Fully remote internships for Virginia employers. Powered by V-TOP & Riipen.

Program Dates: Projects run for a 4-week period, with student placements finalized by August 20 and most students starting in late August. Projects must be completed by October 10.

Student Hours: 40 hours per student

Compensation: $20/hour (paid 50:50 between employer and V-TOP - $400 USD each)

Team Size: Up to 4 students per project (not exceeding 4 or 50% of existing company staff)

Bring UVA talent into your business

This program connects experienced learners from the University of Virginia, known for their academic excellence, with local businesses for short-term, high-impact projects.

Through a partnership between the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) and Riipen, the program helps employers retain top talent in-state by offering real-world experiences that align with Virginia’s most in-demand skill areas:

1. Software Development
2. UI/UX Design
3. Data Analytics

Why work with UVA learners?

UVA students bring advanced academic training, strong technical foundations, and professional experience that enable them to contribute from day one. Their capabilities go beyond the classroom - they’re collaborative, results-oriented, and ready to apply their skills in real-world settings.

What you get

• Fresh insights and high-quality deliverables
• A simplified project management process through Riipen
• Mentorship opportunities and future talent connections
• A role in shaping Virginia’s next generation of skilled professionals

How it works

• Request your project match here. You’ll then go through a brief screening process with UVA. Once approved, your project is accepted and students will apply directly on Riipen.
• You’ll review and interview students to select the number of participants you requested.
• Each student will contribute 40 hours over the 4-week period. As an employer, you’ll provide mentorship, monitor progress, and offer feedback throughout the project.
• Payments are processed through iQuasar Recruitment Services, with costs shared equally between V-TOP and your organization.

Partner with UVA’s brightest students this Fall.

Deliverables will vary depending on the project scope. At the conclusion of the project you will have assets that can be used to further your business goals, such as a completed report.  

Given the short, remote nature of the UVA VTOP Program we require a project-based experience. If your project looks like a job posting, we can not accept it. Please provide a concrete scope for the participant’s work and limit their work to a specific project.

If you choose to use a template from our library, ensure that you have added as much context for your business needs as possible. This will also help to ensure that you have the right participants applying to your projects!

Note: If participants are completing confidential work that you do not want shared through Riipen, you can create and sign off on a timesheet for the participant. In this case, we might also recommend that you have the participants sign an NDA before starting your project. You can use the Agreements feature to do this.