Student Opportunities
The Intelligence Community (IC) is committed to growing the next generation of intelligence professionals by offering current students a variety of temporary employment and scholarship opportunities.
Our paid internship and co-operative education programs are the perfect chance for you to experience the challenges and rewards of an intelligence career first hand while you are still in school. They also allow the IC agency you work with to evaluate your performance and consider you for permanent employment upon graduation. Our co-op opportunities are programs, which link your major with relevant work experience. They provide a competitive hourly wage and valuable practical experience. Some agencies have unpaid internships as well.
Many IC agencies also offer scholarships or fellowships, some of which provide you with a salary and full government benefits in addition to covering your tuition and other educational expenses. You can learn which agencies offer what specific opportunities by consulting the Student/Special Programs web page of each particular agency.
Some of the programs you might want to explore are:
- Most IC agencies participate in the Pat Roberts Intelligence Scholars Program (PRISP), which is designed to recruit and train analysts and linguists. PRISP funding can be used to pay hiring incentives, such as a recruitment bonus or reimburse previous educational expenses, for individuals who already possess the necessary skills (language, specialized scientific expertise, etc.) or to provide additional education or training for those selected for the program. There is a service obligation of 18 months. Consult agency websites for specifics on that agency’s PRISP program.
- The Stokes Educational Scholarship Program (CIA, DIA, and NSA), where high potential, high school seniors and high performing college sophomores receive a government salary and full benefits, as well as tuition and other educational expenses, in exchange for a future employment obligation.
- The Information Assurance Scholarship and NDEA/SMART Scholarship Programs that provide specialized scholarships for intelligence agencies that are part of the Department of Defense
- The military services offer a number of scholarships and fellowships, which may apply to the service’s intelligence component, including ROTC programs. Consult the websites of each service branch for specific details.
- The David L. Boren Scholarshipsends scholars abroad to study a critical language and culture. Awards provided for a year and up to $20,000 oblige the recipient to work for the U.S. Government for at least one year.
- The Boren Fellows Program provides American graduate students resources for overseas and domestic study to acquire skills and experiences in areas of the world critical to the future security of our nation, in exchange for their commitment to seek work in the federal government.
- The English for Heritage Language Speakers Scholarship Program is designed for naturalized U. S. citizens fully proficient in a foreign language and seeking to apply their professional knowledge in a federal government career. The program, held at Georgetown University, combines advanced English language training with professional communication skills and strategies.
- The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship seeks to recruit talented students in academic programs relevant to international affairs, political and economic analysis, administration, management, and science policy.
- The Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) Program/strong> institutes provide fully-funded group-based intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences for seven to ten weeks for U.S. citizen undergraduate, Master's and Ph.D. students.
Applying for Student Opportunities
Competition is particularly fierce for our student programs. Applications for summer internships are in October and November for the following summer. Deadlines for other programs such as co-op programs deadlines are six to nine months prior to the period you wish to work. Applicants are expected to meet the same employment standards as permanent IC employees. You must be a U.S. citizen and should have a strong academic record (GPA of 3.0 or better). Foreign language skills, previous study or residency abroad and military service are pluses. Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills are essential. Some agencies require medical and/or polygraph examinations as well as a background investigation.
Most positions, including temporary employment as an intern or cooperative education student, in the IC require that employees possess a security clearance. Hiring for these positions is contingent upon the individual being granted such a clearance. The criteria for granting personnel security clearances vary depending upon the level of clearance and the particular IC member doing the hiring.
Employees in the IC must be highly reliable and trustworthy because they have access to the nation’s most sensitive information. The granting of a security clearance testifies that an individual meets these standards of reliability, trustworthiness, and integrity.
Current students considering a future career in the intelligence community are recommended to live a lifestyle that:
- Focuses on continuing formal education and positive character development
- Avoids the use of drugs and alcohol
- Preserves your good credit by avoiding excessive credit card spending, especially when the spending exceeds the ability to pay off the balance monthly, and ensuring that all financial obligations are taken care of (payment of state and federal income tax, any government debts and student loans).
- Obeys all laws regarding the downloading and use of software and all copyrighted material.
- Obeys traffic laws including those regarding driving while under the influence of alcohol
For more information on Security Clearance, read our Background and Security Clearances page.
