How to write an internship cover letter with little experience

A simple structure for an internship cover letter, what to use when you have little work experience, a full example and a checklist before you send. 5 min readUpdated 11 November 2026By the Prepper team

An internship cover letter does not need a long work history. It needs to show three things: you know what the company does, you have relevant ability, and you would be easy to teach and work with.

Structure

Opening: who you are, what you are applying for, and one specific reason for this company.
Ability: a course, project or result that shows relevant skills.
Initiative: a job, society, competition or personal project that shows effort and reliability.
Close: dates you are available and a polite sign-off.

Keep it to 200 to 250 words.

What counts as evidence

University projects with a result.
Part-time work: reliability, customers, responsibility.
Societies, sport and volunteering, especially with a role.
Competitions, hackathons and case challenges.
Things you taught yourself: a programming language, a portfolio, a small business.

Example

Dear Ms Smit,

I am a second-year economics student at Utrecht University applying for the summer internship in your strategy team. I followed your work on the retail energy market through the report you published in September, which I used in my own coursework.

In a group project this year I built a model of household energy demand and presented our findings to a panel of lecturers; we received the highest grade in the year. I enjoy turning data into a clear recommendation and I am comfortable in Excel and Python.

Alongside my studies I work twelve hours a week in a restaurant, where I train new staff, and I am treasurer of the student economics society.

I am available from 1 June to 31 August and would be glad to discuss how I could contribute.

Kind regards,
Noor Bakker

Tips

Name the team or programme exactly as the advert does.
One specific fact about the company beats three lines of praise.
Do not apologise for lack of experience.
Match the tone to the employer: more formal for banks and law firms.

Checklist

Correct company, programme and contact name.
Dates of availability included.
No spelling errors; ask someone to read it.
Saved as a PDF with a clear file name.

See also how to write a cover letter and the graduate CV guide.

Frequently asked questions

How long should an internship cover letter be?
About 200 to 250 words. Three short paragraphs of evidence and a clear close are enough.
What if I have no relevant experience?
Use coursework, projects, part-time work and activities. Show what you did and what came of it, and why this company interests you.

How long should an internship cover letter be?

About 200 to 250 words. Three short paragraphs of evidence and a clear close are enough.

What if I have no relevant experience?

Use coursework, projects, part-time work and activities. Show what you did and what came of it, and why this company interests you.