The U.S. Department of State offers programs that help students gain experience and insight into our work, as well as a number of fellowships that assist in funding your education and can lead to employment. For more information and to learn about our many student programs and career opportunities, visit careers.state.gov. The U.S. Department of State offers the following student internship programs:
U.S. Department of State Unpaid Student Internships are offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters in Washington, D.C., and at U.S. embassies and consulates overseas. These 10-week positions are unpaid. To apply, you must be a U.S. citizen, have completed at least 60 credit hours at an accredited university by the time the internship begins, have at least a 3.0 GPA, and be enrolled in school the semester prior to and immediately following your internship. Both graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to apply. Applications open August - September for summer, January for fall, and May for spring internships. For more information, visit careers.state.gov.
Pathways is a federal government-wide program designed to introduce students and recent graduates to a career in federal service. For more information and to apply, visit usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads.
a. The Internship Temporary Experience Program (ITEP) and the Internship Experience Program (IEP) offer paid employment for students while they attend school. To be eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen; at least 16 years old; and enrolled or accepted as a student (full-time or part-time) in a qualifying high school, vocational school, undergraduate program, or graduate program, and with a GPA of at least 2.0. For more information, visit careers.state.gov/students.
b. The Recent Graduates Program hires U.S. citizens who have completed a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree, or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the last two years (up to six years for veterans who were precluded from applying due to military service). These one-year (or two-year program for Passport Specialists), paid, full-time positions include training and development, and those who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion into the Civil Service.
c. The Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) Program is the premier leadership development program in the federal government for those who have completed an advanced degree within the last two years and have a clear interest in public service. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) manages this twoyear, full-time program. Applications are typically accepted annually in November. For more information, visit pmf.gov.
Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) interns are partnered with Department of State diplomatic posts overseas and domestic offices, as well as with eleven other agencies. The application period opens in July and those selected are notified in early September. All VSFS interns are unpaid and volunteer ten hours a week from September to May. Duties vary according to the location and needs of the office. Most projects are internet-based and some have language requirements. To learn more, visit state.gov/vsfs.
The U.S. Department of State partners with several organizations to offer other student opportunities:
The Workforce Recruitment (WRP) is a federal government-wide program that offers college students and recent graduates with disabilities the opportunity to market their abilities to federal hiring managers across the country. Hiring managers look for candidates to fill both summer/temporary positions, as well as fulltime/permanent positions in a wide variety of career fields. For more information, visit wrp.gov.
The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program offers graduate fellowships to outstanding college seniors and graduates who want to join the Foreign Service. These fellowships help finance two-year graduate programs, provide paid internships, and facilitate entry into the Foreign Service. The program also accepts 15-20 undergraduates to participate in the six-week Summer Enrichment Program that prepares students for careers in international affairs. Both programs seek applicants with a strong academic background, a commitment to service, and an interest in making a difference in the world. For more information, visit rangelprogram.org.
The Thomas R. Pickering Undergraduate and Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowships seek to attract outstanding students from all ethnic, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds who have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career. The Fellowship includes funding toward tuition, room, and board during the senior year of college and the first year of graduate study, or for two years of graduate study. Fellows are provided two internships with the U.S. Department of State: one in Washington, D.C. and one at a U.S. Embassy abroad. For more information, visit pickeringfellowship.org/.
The Foreign Affairs IT Fellowship provides funding for two years of IT undergraduate or graduate school, up to $37,500/year, plus two paid internships in exchange for a 5-year commitment to serve as a Foreign Service IT specialist. Learn more through The Washington Center.