Microsoft Internships 2026
Microsoft is one of the most intern-friendly companies in tech, hosting 4,000+ interns every summer across software engineering, product management, data science, and business roles. The company is especially known for its Explore Program, which gives freshmen and sophomores a 12-week rotation through engineering, PM, and design — a rare opportunity at the Big Tech level. Microsoft interns are based primarily in Redmond, WA, but positions are also available in Atlanta, New York, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The company provides furnished corporate housing, free Orca transit passes, and access to Microsoft's legendary campus amenities including sports fields, cafeterias, and gaming lounges.
Program Highlights
SWE interns earn $8,000–$10,000/month plus a $5,000 signing bonus and furnished corporate housing in Redmond
The Explore Program is one of the only Big Tech internships specifically designed for freshmen and sophomores
Microsoft Intern Day features an exclusive concert, product showcases, and networking with CEO Satya Nadella's leadership team
Interns contribute code to production services used by 1.4 billion Windows users and 300 million Microsoft 365 subscribers
Return offer rate is approximately 80% for interns who receive a "strong hire" recommendation from their team
Typical Internship Roles at Microsoft
Software Engineer (SWE) Intern — teams include Azure, Office 365, Windows, Xbox, LinkedIn, and GitHub
Explore Intern — a rotational program for underclassmen combining SWE, PM, and design work
Product Manager (PM) Intern — defining features and driving roadmap for Microsoft's consumer and enterprise products
Data & Applied Science Intern — machine learning, analytics, and AI research across Bing, Cortana, and Azure AI
Business Program Manager Intern — cross-functional strategy roles in Microsoft's enterprise sales and partnerships teams
Hardware Engineer Intern — working on Surface devices, HoloLens, Xbox consoles, and Azure datacenter hardware
Application Tips
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Microsoft opens applications in August for the following summer. The Explore Program fills first — apply by September if you're a freshman or sophomore.
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For SWE interviews, expect 2–4 coding rounds focused on data structures, algorithms, and behavioral questions aligned with Microsoft's values.
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Microsoft values "growth mindset" — in behavioral interviews, discuss times you learned from failure and sought feedback proactively.
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Contributing to open-source projects, especially on GitHub (which Microsoft owns), demonstrates real-world engineering skills.
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If you don't get an offer for SWE, Microsoft also hires extensively for non-technical roles in marketing, finance, and HR with the same benefits.
Interested in Microsoft?
Submit your profile and a PropelGrad recruiter will help you prepare your application for Microsoft's internship program.