<p>Internships have piqued the attention of higher education programs in the hospitality-business-related subject in a Chinese context. Adopting a qualitative research methodology, the present study aims to undertake a comprehensive examination of current literature on internship issues and approaches to the psychological role stress of a group of interns at a tourism and hospitality higher education institution in southern China. Five psychological dimensions are identified through the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data derived from the current research: students’ cognition and professional identity formation, sense of professionalism, entrepreneurial competencies, integrative identity negotiation process, and interprofessional communication capacity. The paper contributes to academic awareness of the psychological elements of student interns in the tourism and hospitality industries and identifies critical research areas for future studies, such as strategies for mitigating role stress, fostering entrepreneurial skill development, and enhancing professional identity formation in cross-cultural contexts.</p>