approaches:

Algorithms and theoretical analysis
Formal modeling and verification
Hardware, devices and physical prototyping
Laboratory and experimental science
Machine learning and generative AI
Optimization, control and reinforcement learning
Qualitative and computational social science methods
Simulation and scientific computing
Software and systems building
Statistics, data analysis and causal inference
User research, design and prototyping

This structure allows applicants to show both what they want to study and how they want to study it.

Machine Learning and Generative AI Opportunities

One of the listed research approaches is:

Machine learning and generative AI

Students interested in rapidly developing areas of artificial intelligence can therefore identify this methodology within their application when it aligns with their selected research area.

However, candidates should avoid choosing AI terminology simply because it is popular.

The application requires students to explain what genuinely draws them to their selected research areas and what impact they hope to make.

Data Science and Analytics Opportunities

Students interested in data-related research may find several relevant pathways.

These include:

Data Systems, Databases and Analytics
Statistics, Data Analysis and Causal Inference
Machine Learning and Generative AI
Information Retrieval, Search and Recommendations
Health and Biomedical Research
Economics, Markets and Organizations

Applicants should select the areas and approaches that genuinely match their academic preparation and interests.

Application Requirements

Applicants must provide several materials when completing the Summer 2027 application.

1. Choose an Internship Track

Applicants must select:

Research
Research Software Engineering

Research Program Management

2. CV or Resume

Candidates must submit a current CV or resume.

The document should accurately reflect relevant:

Education
Programming experience
Projects
Research
Coursework
Technical skills
Leadership
Other relevant experience

3. Up to Two Reference Letters

The application allows candidates to provide:

Up to 2 reference letters

Applicants should consider referees who can speak meaningfully about their academic, technical, research or professional potential.

4. Two Essays

Two written statements are required.

These are particularly important because they allow Microsoft to understand the applicant’s research interests, goals, experiences and contribution to diversity and inclusion.

Essay 1: Research Interest Statement

The first essay must be:

500 words or fewer

Applicants must select:

Up to three desired research areas

and:

At least one research approach aligned with their first desired research area.

Candidates then respond to the question:

What draws you to the research areas you selected, and what impact would you like to have in that space?

Applicants should also describe:

Relevant experience in the selected research area or areas
Experience with related technologies
How they expect to personally benefit from participating in the internship

How to Approach the Research Interest Essay

The 500-word limit means applicants should be specific.

Rather than simply saying:

“I am passionate about artificial intelligence.”

a stronger essay would explain:

Which AI or computing problem interests you
What experience introduced you to the problem
What you have already learned or built
What research questions you want to investigate
Why Microsoft Research is relevant
What impact you hope your work could eventually have

Candidates should connect their past experience with their future research goals.

Essay 2: Leadership in Diversity Statement

The second essay must be:

250 words or fewer

Applicants are asked to describe ways they have contributed to increasing:

Diversity
Inclusion

within their field.

Alternatively, candidates can discuss unique challenges they have faced and explain how they navigated those obstacles.

The essay provides applicants with an opportunity to explain experiences and perspectives that may not be visible from academic grades or technical projects alone.

Diversity and Inclusion

Microsoft states that the programme seeks candidates who are passionate about technology and bring diverse perspectives.

The programme particularly encourages applications from groups currently underrepresented in engineering and computer science.

The source specifically mentions individuals who self-identify as:

Women
African American
Black
Hispanic
Latinx
American Indian
Alaska Native
Native Hawaiian
Pacific Islander
People with disabilities
LGBTQI+

This is encouragement to apply rather than a statement that applicants outside these groups are automatically ineligible.

Candidates should evaluate themselves primarily against the programme’s stated academic and experience requirements.

Application Deadline

Applications for the Summer 2027 Microsoft Research Undergraduate Research Internship are being accepted until:

October 5, 2026

Students interested in applying should therefore begin preparing their resume, references and essays well before the deadline.

How to Apply

The application process can be summarized in the following steps.

Step 1: Check Your Academic Status

Confirm that by the start of the programme you will be a rising junior or rising senior enrolled in an eligible bachelor’s degree programme.

Step 2: Check Your Experience

Make sure you have at least two years of programming experience and satisfy the relevant coursework or social-science-methodology requirement.

Step 3: Choose Your Track

Select:

Research
Research Software Engineering

Research Program Management

Step 4: Select Your Research Interests

Choose up to three desired research areas.

Step 5: Select Your Research Approach

Choose at least one research approach aligned with your first-choice research area.

Step 6: Prepare Your CV or Resume

Highlight experience relevant to your chosen track and research interests.

Step 7: Arrange References

Prepare up to two reference letters.

Step 8: Write the Research Interest Essay

Keep the statement within the 500-word limit.

Step 9: Write the Leadership in Diversity Essay

Keep this statement within the 250-word limit.

Step 10: Submit Before the Deadline

Complete the official application by:

October 5, 2026

Application Tips

Choose Research Areas Strategically

Do not select three unrelated areas simply because the application allows three choices.

Your choices should tell a coherent story about your interests.

Demonstrate Technical Experience

Microsoft requires at least two years of programming experience.

Use your CV and essay to provide evidence through:

Software projects
Research projects
Coursework
Open-source contributions
Hackathons
Internships
Personal projects
Academic assignments

Explain Your Impact

Microsoft explicitly asks what impact you would like to have within your selected research space.

Make this answer specific.

Connect Your Experience to Research

Research experience can be useful, but applicants should also explain how coursework, technical projects or other experiences prepared them to participate in a research environment.

Respect the Essay Limits

The Research Interest Statement is limited to 500 words.

The Leadership in Diversity Statement is limited to 250 words.

Candidates should edit carefully rather than attempting to include every achievement.

Is the Microsoft Research Internship Paid?

The programme page supplied describes the opportunity as a 12-week internship, but it does not state the salary, hourly rate, stipend or other compensation amount on this specific page.

It would therefore be inaccurate to advertise a particular salary based solely on the supplied source.

Candidates should review the application portal and any subsequent offer documentation for compensation information applicable to their placement.

Does Microsoft Provide Accommodation?

The supplied programme page does not state that accommodation is provided.

Applicants should therefore not assume that Microsoft will cover housing unless this is confirmed during the application or offer process.

Does Microsoft Provide Visa Sponsorship?

The supplied page does not state whether visa sponsorship is available for this specific undergraduate research internship.

Because the programme takes place at US-based Microsoft Research labs, applicants who require US work authorization should verify immigration and work-authorization requirements directly through the official application process.

Do not assume visa sponsorship based on Microsoft’s policies for other internship programmes.

Are International Students Eligible?

The supplied programme page describes the region as North America and provides academic eligibility requirements, but it does not explicitly state international-student eligibility or nationality restrictions.

Candidates studying outside the United States should therefore verify eligibility and work-authorization requirements through the official application system before relying on the programme as an international internship opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Microsoft Research Internship 2027 applications open?

Yes. Microsoft states that applications for Summer 2027 are now being accepted.

What is the official programme name?

The official programme is the Undergraduate Research Internship – Computing.

When is the Microsoft Research Internship?

It is a 12-week summer programme.

Where will interns work?

The programme lists Microsoft Research labs in Redmond, New York City and New England.

Who can apply?

Candidates must be rising juniors or rising seniors enrolled in a bachelor’s programme in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, information science or a related major by the start of the internship.

How much programming experience is required?

At least two years of programming experience.

Do applicants need calculus?

Microsoft lists completed coursework in Calculus, Probability and Statistics and/or Machine Learning, or demonstrated training in at least one social science methodology.

What internship tracks are available?

Applicants can choose Research, Research Software Engineering or Research Program Management.

How many research areas can I select?

Applicants can select up to three desired research areas.

Does Microsoft offer AI research?

Yes. Relevant areas and approaches include AI Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, Responsible Technology and AI Safety, Machine Learning and Generative AI, Vision and Multimodal Media, and Language, Speech and Knowledge.

Are data science students relevant?

Potentially, provided they meet the stated degree and eligibility requirements. Data Systems, Databases and Analytics and Statistics, Data Analysis and Causal Inference are among the listed research options.

Do I need recommendation letters?

Applicants may provide up to two reference letters.

How many essays are required?

Two essays.

What is the first essay?

A Research Interest Statement of 500 words or fewer.

What is the second essay?

A Leadership in Diversity Statement of 250 words or fewer.

Is the internship paid?

The supplied Microsoft programme page does not provide a compensation amount, so applicants should verify compensation through the official application and offer process.

Is housing included?

Housing support is not specified on the supplied programme page.

Does Microsoft provide visa sponsorship?

Visa sponsorship is not specified on the supplied programme page for this opportunity.

Can international students apply?

The supplied page does not explicitly confirm nationality eligibility. International students should verify this through Microsoft’s official application process.

What is the application deadline?

Applications for Summer 2027 are accepted until:

October 5, 2026.

Final Thoughts

The Microsoft Research Undergraduate Research Internship 2027 offers advanced undergraduate students a valuable opportunity to spend 12 weeks conducting state-of-the-art computing research within Microsoft’s US research labs.

The programme covers an unusually broad range of fields, including AI agents, machine learning, generative AI, data systems, databases, cybersecurity, software engineering, health, genomics, climate, accessibility, responsible AI, computer vision, algorithms and distributed computing.

Students can also choose between Research, Research Software Engineering and Research Program Management, creating pathways for candidates with different strengths and career ambitions.

Applicants must be rising juniors or rising seniors by the start of the programme, have at least two years of programming experience, and satisfy the programme’s coursework or social-science-methodology requirements.

The application requires a CV or resume, up to two reference letters, a 500-word Research Interest Statement and a 250-word Leadership in Diversity Statement.

Most importantly, the source you supplied is for the 2027 internship cycle, despite the original 2026 headline.

Applications are open until October 5, 2026.

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