The MLH (Major League Hacking) Fellowship is a fully remote, 12-week educational stipend program designed as an alternative to traditional tech internships. Instead of being limited to one company, you’ll contribute to real open-source and corporate-sponsored projects, gain mentorship from software professionals, and build industry-ready skills.
Subscribe our Channel
Fellowship Tracks & Format
-
Software Engineering Track
Collaborate on live open-source projects used by top tech companies -
Production/Site Reliability Engineering (SRE)
Partnering with Meta to focus on DevOps, system reliability, CI/CD pipelines, and performance optimization -
Web3 Engineering Track
Dive into blockchain projects, smart contracts, and decentralized platforms like Solana
Key Details at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 weeks, part-time (~20 hrs/week) |
| Schedule | Remote & accommodating to global time zones |
| Stipend | Educational stipend during the fellowship |
| Cohort Size & Diversity | Over 500 graduates, 50% underrepresented groups, fellows from 30+ countries |
Who Should Apply?
-
Anyone over 18 with proficiency in at least one programming language (e.g., Python, JavaScript, C++, etc.)- https://fellowship.mlh.io/
-
Available ~20–30 hours/week with stable internet and ability to attend daily standups and mentor sessions;
-
Open to non-CS majors—diverse backgrounds are encouraged.
-
Emphasis on remote collaboration across global time zones.
Online Application Process
- Online Application Form:
- Visit the official MLH Fellowship website and click “Apply Now”.
- Fill out your personal information, academic experience, and work experience.
- Select your preferred program track (Software Engineering, Production Engineering, or Web3 Engineering) and time commitment.
- Answer several essay questions about your motivation, what you’ve learned, and what makes you unique.
- Submit a link to an existing, public code sample on GitHub that best represents your skills. The code should be well-documented, modular, and solve a real problem.
- You can also apply for a need-based stipend during this stage.
- Initial Interview:
- If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited for a short (10-15 minute) general interview.
- This is a behavioral interview to assess your communication skills, passion for the program, and general eligibility.
- Technical Interview:
- Successful candidates from the initial interview proceed to a technical interview.
- In this round, you will share your screen and walk the interviewer through the code sample you submitted in your application, explaining your design choices and technical skills.
- Final Review & Matching:
- After the interviews, your application is reviewed, and if accepted, you are matched with a “pod” (a small group of fellows and mentors) based on your skills, interests, and availability.
- You will then finalize enrollment paperwork.
What You’ll Experience
-
Hands-on coding: Daily collaboration in small pods, pair-programming, and real code reviews.
-
Expert mentorship: Get feedback and guidance from industry engineers and maintainers.
-
Skill workshops: Learn Git practices, open-source citizenship, system reliability, blockchain dev, and more .
-
Community building: Participate in speaker sessions, peer networking, and hackathon-style sprints .
Real Feedback from Fellows
A Reddit alum shared this after the Open Source track:
“You learn how to navigate the complex codebase … After the fellowship you lose fear of the complex tasks.”
Many reaffirm the MLH Fellowship as being “better than any internship or school ever could”.
Application Insights
-
Apply early—rolling admissions start months before batch begins.
-
Strong essays & code sample matter. Avoid copy‑pasted projects—original work stands out .
-
Two‑stage interviews: first non‑technical screening, then technical deep‑dive about your project.
-
Pod matching occurs after acceptance; early applicants get more placement options.
FAQs
• Is the MLH Fellowship worth it?
Yes—especially for open-source contributions and mastering large codebases .
• How much is the stipend?
It varies by country but is enough to support participants during the 12‑week fellowships.
• Is it globally accessible?
Mostly yes, but APAC (including India) may have limited availability during certain phases due to hiring market conditions.
The MLH Fellowship is a 12‑week, remote, part‑time experience where you’ll work on real-world open-source or partner projects, gain mentorship, and build confidence in software engineering, SRE, or Web3. Great fit for anyone looking to elevate their code skills, join a global community, and prepare for a tech career.