Some companies will find and place students in internships for a fee; such internships are mostly unpaid.[2] In some cases companies charge to assist with a search, promising to refund their fees if no internship is found.[3] What is included in such paid programs varies by company. Overall, the advantages are that they provide internship placements at reputable companies, provide controlled housing in a new city, mentorship and support throughout the summer, networking, weekend activities in some programs, and sometimes academic credit.[4]
Another form of paying for internships is through charity auctions, where a company with an internship will select a charity to get the proceeds of the auction. In some cases, companies have created internships simply to help charities.
