2025/ 2026 🇺🇸 U.S. Department of State Paid Student Internship Program
Intern to Serve Your Country
Gain an inside look at U.S. diplomacy, contribute to foreign policy work, and develop valuable experience that applies to careers in both the public and private sectors.
🌍 What the Internship Offers
- A paid internship in Washington, D.C., U.S. embassies, missions, and field offices worldwide.
- Substantive exposure to foreign affairs and diplomacy.
- Opportunities to:
- Participate in meetings with senior U.S. or foreign officials
- Draft/edit cables, reports, and policy documents
- Support events such as international or multilateral conferences
- Engage U.S. and foreign audiences about U.S. policy, culture, and society
📌 Internship Assignments
Internships are offered in Geographic Bureaus and Functional Bureaus:
- Geographic Bureaus (e.g., African Affairs, East Asian & Pacific, European & Eurasian, Near Eastern, South & Central Asian, Western Hemisphere).
- Functional Bureaus (e.g., Democracy & Human Rights, International Narcotics & Law Enforcement, Political-Military Affairs, Oceans & Environment, Consular Affairs, Diplomatic Security, Global Talent Management, etc.).
Limited placements also available at the U.S. Mission to the UN (New York City).
💰 Compensation & Benefits
- Paid at GS-04/Step 1 base pay (temporary employee status).
- Program covers reasonable travel expenses to and from the internship.
- Housing assistance provided.
- Note: Service does not count toward retirement unless hired into a permanent federal career role later.
🎯 Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Minimum 3.2 GPA (verified via transcript)
- Undergraduate juniors/seniors OR Graduate students (including law school)
- Must return to school after internship (enrolled/accepted in degree program)
- Eligible for a Public Trust, Secret, or Top Secret clearance
- Cannot have more than a 5-month break between studies
- Drug testing may be required
🔐 Security Clearance
- Finalists undergo a background investigation (can take up to 150 days).
- Factors that may delay the process: extensive overseas ties, dual citizenship, foreign-born relatives, credit or substance issues.
- Clearance required before final offer.
📅 Application Cycles
Applications open 3 times a year (via USAJOBS):
| Internship Term | Application Opens | Selection Notification | Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | October | January | May–July |
| Fall | February | April | Sept–Dec |
| Spring | July | September | Jan–March |
📝 Application Process
- Apply through USAJOBS (must build a USAJOBS resume).
- Submit all required sections:
- Eligibility questions
- Series/grade questions
- Resume & documents (transcript required)
- Incomplete applications (e.g., missing transcript) = ineligible.
- Selection Steps:
- Application review → Selection Committee → Finalist placement → Conditional offer → Security clearance → Final offer.
📢 Next Steps
- Sign up for email updates on careers.state.gov.
- Create a USAJOBS profile and prepare your resume.
- Obtain an official/unofficial transcript for your application.
✨ This internship is a gateway to U.S. diplomacy — combining professional growth, public service, and international exposure.
2025/ 2026 🇺🇸 U.S. Department of State Paid Student Internship Program
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