U.S. Department of State Paid Student Internship Program 2027: Fully Paid Spring and Summer Internship in the United States and Overseas

Overview

The U.S. Department of State Paid Student Internship Program for Spring 2027 and Summer 2027 gives eligible students, recent graduates and military veterans professional experience connected to U.S. foreign policy. Placements are in Department offices in the United States and at overseas posts. Past interns have contributed to congressionally mandated reports, supported citizen and visa services, helped coordinate international conferences and senior-level visits, carried out economic research, monitored media, worked on scientific topics such as arms control and infectious diseases, and supported budgets, human resources, information systems and logistics.

Who can apply

Applicants must be U.S. citizens aged at least 18, able to obtain and hold a Secret security clearance, and able to show medical insurance for the whole internship, including travel. They must not have taken part before in the Department's Student Internship Program, the Foreign Service Internship or the Foreign Service Fellowship Program. One of four routes is needed. Undergraduates must be at an accredited two-year or four-year institution, have 60 credit hours by the start, be enrolled at least part-time, be in good standing and hold a 3.2 GPA. Graduate students must be enrolled at least part-time in an accredited programme. Recent graduates must have finished within two years of the start with a 3.2 GPA. Veterans need a high school diploma or equivalent and active-duty service within the two years before the start.

What you get

The internship is paid at $19.96 per hour at the GS-04 level, full-time at 40 hours a week for 10 consecutive weeks. It is not remote and telework is unavailable. Reasonable travel expenses to and from the mandatory orientation in Washington, D.C. and the internship location are covered.

How to apply

Applications go through USAJOBS under announcement INT-2026-0002. Applicants create a profile, answer questions on experience, interests and statements of interest, choose Spring or Summer 2027, indicate domestic or overseas preferences, name up to two geographic or functional areas, and attach a resume and a transcript, official or unofficial. Applications missing documents are not considered. Secret clearances usually take about 120 to 150 days and can take longer with foreign ties.

Key dates

The application window runs from August 7, 2026 to September 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The Spring season is January 19 to May 28, 2027, and the Summer season is May 17 to August 27, 2027, with start dates depending on clearance.