U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program
Intern in Washington, D.C. or Abroad
How far could a student internship at the U.S. Department of State take you? Just for starters, it would give you a coveted inside look at diplomacy in action, and the range of careers and responsibilities found in the Foreign Service and Civil Service.
Think of it as test-driving a career before you decide what you’re going to do with your life. You’ll gain valuable work experience that you can apply to virtually every endeavor — whether you work in government or the private sector. Most of all, you will feel good about doing something worthwhile for your nation.
At the U.S. Department of State, we like to say that we represent America to the world. As an intern here or abroad, you will, too. The U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program is an unpaid internship with the opportunity to work in U.S. embassies and consulates throughout the world, as well as in various bureaus located in Washington, D.C. and at Department offices around the United States. This program is designed to provide substantive learning experiences in a foreign affairs environment.
While the duties of U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program participants vary from bureau to bureau, office to office, and embassy to embassy, it is not uncommon for these students to:
- Participate in meetings with senior-level U.S. Government or foreign government officials
- Draft, edit, or contribute to cables, reports, communications, talking points, or other materials used by policymakers in furthering U.S. foreign policy objectives
- Support events, including international and/or multilateral meetings and conferences or
- Engage directly with U.S. audiences in helping to explain the work of the Department of State or foreign audiences in helping to promote U.S. foreign policy and improve understanding of U.S. culture and society
For internship program details such as duties of an intern, participating offices and bureaus, types of internships, and housing information, please view and download the Student Internship Program Brochure.
Fall 2019 Student Internship Program
Not Currently Accepting Applications
The Fall 2019 Student Internship Program will open in January 2019. Interns will be expected to enter on duty in the September/October timeframe.
To be eligible for the U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program, you must:
- U.S. citizenship
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Successfully complete a background investigation
- Be able to receive either a Secret or Top Secret clearance (pdf).
- You may be subject to random drug testing.
Furthermore, you must be:
- A student. This means you have been accepted for enrollment, or are enrolled as a degree-seeking student in an accredited college or university
- A full- or part-time continuing college or university junior, or graduate student (including graduating seniors intending to go on to graduate school). An applicant is considered a junior if he/she will have completed all sophomore credits (60 or more hours or 90 quarter hours) by the time the internships begins and will be entering at least the junior year immediately upon completion of the internship.
IMPORTANT: You are eligible to apply for the Department’s unpaid internship program if you have not yet completed your registration at a college or university for graduate or post-graduate studies (including law school) or are awaiting an admissions determination for graduate or post-graduate studies (including law school). However, if selected for an internship, you must provide proof that you have registered, or have been accepted for enrollment for studies in the semester or quarter immediately following the internship before you can begin your internship.
We seek a broad range of academic majors; in fact, regardless of your major there’s an opportunity for you. Find out which offices are the best fit for your major.
For overseas assignments, applicants must present evidence of medical insurance coverage. All students must be available to begin their internship within the appropriate application timetable.
The U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program is an unpaid internship with the opportunity to work in U.S. Embassies throughout the world, as well as in various bureaus located in Washington, D.C. This program is designed to provide substantive experiences in a foreign affairs environment.
Unpaid Internships:
- May be able to earn college credit.
- Unpaid interns assigned to the U.S. qualify for SmartBenefits Metro Transit Subsidy