Programs for Undergraduate Students
- Cooperative Education Program
- Council of American Ambassadors Fellowship
- Stay-In-School
- Student Internships (Spring, Summer, Fall)
- Summer Clerical Program
- Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs/Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program
- Workforce Recruitment Program
Programs for High School Students and Graduate/Post-Graduate Students
Cooperative Education Program |
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Have you ever considered getting a head start on your career while you’re still in school? Then the Cooperative Education Program could be your answer.
Also known as the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP), this forward-thinking partnership between you, your school and the U.S. Department of State puts you at an advantage by combining your academic studies with on-the-job training and relevant career experience. You’ll apply theories and work on projects that give real-life meaning to your classroom instruction. You’ll have the choice to work full- or part-time. And you’ll earn a paycheck as you serve your nation.
Eligibility requirements
You must be:
- At least 16 years of age
- A U.S. citizen
- Enrolled in a degree, certificate or diploma (full- or part-time) program
- In good academic standing at your school
- Able to meet security requirements
Compensation & Benefits
- Accrue annual and sick leave
- Sick Leave accrued at a rate of 4 hours per pay period, 13 days per leave year
- Eligible for pro-rated health and life insurance coverage
- Paid federal holidays
- Flexible work schedule
- Thrift Savings Plan (equivalent to 401(k)) with Government matching
- May qualify for credit towards degree requirements
How to Apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and placements are made throughout the year. We keep applications on file for 6 months in hopes of matching you with a bureau. In order to apply, you should electronically send your resume and cover letter if possible to coop@state.gov.
To qualify, you must be pursuing a degree, certificate or diploma (full time or part time), and at least 16 years of age. You also need to be in good academic standing at your school, a U.S. citizen, and able to meet security requirements.
Click here to download the Cooperative Education Program brochure (311kb, PDF).
The Council of American Ambassadors Fellowship Program
The Council of American Ambassadors provides six fellowships in honor of Ambassadors Walter and Leonore Annenberg. The Fellowship program combines mentoring by former U.S. ambassadors, practical training through internships at the Department of State and, in cooperation with The Fund for American Studies, academic studies in international affairs at Georgetown University, as well as residential housing on campus. The Fellowship provides a $6,000 award to each student that is applied to cover the cost of the program.
The Fellowships are open to undergraduate students who have completed their junior year prior to the commencement of their internships. Applicants should possess a strong interest in pursuing a career in diplomacy or international affairs, and their backgrounds should reflect a high level of academic excellence and leadership in extra-curricular activities. The Fellowships are available only during summer sessions.
The Fellowships are open to undergraduate students:
- who have completed their junior year prior to the commencement of their internships.
- who possess a strong interest in pursuing a career in diplomacy or international affairs,
- whose backgrounds should reflect a high level of academic excellence and leadership in extra-curricular activities.
Compensation and Benefits
- Tuition paid for six credit hours at Georgetown University
- Eight weeks of paid residential housing on Georgetown University’s campus
The Fellowships are available only during summer sessions.
Applications of persons chosen by the Department of State for internships in Washington, DC and who have authorized the Department to provide their information to other organizations will be forwarded to the Council of American Ambassadors for consideration. The Council will invite eligible candidates to apply for the Fellowship and provide the application instructions.
For more information about this program, please visit www.americanambassadors.org. Email inquiries may be sent to council@americanambassadors.org.
Fascell Fellowship Program |
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We are not currently accepting applications for the Fascell Fellowship Program. To be notified when this program opens, please subscribe to our e-mail list.
Imagine the profound rewards of working in support of a diplomatic or consular mission overseas. It's possible when you become a Fascell fellow.
As a fellow, you’ll be immersed in a foreign culture while serving your nation. Assignments are one to two years and typically include essential administrative, consular, political/economic or public diplomacy responsibilities.
Fellowships are intended for, but not limited to teachers, scholars, academics and graduates of advanced-level programs focused on Eastern Europe, Slavic or Mandarin languages. Participating posts have included:
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for this one to two year assignment with training, you must be:
- A U.S. citizen
- At least 21 years of age on the closing date of the application deadline
- Fluent in the language of the country for which you want to be considered
- Enrolled in or a graduate of a relevant advanced degree program focused on language or area studies
- Experience may be substituted for a degree
- Eligible to obtain Top Secret clearance
- Able to meet Department of State medical requirements
Compensation and Benefits
- Compensation equivalent to the FP-07 salary level paid in 26 equal installments
- U.S. Government-furnished housing supplied at no cost
- Access to the Department of State medical program while at post
- Travel and transportation costs to and from post of assignment incidental to the Fellow and any accompanying eligible family members paid by the U.S. Government
- Entitled to airfreight shipment, surface shipment, and consumables shipment
- Post allowance and post differential (where applicable)
- Education allowances payable to accompanying eligible family members
How to Apply
We are not currently accepting applications for the Fascell Fellowship Program. To be notified when this program opens, please subscribe to our e-mail list.
To apply, you must submit two copies of: the following completed Application Form (466kb, PDF) ; your resume; a list of any honors, awards, certificates, licenses, etc, you possess; a brief statement addressing your interest in pursuing a Fellowship; official transcripts documenting your education; and two letters of recommendation from individuals who know your related academic and professional experience.
Applications should be submitted to: U.S. Department of State, Recruitment Division, SA-1, 2401 E Street, NW, 5th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20522; ATTN: Fascell Fellowship Coordinator.
Stay-in-School | |
Part of you wants to stay in school … part of you wants to work. Now you can do both through the Stay-in-School Program. It's the perfect work-study combination.
Also known as the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP), you’ll get that rare chance to work part-time when school is in session and full-time during vacation, with many opportunities in office or administrative support fields. Now here's the best news: you'll be paid at regular Government salary rates in line with your assigned duties, and you can be promoted or rewarded based on your performance. Plus, you'll gain valuable experience while serving your nation.
Eligibility Requirements
So how do you get into the program? Here’s how:
- You must be a U.S. citizen
- At least 16 years of age
- Enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full- or part-time student in any high school, vocational school or undergraduate program
Compensation and Benefits
- Flexible work hours
- Accrue annual and sick leave
- Performance-based promotions and benefits
- Competitive salary
- Paid federal holidays
How to Apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and placements are made throughout the year. Applications are kept on file for 6 months in hopes of matching you with a bureau. In order to apply, you should electronically send your resume and cover letter to coop@state.gov.
Click here to download the Stay-in-School Program brochure (511kb, PDF).
Student Internships (Spring, Summer, Fall) | |
We are not currently accepting applications for Spring 2010 Student Internship Program. Please sign up to receive email updates regarding this program.
How far could a student internship at the U.S. Department of State take you? Just for starters, it would give you a greatly coveted inside look into Foreign Service, the positions and the responsibilities that are possible.
Think of it as test-driving a career before you decide what you’re going to do with your life. You’ll gain valuable work experience that you’ll be able to apply to virtually every endeavor — whether you work in government or in the private sector. Most of all, you feel good about doing something worthwhile for your nation.
Intern in Washington, DC or Overseas
At the U.S. Department of State, we like to say that we represent America to the world. As an intern here or abroad, you will be, too. Positions are both paid and unpaid, and many are available during spring, summer or fall.For internship program details such as duties of an intern, participating offices and bureaus, types of internships, salary/benefit/housing information, please download the Student Internship Information Brochure (805kb, PDF).
Eligibility requirements
You must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Have good academic standing
- Successfully complete a background investigation
- Be able to receive either a Secret or Top Secret clearance (34kb, PDF).
Random drug testing will be performed. Furthermore, you must be:
- A student. This means you have been accepted for enrollment, or are enrolled as a degree-seeking student in an accredited college or university
- A full- or part-time continuing college or university junior, or graduate student (including graduating seniors intending to go on to graduate school). An applicant is considered a junior if all sophomore credits have been completed (60 or more hours or 90 quarter hours) by the time the internship begins.
IMPORTANT: You are eligible to apply for the Department's internship 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.
A broad range of academic majors is sought in areas such as:
For overseas assignments, applicants must present evidence of medical insurance coverage. All students must be available to begin their internship within the appropriate application timetable. Click here to download the 2008 Student Internship Information Brochure (3089kb, PDF).
| DESCRIPTION OF BUREAUS OFFERING INTERNSHIPS (Partial list of bureaus with positions for the Spring/Summer/Fall Internship program.) |
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| Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) (35kb, PDF). |
| Offices in the Economic, Energy and Business Affairs Bureau (EEB) (65kb, PDF). |
| Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR) (148kb, PDF). |
Bureau of International Information Programs
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| Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR/R) (45kb, PDF). |
| Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Scientific Affairs (OES) (47kb, PDF). |
| Office of the Secretary |
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Compensation and Benefits
Unpaid Internships:
- May be able to earn college credit.
- Unpaid assigned to the U.S. qualify for MetroChek Transit Subsidy
Paid Internships:
- Temporary appointment at the GS-4 through GS-7 grade level (based on education, work experience and availability of funds)
- If appointment is for more than 90 days, annual leave and sick leave is earned at the rate of four hours per biweekly pay period
- Paid federal holidays
- Contribute to Social Security
- Paid interns assigned to the U.S. qualify for MetroChek Transit Subsidy
How to Apply
We are not currently accepting applications for Spring 2010 Student Internship Program. Please sign up to receive email updates regarding this program.
All applications are submitted online through the "Gateway to State" system, which also screens applications to make sure that they are complete, and that applicants meet the eligibility criteria.
Click here to download the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR) position descriptions (148kb, PDF).
For more information on how bureaus select interns, and more detailed information on the application process, please download the Student Internship Information Brochure (805kb, PDF).
Technical Difficulties: Please contact the helpdesk via e-mail or phone (866-656-6830) if you are having technical difficulties. Click here to download Fax Imaging Instructions (83kb, PDF).
Summer Clerical Program |
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We are not currently accepting applications for the 2009 Summer Clerical Program. To be notified when this program opens, please subscribe to our e-mail list.
Spend your summer getting to know the U.S. Department of State firsthand … and earn as your learn.
The Summer Clerical Program is a win-win situation for everyone. It gives you the opportunity to discover more about a career with us, and it helps us fill summer staffing needs during our employees’ vacations. And you’ll reap another reward: feeling proud about doing something worthwhile for your nation.
Office support duties include but are not limited to:
- Answering telephones and other receptionist-related duties; filing and maintaining files
- Typing and/or using a computer terminal for various office functions including initial entry of drafted materials using a variety of computer software packages
- Reviewing outgoing correspondence for correct format, grammar, punctuation and typographical errors
- Photocopying and assembling reports and briefings for distribution
It's our policy to provide an open, systematic and equitable assignment process that assures that positions are filled with the best-qualified individuals. New applicants for this program are appointed on a competitive basis that meets Office of Personnel Management guidelines. Selections are based on job-related criteria in line with merit principles.
Eligibility requirements
To qualify for a Summer Clerical position, you must be:
- A U.S. citizen, age 16 or older at time of appointment
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.,) seeking student
- Taking at least half-time academic/vocational/or technical course load in an accredited high school, technical or vocational school, 2-year or 4 year college or university, graduate or professional school
- Able to complete a background investigation to determine eligibility for a security clearance
Positions at the GS-1, GS-2, GS-3 & GS-4 levels also have varying minimum requirements for school and/or work experience.
Compensation and Benefits
- Competitive salary
- Gain work experience
- Paid federal holidays
How to Apply
We are not currently accepting applications for the Student Internships Program. To be notified when this program opens, please subscribe to our e-mail list.
Technical Difficulties: Please contact the helpdesk via e-mail or phone (866-656-6830) if you are having technical difficulties. Click here to download Fax Imaging Instructions (83kb, PDF).
Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs/Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program
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"The Secretary of State may make grants to post-secondary educational institutions or students for the purpose of increasing the level of knowledge and awareness of and interest in employment with the Foreign Service, consistent with section 105 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980. To the extent possible, the Secretary shall give special emphasis to promoting such knowledge and awareness of, and interest in employment with the Foreign Service among minority students. Any grants awarded shall be made pursuant to regulations to be established by the Secretary of State, which shall provide for a limit on the size of any specific grant and, regarding any grants to individuals, shall ensure that no grant recipient receives an amount of grants from one or more Federal programs which in the aggregate would exceed the cost of his or her education, and shall require satisfactory educational progress by grantees as a condition of eligibility for continued receipt of grant funds." — PUBLIC LAW 101-246, 101st Congress, |
Are you an outstanding undergraduate student? Do you think you may be interested in pursuing a Foreign Service career with the U.S. Department of State? If so, you should consider applying for a Pickering Fellowship.
Eligibility Requirements
- Undergraduate Fellowships are open to students enrolled in their sophomore year of college at the time of Student Programs application
- Students who will have received their bachelor's degree by June 2008 and will be enrolled in the first year of a two-year full-time master's degree program relevant to international affairs for the 2008-2009 academic year are eligible for the Graduate Fellowship
- Only United States citizens will be considered for the Pickering Fellowships
- Women, members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, and students with financial need are encouraged to apply
Compensation and Benefits
- Extensive academic financial support beginning in the junior year of undergraduate study or the first year of a two-year graduate program
- Reimbursement for one round-trip travel per year between home and school
- Stipends during one domestic and one overseas summer internship
How to Apply
The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship or Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship application consists of an online application, as well as the following supporting documents: a personal statement, Employment Data Form, GRE form, certification of citizenship, two letters of recommendation, official academic transcripts, an official Student Aid Report, which indicates your estimated family contribution, and a resume (2 pages maximum).Workforce Recruitment Program | |
If you are a student with a disability, the Department of State is interested in you. We have partnered with the Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment and Policy, and the U.S. Department of Defense, who administer the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) to hire college students with disabilities. The WRP is a recruitment and referral program that connects us to highly motivated postsecondary students and recent graduates with disabilities. We offer paid, full-time summer positions in Washington, D.C.
If you are an eligible student, share this information with your school's disability services or career services coordinator, and ask him or her to contact the WRP Coordinator at wrp@dol.gov. Please understand that we work directly with college coordinators, and cannot respond to inquiries from individual students.
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible for the WRP, students must be current, full-time undergraduate or graduate students with a disability, or have graduated within one year of the release of the database each March. For the 2010 WRP, a student who has graduated during the Spring semester of 2009 or later would still be eligible. Students must also be U.S. citizens.
