Internships are available at the U.S. Embassy during the summer of February 2024. These paid opportunities offer a chance to work at U.S. embassies, and consulates worldwide, as well as in various bureaus in Washington, D.C., and Department offices across the United States. The program is designed to provide valuable learning experiences in the field of foreign affairs.
Participants in the U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program may engage in various responsibilities depending on the bureau, office, or embassy. Common tasks include:
- Participating in meetings with senior-level U.S. or foreign government officials.
- Drafting, editing, or contributing to cables, reports, communications, talking points, or other materials used in advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives.
- Supporting events, such as international and/or multilateral meetings and conferences.
- Directly engaging with U.S. or foreign audiences to explain the Department of State’s work or promote U.S. foreign policy while enhancing understanding of U.S. culture and society.
Internship assignments within the U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program are primarily offered at the bureau level. Students can work in various offices within the geographic or functional bureaus. Opportunities are also available at U.S. embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions abroad. Additionally, a limited number of bureaus offer internships in cities across the United States, including the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, the Management Bureau, and the U.S. Mission to the United States in New York.
Geographic Bureaus oversee policies for specific regions worldwide, such as African Affairs (AF), East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP), European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR), Near Eastern Affairs (NEA), South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA), and Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA).
Functional Bureaus focus on specific issues with responsibilities for policy areas affecting all regions and countries. These bureaus include the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), International Organization Affairs (IO), Political-Military Affairs (PM), and Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES). Other functional bureaus handle critical operations and aspects of the Department of State’s administration, including Administration (A), Consular Affairs (CA), Diplomatic Security (DS), Legislative Affairs (H), Global Talent Management (GTM), and Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO).
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Have a minimum 3.2 GPA
- If your school does not issue Grade Point Averages (GPAs), please work with your registrar office to understand the markings associated with each course on your transcript to use the GPA Calculation Table. Note, a GPA must be entered for your application to be complete and for you to be considered for an internship with the Department.
| Grade | A+ | A | A- | B+ | B | B- | C+ | C | C- | D+ | D | D- | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 Scale | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| 4.0+ Scale | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
- Be able to receive either a Public Trust, Secret or Top Secret clearance
- Be a Undergraduate (juniors and seniors) or Graduate Student
- A student is an individual who is enrolled in a degree-seeking program in an accredited college or university
- An applicant is considered a junior if he/she will have completed all sophomore credits (60 or more semester hours or 90 quarter hours) by the time the internship begins and will be entering at least the junior year immediately following completion of the internship
- An individual is still considered a student if he/she has been out of school, between semesters or school years, for not more than five (5) months and have plans to return to school within five (5) months or less
- An individual enrolled in school and receiving credit toward their degree for participating in the Student Internship Program is also considered a student
- Students must be returning to school immediately following the internship in order to qualify for the program. In addition, students must attach an official or unofficial transcript to their application confirming they are a current student.
- You are eligible to apply for this 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.
Compensation and Benefits
The U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program offers paid internships, providing an opportunity to work in U.S. Embassies, field offices worldwide, and various bureaus in Washington, D.C. This program aims to deliver meaningful experiences within a foreign affairs environment.
Paid interns will receive compensation equivalent to a GS-04/Step 1 base pay and will function as temporary employees of the U.S. Department of State. It’s important to note that the internship service does not contribute to retirement benefits unless the intern later transitions into a federal career position.
To support interns during their engagement, the program covers reasonable travel expenses to and from the internship location and provides assistance with housing arrangements. This comprehensive approach ensures that interns can focus on their responsibilities without the burden of financial concerns related to travel and accommodation.
Online Application Process
Those interested in applying for the U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program must begin by visiting the Student Programs section under the Intern tab of Home – careers.state.gov, clicking the “U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program” and continuing through the “Gateway to State.” The “Gateway to State” button will only be available when an application is open and active. Applicants can also go directly to USAJOBS*, and search for the U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program.
Application Structure
There are five (5) sections:
- Eligibility
- Series Grade Questions
- All Grade Questions
- Documents
- Application Review
Note: Some eligibility questions are exclusionary. Applicants will only be notified after the closing of the announcement if their application is disqualified based upon responses to these questions. Please carefully read the program eligibility requirements before applying. No applicant will be able to make changes to their application once the announcement has closed.
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