MPI Young Scholars Program 2027: Paid Research and Communications Internships

Overview

The Migration Policy Institute (MPI), an independent, nonpartisan think tank focused on migration and mobility policy, runs the Demetrios G. Papademetriou Young Scholars Program of paid internships. It is named for MPI's founding president and aims both to benefit from interns' skills and to prepare the next generation of migration and communications professionals. Internships last about four months, are offered full-time and part-time, are available remotely and in person, and may be open to people living outside the United States.

Research internships are available in U.S. Immigration, International Migration, U.S. Immigrant Integration and the Latin America and Caribbean Initiative. Topics include asylum, refugee pathways, border management, labour migration, migration and development, returns and reintegration, education, workforce development and language access. The communications internship covers media monitoring, social media campaigns, visual materials, event support, short-form writing and multimedia editing.

What you get

Full-time interns receive a US$1,472 stipend every two weeks, and part-time interns receive a prorated amount. Interns gain mentorship, networking with migration experts and research, writing and policy-analysis experience, and may arrange academic credit through their institutions.

Who can apply

The programme suits students and emerging professionals interested in migration, public policy, international development, refugee studies or communications, with strong research and analytical ability, good writing and the ability to work independently and in a team.

How to apply

There is no application fee. Applicants submit a CV or résumé, a cover letter of no more than two single-spaced pages explaining their interest in migration or public policy, preferred programme areas and relevant experience, and a writing sample in English of no more than five single-spaced pages.

Key dates

There are three cycles a year. Spring runs January to April with a 15 October deadline, summer runs May to August with a 15 February deadline, and fall runs September to December with a 15 June deadline. The Spring 2027 deadline is 15 October 2026.