Questions to ask about an internship
Internships are short, so the questions that matter are about what you will actually do, who will teach you, and what happens when it ends. There are sets here for the interview, for your first weeks, and for the people supervising interns.
A few to start with
What are the next steps, and what's the best way to follow up with you?
A plain closing question that gets you a timeline and a channel. Note the date, and if it passes without word, one polite message referring to what they told you is entirely reasonable.
Would you look at this before I send it out?
The habit rather than the question. Asking for review before anything leaves the team protects them and teaches you the house standard quickly. Interns who send work directly to clients or other departments unreviewed create the problems people remember.
Will I be asked to sign an NDA, IP assignment or anything restricting later work, and can I read it first?
Reading it beforehand is reasonable and rarely refused. Pay attention to any clause covering work you do outside the internship, which can affect a side project or a thesis you were already working on.
Could we pick one skill for me to be noticeably better at by the end?
Gives the term a spine beyond task completion, and gives your supervisor something concrete to say if they are asked for a reference later.
Would I be able to use this work in a portfolio or talk about it in interviews?
Small companies are often more relaxed about this than large ones, but you need it agreed rather than assumed. Ask what would need to be left out.
How many hours a week can you work, and what else is on your calendar this term?
Ask about exam periods, a second job, a thesis deadline and any planned travel now. Availability problems surfaced in an interview are scheduling; surfaced in July they are a staffing gap.