Your Guide to Paid Remote Open Source Internships: Summer 2025 Opportunities
Gaining real-world experience is invaluable for aspiring software developers and tech professionals. Open source internships provide a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects, learn from experienced mentors, and build a strong portfolio, often while getting paid. If you’re searching for remote opportunities for Summer 2025, this guide highlights several prominent paid open source internship programs welcoming students and beginners.
Major League Hacking (MLH) Fellowship
Major League Hacking collaborates with various employers to offer fellowship tracks in Software Engineering, Site Reliability Engineering, and Web3 Engineering. This remote program is designed for individuals who can code in at least one language, have participated in an MLH Hackathon or Global Hack Week event, and can dedicate a minimum of 20 hours per week. The fellowship spans 12 weeks, operates remotely, and provides interns with a stipend of up to $5,000. Applications for the Summer 2025 cohort are expected to close around April 30th, 2025.
Google Summer of Code (GSoC)
Google Summer of Code is a globally recognized program connecting students with numerous open source organizations, including giants like The Linux Foundation, NumFOCUS, GNOME, and VideoLAN. Participants work on specific open source projects under the guidance of mentors. Project durations typically last 12 weeks, though some may extend up to 22 weeks. Stipends vary based on project size and location, starting around $1,500 for small projects, $3,000 for medium, and potentially $6,000 for large projects.
Outreachy
Outreachy specifically focuses on providing paid, remote, 3-month internships to individuals from groups underrepresented in the technology sector. This includes women (cis and trans), trans men, non-binary individuals, and members of Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American/Indigenous, and Alaskan Native communities in the US. Outreachy runs two cohorts annually: May to August and December to March. Interns receive a total stipend of $7,000, paid in installments throughout the program.
LFX Mentorship Program
The Linux Foundation Mentorship Program (LFX Mentorship) serves as a platform for various open source communities to host mentorships for aspiring developers. Each participating project defines its own specific program details, including eligibility criteria, duration, stipend amount, and mentorship structure. Generally, LFX mentees can expect stipends ranging from $3,000 to $6,600, influenced by their location and the specific program they join.
Here are some examples of mentorship programs available under the LFX umbrella:
Linux Kernel Mentorship Program
Participants contribute directly to the Linux Kernel, working alongside seasoned developers to enhance its stability and security. Some foundational knowledge of the Linux Kernel is beneficial for applicants. This program typically runs for 12 weeks full-time or 24 weeks part-time, with cohorts in Spring, Summer, and Fall. Applications often open in February for a March start.
Hyperledger Mentorship Program
This program offers opportunities to engage in the development and deployment of blockchain projects within a supportive open source environment. While open to beginners, demonstrating prior open source contributions or activity within the LF Decentralized Trust (LDFT) community can strengthen an application. Applications for the summer term (running June to November) usually open in April.
CNCF Mentorship Program
The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) collaborates with LFX Mentorship and GSoC to offer mentorships focused on cloud-native technologies. These open source internships typically last for 3 months, with applications generally opening in February.
Open Mainframe Project Mentorship
This mentorship allows participants to contribute to open source projects related to mainframe systems, including technologies like COBOL and z/OS. Past projects have involved tasks like documentation, bug fixing (e.g., under the Feilong project), COBOL programming, and exploring AI applications in mainframe modernization. The program runs for 3 months, with applications for the Summer 2025 cohort expected to close around May 9th, 2025.
Processing Foundation Fellowship
The Processing Foundation Fellowship supports creative technologists working on open source projects at the intersection of art, code, education, and activism. Fellows develop tools, libraries, tutorials, or community initiatives aimed at advancing creative coding and digital literacy, particularly for underrepresented groups. This summer fellowship typically runs for about 16 weeks from June to October, offering a stipend of $10,000. Applications generally close around May 2nd, 2025.
Summer of Bitcoin
Focused on the Bitcoin ecosystem, Summer of Bitcoin provides paid remote internships for students interested in contributing to Bitcoin and related open source projects. Interns work with experienced developers and designers on areas like protocol development, the Lightning Network, Bitcoin Core, design, and research. The program runs for 12 weeks, typically between June and August, and pays contributors a stipend ranging from $3,000 to $6,600 (paid in the equivalent amount of Bitcoin).
FOSSASIA University Students Program
FOSSASIA facilitates internships connecting beginners with open source projects spanning artificial intelligence, web and mobile development, and hardware. Participating organizations set the project scope, and contributors receive a monthly payment based on factors like project complexity, location, and qualifications. Program duration varies from 2 to 6 months depending on the specific project. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with individual projects setting their own start and end dates.
Summer of Nix
Summer of Nix enables students to develop free and open source software (FOSS) projects, specifically focusing on making them available as Nix packages. Participants collaborate in teams on tasks including coding, software testing, documentation, and web design within the Nix ecosystem. The program offers a stipend of €3,000 for EU participants, with adjusted pay for interns from other locations. This remote open source program runs for approximately 13 weeks. Applications for the summer cohort usually open in late spring, closing around May 12th, 2025.
Open Source Promotion Plan (OSPP)
Based in China but open to university students globally, OSPP connects students with open source organizations for real-world coding projects during the summer. International students can participate by contributing to projects hosted by global open source communities involved in the program. This open source internship typically lasts 3-4 months, offering stipends up to ¥12,000 CNY (approximately $1,600 USD) based on project complexity.
Prepare Now for Success in Paid Open Source Internships
Competition for paid remote open source internships can be high, so early preparation significantly boosts your chances. Focus on refining your GitHub profile and start making small, meaningful contributions to beginner-friendly open source projects that interest you. Engage actively in the tech communities surrounding projects you’d like to work on; interacting with potential mentors before applying can help build rapport and ensure your project proposals align with the organization’s goals. Remember to tailor each application, highlighting your relevant skills, strong motivation, and eagerness to learn and contribute.
At Innovative Software Technology, we understand the power and potential of open source software, which is heavily driven by contributions from dedicated individuals, including interns from programs like these. We help businesses harness the benefits of these technologies by providing expert guidance and custom software development services. Whether you need to integrate robust open source solutions into your existing infrastructure, build innovative applications leveraging open source components, or require strategic technology consulting, our team delivers tailored, high-performance software solutions. Partner with Innovative Software Technology to leverage the collaborative strength of open source for your business growth and technological advancement.