U.S. Department of State Paid Student Internship Program – Spring 2027 and Summer 2027

Summary

The U.S. Department of State Student Internship is a paid experience offering U.S. citizen students and veterans a chance to participate in the formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy.

Duties

The Department of State provides student interns and veterans with educational and professionally substantive opportunities. The purpose of the program is to provide students and veterans with insight into the work of U.S. foreign policy and the U.S. Department of State and its diplomatic facilities around the world. Specific duties and responsibilities vary according to the domestic office or overseas assignment. Former Department of State Interns have written congressionally mandated reports, participated in negotiations, assisted with U.S. citizens services or visa work, helped coordinate international conferences and visits of high-level officials, done economic research, monitored and evaluated media reporting, and identified U.S. experts to speak overseas. Other examples include interns with scientific and technical backgrounds working on issues such as arms control, infectious diseases, and remote sensing. Students and veterans interested in management and administration may use their expertise working on projects involving budgets, human resources, information systems, or general logistical support to posts abroad. Interns may be required to do some routine administrative work. Applicants must identify the semester in which they wish to apply. Interns are required to work 40 hours per week and attend a standard-setting mandatory orientation in Washington D.C. to successfully complete the internship. The program covers reasonable travel expenses to and from the orientation and the internship location.

Requirements

To qualify you must: Be a United States citizen at the time of application. Be at least 18 years old at the time of application. Be able to receive and maintain a Secret security clearance. Have not previously participated in the U.S. Department of State's Student Internship Program, U.S. Foreign Service Internship, or Foreign Service Fellowship Program. Be able to show proof of medical insurance during the time of the internship, including the time of travel to and from the location of the internship and international insurance coverage if placement is overseas. Assume responsibility for covering personal medical and health-related expenses during the internship, including maintaining appropriate health insurance coverage. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must meet one (1) of the following eligibility criteria. Applicants must clearly demonstrate in their application materials that they satisfy at least one of the eligibility pathways outlined below: Option 1 – Current Undergraduate Student Be enrolled in an accredited two- or four-year college or community college. Have completed at least 60 credit hours by the start of the internship. Be enrolled at least part-time at the time of application (breaks in enrollment of up to five months are permitted). Be in good academic standing with a minimum 3.2 GPA. Option 2 – Current Graduate Student Be enrolled in a graduate program at an accredited institution. Be enrolled at least part-time at the time of application (breaks in enrollment of up to five months are permitted). Be in good academic standing with a minimum 3.2 GPA. Option 3 – Recent Graduate Have graduated from an accredited undergraduate or graduate program within two years of the internship start date. Have earned a minimum 3.2 GPA. Option 4 – U.S. Military Veteran Be a veteran of the United States Armed Forces. Possess a high school diploma or equivalent. Have served on active duty (for any length of time) within the two years preceding the internship start date.

Qualifications and evaluation

You will be evaluated for this job based on merit. Applications will be evaluated by Department officials for selection and placement based on the applicant's demonstrated education, work and volunteer experience, training, overall background experience, and answers to the applicant questions as reflected in a complete application. Department officials may make their final decision based upon a phone interview or by simply reviewing application materials. All interns selected for a position will be officially notified by the Student Internship Program Office by e-mail per the timeline provided below. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Education

Please see the “Requirements” section.

Benefits

The U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program is a paid internship with the opportunity to work in U.S. Embassies and field offices throughout the world, as well as in bureaus located in Washington, D.C. This program is designed to provide substantive national security experience in a foreign affairs environment. Participants in the Paid Student Internship Program are considered temporary employees. As such, students are not eligible to accrue annual leave or sick leave, nor are students eligible for Federal Employee Health Benefits, Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance, or Thrift Savings Plan. The internship service is not creditable for retirement benefits unless the intern is subsequently appointed into a federal career position. The program covers reasonable travel expenses to and from the location of the internship and provides fully furnished housing.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted electronically through the "Gateway to State" system. To begin the application process, please click on the "Apply Online" button to the right. You have until 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process. This includes submitting your online application as well as any required documents as defined in the Required Documents section. Candidates are encouraged to complete their applications well before the application deadline to be assured of consideration. Please read all instructions carefully. There are three parts to the application process: Applicant Profile (For applicants new to USAJOBS) Internship Application, including application questionnaire. Required Documents - Resume and Official or unofficial Transcripts are acceptable Part I-Applicant Profile Applicants new to USAJOBS must create an applicant profile by providing biographic and prior Federal government employment information, if any. You must answer all "required" fields in order to proceed through the application process. (If you are not new to USAJOBS, you can proceed directly to the intern application.) Note: Attaching a personal resume to your USAJOBS profile is sufficient. You do not need to build a USAJOBS resume. Part II-Internship Application The second part of the online application process is specific to the internship program. In this section, you will be required to: Answer questions regarding your personal, academic and employment experience. Identify preference for Spring 2027 or Summer 2027 and a domestic and/or overseas assignment. Identify up to two geographical or functional areas for which you wish to be considered for an internship assignment. Note: Applicants interested in working at overseas posts or branch offices outside of Washington D.C. must first indicate the bureau with responsibility over that location. For example: An applicant interested in working at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia will select WHA or the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. Answer the questions regarding the statements of interest that describes your objectives and motivation in seeking an internship. Note: Your Statements of Interest are a critical part of the selection process and should be clear, concise, and well written. It should demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and your commitment to advancing U.S. national interests through public service. Applicants are encouraged to reflect on how their academic studies, professional experience, and personal responsibilities have shaped their character, work ethic, and commitment to serving the United States and the American people. Competitive candidates will demonstrate professionalism, integrity, accountability, sound judgment, patriotism, and the ability to contribute to mission-driven teams. Describe how your academic path, work experience, and personal responsibilities have prepared you to succeed in a demanding, results-oriented environment. This may include balancing school with employment, military service, mission work, volunteer service, supporting family, overcoming financial challenges, or developing practical skills such as resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving. The Department seeks candidates committed to defending the interests of the American people, advancing prosperity at home, and demonstrating strong U.S. leadership on the global stage with an interest in long-term federal service. Clearly state what you will contribute to the office or post, as well as what you hope to gain from the internship. You may also include relevant language skills, technical expertise, or other abilities that support U.S. priorities at home and abroad. Your statement should reflect a strong sense of purpose, respect for public service, and a commitment to representing the American people with dedication and professionalism.

Required documents

Once you have completed the online questionnaire, you will be prompted to attach your transcript and resume (PDF Files) to your application for it to be considered complete. Applications submitted before the deadline without the required documents attached will not be considered. The required transcript is your current or most recent school transcript that must be included in your online application via the instructions below. Both official and unofficial transcripts are acceptable. However, if you are selected for an internship, you may be required to provide an official transcript before starting your internship. Should your official transcript indicate that you are not an eligible student, your internship offer will be rescinded. Transcripts and resumes can be uploaded to the job application. Technical questions about attaching the required document to your application should be addressed to the Help Desk at 1-866-656-6830 or mgshelp@monster.com.

Additional information

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON SECURITY CLEARANCES: The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) advises that routine SECRET level clearances normally require 120 to 150 days to complete. Investigations may take substantially longer if you have a history of extensive overseas travel, education, residence and/or employment; or if you have dual citizenship, foreign contacts, immediate family, relatives, and/or a spouse or partner who is a citizen of a foreign country. In addition, if DS identifies a security, suitability, or medical issue, your investigation may require additional time to process and review. These issues could include, but are not limited to, a current or past history of drug or alcohol abuse, indications of a mental or emotional health condition, or indications of financial problems. You should consult the Adjudicative Guidelines for Determining Eligibility for Access to Classified Information (https://www.state.gov/security-clearances) to review how these considerations could affect your application. Such issues may not necessarily preclude DS from granting you a security clearance, but they will likely lengthen the time required to complete the clearance process. We cannot guarantee that every potential intern will obtain a security clearance before the start of an internship, if at all. Because the timeframe between conditional selection for an internship and entry on duty is relatively short (two to four months), DS may not be able to adjudicate a non-routine case in time for the student to participate in the scheduled internship. In addition, if an applicant has strong foreign ties to a particular country, approval for an internship in that country may not be granted. Therefore, we encourage students to seek internship assignments in countries where they do not have substantial foreign ties. It is the policy of the Federal Government to treat all its employees with dignity and respect and to provide a workplace that is free from discrimination. Hiring decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, and the needs of the service, without regard to non-merit factors such as race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION - The U.S. Department of State provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Office of Employee Relations, Disability/Reasonable Accommodations Division, at (202) 261-8163 or reasonableaccommodations@state.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. This position is not an appointment. Participants are considered federal employees. Any description of “excepted service” within this vacancy announcement is intended solely for categorization on the USAJOBs website and should not be construed as providing any rights or benefits in accordance with that appointment type.