Share

Internship Opportunity: U.S. Department of State

PLEASE NOTE: This opportunity is listed for reference only. The deadline to apply has passed.

This is an unpaid internship opportunity from outside the Rockefeller Center.

Position Type: Internship - unpaid

Location: Washington D.C. or abroad

Sector: Government

Start Date: September/October (TBD)

Wage or benefits: Unpaid

Time Commitment: Up to 40 hours per week for at least 8 weeks

Desired Class Year: Open to Juniors, Seniors, and graduate students

Desired Major or Interest: Open to all majors

Application Deadline: Application opens in January

Organization website: https://www.state.gov/

Brief Description of the organization:

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.

Brief Description of the Intern's role or key qualifications:

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.

How to apply:

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.

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.

See https://careers.state.gov/intern/student-internships/ for more details.