U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program

The U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program places eligible U.S. citizens in substantive foreign-affairs work. Interns may serve in Washington, D.C. or at a qualifying U.S. embassy or mission overseas, with the Department determining overseas placements.

Assignments can include policy research, reports and communications, events, consular support, technical work, or administrative projects. The Spring and Summer 2027 application round closed on September 1, 2026; the general program schedule lists February as the opening month for fall internships.

Benefits & funding

Pay is $19.96 per hour at GS-04 for full-time, 40-hour weeks.
Each internship lasts 10 consecutive weeks.
The Department covers reasonable travel to the mandatory Washington, D.C. orientation and the internship location.
The program provides fully furnished housing; interns remain responsible for medical insurance and personal health-related expenses.

Eligibility

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years old when applying.
Applicants must be able to receive and maintain a Secret security clearance and show medical-insurance coverage for the internship and related travel.
Current undergraduates must attend an accredited two- or four-year college or community college at least part-time, complete 60 credit hours by the internship start, and hold at least a 3.2 GPA.
Current graduate students must be enrolled at least part-time at an accredited institution and hold at least a 3.2 GPA.
Recent graduates qualify if they completed an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree within two years of the internship start and earned at least a 3.2 GPA.
U.S. military veterans qualify with a high-school diploma or equivalent and any active-duty service during the two years before the internship start; the GPA rule does not apply to this route.
Prior participation in SIP, UFSIP, the Pickering or Rangel Graduate fellowships, FAIT Fellowship, or Clarke Diplomatic Security Fellowship is disqualifying; VSFS and Rangel Summer Enrichment participation are exceptions.
Participants must work in person for 40 hours per week over 10 consecutive weeks and attend a mandatory three-day orientation in Washington, D.C.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

Eligible nationalities
USA
Education required
High School · Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor · Master Enrolled · Master · PhD Enrolled · PhD
Age requirement
≥ 18 yrs

Check my eligibility — free

Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.

We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.

Application process

1
Create or update a USAJOBS applicant profile and enter the application through Gateway to State when a vacancy opens.
2
Choose a Spring or Summer cycle, indicate a domestic or overseas preference, and select up to two geographic or functional interest areas.
3
Complete the questionnaire and four Statements of Interest, each limited to 1,000 characters.
4
Upload a resume and the required current or most recent transcript; official and unofficial transcripts are accepted at application.
5
Submit the complete package by the vacancy deadline; finalists may be chosen from the materials or after a phone interview, then proceed through security clearance.

Program timeline

August 7, 2026
Applications opened for Spring and Summer 2027.
Application deadline for both cycles.
September 1, 2026
Spring application review.
September 7, 2026
Spring selection notifications and tentative offers.
Mid-September 2026
Summer application review.
September 18, 2026
Summer selection notifications and tentative offers.
October 9, 2026
Eligible window for a 10-week Spring internship.
January 19–May 28, 2027
Eligible window for a 10-week Summer internship.
May 17–August 27, 2027