Internship letter sample 2026: example and tips

You do not need a long work history to apply for an internship. In Dutch, an internship is called a stage. The organisation offering the placement mainly wants someone who wants to learn, who is reliable and who shows they are a good fit for the work. You can make those points in an internship letter, even if your CV is still short.

An internship letter that only says you would like to do an internship is a start, but it is not enough. Below you can read how to show what you can do, what you want to learn and when you are available.

What a host organisation looks for

An organisation offering an internship wants to know whether you can handle the work at the level of your course, whether you are serious and whether you will fit in the team. They look at your motivation, your availability and your attitude. An intern who asks questions and thinks along is a welcome addition.

You do not have to know everything already. Say honestly what you already know and what you want to learn. That is normal in an internship. Also ask about the supervision the company offers, such as a fixed point of contact or an induction plan. That shows you are thinking seriously about your learning process.

Limited work experience? Use what you have done

You have more experience than you think. A part-time job, voluntary work, a school project, a sports club or a project with fellow students all count. Describe what you did, how you worked and what you learned from it. That shows you can take responsibility.

How to structure the internship letter

A one-page internship letter has four parts.

Opening: which course you are studying, which internship you are looking for and for what period.
Motivation: why this company and this department. Refer to something you have seen, such as a project or a way of working.
Experience and learning goals: what you can already do and what you want to learn. One example is enough.
Availability and closing: state the days and period you can work, and thank the reader for their time.

Sample internship letter

The sample is an internship letter from a communication student looking for a placement at a smaller marketing department. The situations and details are invented; replace them with your own experience.

Example

Dear Ms Smit, I am a [your course] student at [name of school] and I am looking for an internship of [period]. I saw your vacancy for a social media intern. At [company name] I would like to learn how a team plans, creates and measures content. I already have experience with [your experience, for example running my sports club’s Instagram account]. What I learned from it: [your learning point]. In a school project I came up with and carried out a campaign for [client] together with [number] fellow students. I was responsible for the copywriting and for contact with the client. With you, I would like to learn how to take a campaign from idea to result, and how to use data along the way without losing sight of the content. I am available [number] days a week, on [days]. My CV is attached. I would be glad to hear whether we can arrange an introductory meeting. Kind regards, [Your name] [Phone number] · [Email address]

Tips for your internship letter

You do not need to write a lot to make a good impression. Three or four sentences per paragraph is enough. Leave the text to rest for a while, then read it with one question in mind: what do I want this reader to remember about me?

A host organisation often reads several letters in a row. Make your letter recognisable with one detail that applies only to you, such as a project you chose yourself or a subject that particularly interests you. That works better than a general sentence about ambition.

Ask yourself what your supervisor at school would say about you. That answer is often the heart of your motivation: an attitude, a strength or a way of working that you already know. Work that into one sentence in your letter, and your story will sound authentic rather than borrowed.

State the period and the number of days per week. That makes it easier for the host organisation to plan.
Check whether the internship is an assignment from your course. If so, mention the requirements your school sets, such as the number of hours or the supervisor.
Show your CV with the relevant subjects and projects, not just your part-time job.
Ask a question in return in the letter, for example what the intern will actually be doing in the first six months. That shows interest.

Common mistakes

No reasons given for why you want this internship. ‘I would like to do an internship’ says nothing about you.
A letter that refers to the wrong company or the wrong role because you copied it from an earlier application.
Forgetting to say when you are available.
Writing too informally. An internship letter is professional, even if the company has an informal culture.

Set out your learning goals

A learning goal is concrete. ‘I want to learn to work with the ticketing system and handle a customer query independently’ is a learning goal. ‘I want to learn a lot’ is not. Choose two or three goals that suit the internship and mention them in your letter. The host organisation will then see straight away where you can contribute and what you expect from the internship.

Also ask your school about the requirements of your course. Some courses want you to gain a certain type of experience, such as project work or supporting colleagues. You can work those requirements into the letter if they fit the internship.

Period and availability

Always state the period, the number of days and the hours per week. A host organisation needs to be able to plan, and unclear availability is a reason to drop out. If you do not yet know the exact dates, give the period and say when you can confirm them.

If you have a part-time job or other commitments alongside your internship, say so in one sentence. That shows you are realistic about your time and prevents problems later.

Your internship letter and your CV

The letter and the CV belong together. What you mention in the letter appears in the CV. The CV gives the details: course units, projects and skills such as software or languages. The letter explains why those things make you suitable for this internship.

Do you have a portfolio, a project of your own or an example of your work? Then add a link in the letter. A host organisation can look at it before reading the CV properly.

Frequently asked questions

Do I also need to send a letter if the internship is arranged by my school?

Often, yes. Even with an internship arranged through school, you have to introduce yourself to the company. A short letter with your motivation and availability helps with that. Also ask your school whether there is a set assignment or format.

How do I deal with limited work experience?

Use your course, school projects, part-time jobs and voluntary work. Describe what you did and what you learned. With an internship, what matters most is your attitude and your willingness to learn, not a long list of jobs.

How long should an internship letter be?

An internship letter is usually half a page to one page. Keep it short and concrete, so that the reader understands in one go what you are looking for.

Should I adapt an internship letter for each company?

Yes. Refer to the company and the department in your motivation. A letter that is the same everywhere stands out as a standard text.

Do I write an internship letter with ‘u’ or ‘je’?

In Dutch there are two forms of ‘you’: formal ‘u’ and informal ‘je’. Use ‘u’, unless the vacancy or the internship supervisor addresses you with ‘je’. Being too formal will not cost you a placement, but being too informal sometimes will. Stick to the same form throughout the letter.

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Internship letter: sample and tips for your first application