The MLH Fellowship is a 12-week internship alternative for aspiring software engineers, run by Major League Hacking (MLH). The Spring 2027 Software Engineering Track runs from 25 January to 16 April 2027, fully remote, with 20 hours per week. The deadline for applicants from all regions is 4 January 2027. At Youth Works Hub, we read the official programme and application pages and gathered what the track involves, how it is organised and how to apply.
What the MLH Fellowship Is
Software Engineering is one of the most in-demand skills that tech companies are hiring for. Fellows on the Software Engineering track experience what it is like to collaborate in a small group on a real project from one of MLH's partners.
As an MLH Fellow on this track, you are matched to a real project from one of the partners. You experience what it is like to work on a real software engineering team first-hand, working on either open- or closed-source projects that tech companies depend on every day.
Spring 2027 Batch at a Glance
The MLH Fellowship runs year-round with batches starting every few months, with scheduling options that accommodate most major time zones.
📅 Dates: 25 January to 16 April 2027 (12 weeks)
🗓️ Schedule: Monday, Wednesday and Friday
⏱️ Time commitment: 20 hours per week
💻 Format: fully remote, designed to be remote from the beginning
👥 Group size: a Pod of 10 other fellows that goes through the programme together
What You Get From the Programme
🎓 Educational curriculum: learn industry best practices using tools like Git and GitHub that you can apply to your project
🌐 Remote first: learn from wherever you are
👥 Small groups: join a Pod of 10 other fellows who collaborate and go through the programme together
🧑💻 Technical mentorship: learn from professional software engineers through code reviews and pair programming
🎉 Extra curriculars: take part in events like the speaker series and hackathons
🛠️ Real-world projects: contribute to projects that people depend on, not just a side project
🧭 Career training: practise interviewing and get tactical feedback on your resume from experts
🪙 Educational stipend: participants receive an educational stipend to offset costs during select programs; the page does not state an amount
Who the Programme Is For
The MLH Fellowship is described as an internship alternative for aspiring software engineers who want hands-on, practical experience. The application's eligibility check requires you to meet all of the following criteria:
🔞 You are over the age of 18
🚫 You do not reside in a country embargoed by the United States
⏱️ You can commit at least 20 hours per week to the programme
🗣️ You are proficient in English, both written and spoken
👨💻 You can code proficiently in at least one programming language
🔇 You have regular access to a quiet workspace for meetings and coding
🎥 You have regular access to a video call quality internet connection, a webcam and a microphone
🏆 You have participated in at least one MLH Hackathon or Global Hack Week event
The deadline is the same for applicants from all regions.
About Major League Hacking
At MLH, the team knows the power of hands-on learning first-hand. Every year, more than 135,000 aspiring technologists around the world participate in MLH events where they learn the skills that help them land jobs, launch startups and everything in between. The MLH Fellowship is a collection of programs designed to make learning these skills easy, fun and fast. By pairing educational and fun content with practical experience, you can learn a lot in a very short period of time, whether you want to build your initial portfolio of personal projects, polish a project you are passionate about or start contributing to open source.
Not an Erasmus+ or ESC Programme
This is a remote programme run by Major League Hacking. It is not part of Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps. If you are comparing paths, our guides on what a fellowship is and how it differs from a scholarship and on fellowship vs internship vs traineeship explain the differences, and you can browse similar openings in the Fellowships section of Youth Works Hub.
How to Apply
Start from the MLH Fellowship application page. The application takes approximately 30-45 minutes to complete, and you can save your work at any time and come back to it later.
📋 Upcoming term: Spring 2027 Software Engineering starts 25 January 2027
⏰ Deadline: 4 January 2027 for applicants from all regions
💾 Saving: you can save your progress and return to the application
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MLH Fellowship remote?
Yes. The programme was designed to be remote from the beginning, so you can take part from wherever you are.
How long is the Spring 2027 Software Engineering Fellowship?
It lasts 12 weeks, from 25 January to 16 April 2027, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with 20 hours per week.
What will I work on?
You are matched to a real project from one of MLH's partners, working on open- or closed-source projects as part of a Pod of 10 fellows, with technical mentorship from professional software engineers.
Is there a stipend?
Participants receive an educational stipend to offset costs during select programs. The pages do not state an amount.
Who can apply?
You must pass the eligibility check in the application: you are over 18, do not reside in a country embargoed by the United States, can commit at least 20 hours per week, are proficient in English, can code in at least one programming language, have a quiet workspace and a video call setup, and have taken part in at least one MLH Hackathon or Global Hack Week event. The deadline of 4 January 2027 applies to applicants from all regions.
How long does the application take?
About 30-45 minutes, and you can save your work and come back to it later.
Deadline
⏳ 04 January 2027
Links
🔗 MLH Fellowship: https://fellowship.mlh.io/
📝 Apply: https://fellowship.mlh.io/apply
🗂️ Application form: https://www.tfaforms.com/4956119
