GPIS' goal is for all graduate students to leave the program as well - rounded citizens. Our students come to us from diverse backgrounds. Our aim is to therefore ensure that opportunities are available for growth and development within and outside the classroom. One of the most important things that you can do as a graduate student is to make your resume stand out. If you do not have a wealth of experience in the field, one way to supplement your studies is by participating in internships.
Please note: The deadline dates should be viewed as a guidance only. They obviously slightly vary by year. Please check the organizations' websites for more details.
Internship Opportunities
Below is a list of several paid and unpaid internship and fellowship opportunities for graduate students:
National Democratic Institute, Washington, D.C.
Paid internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students - as well as young professionals - from diverse backgrounds who are interested in international development, focusing on democracy and governance. The summer session starts in May. Internships typically last for three months and may be extended for up to 9 months (preferred) or a maximum of one year.
Deadline: on a rolling basis
American Progress Internship Program, Washington, D.C.
Internships on many topics of international affairs; all summer interns work full time; minimum of 8 weeks, although 10 weeks is preferred. During the fall, winter, and spring, part-time students are accepted, but interns must be able to commit to a minimum of 20 hours per week. American Progress offers a small stipend to reimburse interns for a portion of the expenses directly related to their internship.
Deadline: Usually February 15 for summer session
Public Service Fellows Internship Program, Washington, D.C.
Fellows work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment; their responsibilities vary across the Partnership's internal teams, but often include event planning and execution, conducting research, writing and preparing correspondence, conducting outreach to external partners, such as government agencies and colleges and universities. Full time fellows with an undergraduate or graduate degree will receive a $1000 per month stipend. Part-time fellow stipends will be pro-rated accordingly. Program has positions for spring, summer and fall.
Deadline: Usually February 27 for summer session
Institute for Policy Studies, Washington, D.C.
Internships (paid and unpaid) offered in different areas e.g. global economy, new internationalism, climate policy. The Changemakers Fellowship is a program that provides funding for two incoming IPS interns per semester. It is a part-time fellowship that pays $10.50 an hour for 10-15 hours weekly for 12-14 weeks.
Deadline: open until filled
International Center for Jefferson Studies “Short Term Fellowships”, Charlottesville, VA
The Domestic fellowship awards carry a stipend of $2,000 per month plus pre-approved travel costs. The Peter Nicolaisen International Fellowship (reserved for citizens of other countries living outside of the U.S. and Canada) provides $3,000 per month plus pre-approved travel costs. Applicants should submit a succinct description of the research project (500 words), a one-paragraph summary of the project, and a résumé. Past fellows researches included: "The Revolutionary Challenge to the International Order: The United States and France", "The Jefferson Reference in the Critique of Jacksonian Democracy: Orestes Brownson as Case Study", "Study of Jefferson Ideas of Democracy in Modern India".
Deadline: open
IATA (International Air Transport Association) Graduate Internship Program, Miami / Abroad
The opportunities cover all areas of IATA activities. The internships may be based out of the Geneva, Montreal, Madrid, Miami or Singapore offices. Candidates must have a university degree (Bachelor degree as a minimum) achieved within the last 12 months. Fields of study: Economics, Law, Political Science, Engineering, Business Administration, or Information Technology. Living Allowance: IATA will pay a living allowance to support the student during the internship.
Deadline: open
Rand Graduate Student Summer Associate Program, Washington, D.C. / and California
RAND's Summer Associate Program introduces outstanding graduate students to RAND, an institution that conducts research on a wide range of national security problems and domestic and international social policy issues. RAND's core research areas include: International affairs, National security, Terrorism and homeland security. The summer earnings are approximately $13,500 (before taxes) for the 12 weeks of full-time research.
Deadline: Usually in January
Carter Center Internships and Paid Long Term Assistantships, Atlanta
Interns support the staff of the Carter Center's Peace Programs by researching particular themes, issues, or countries and by providing logistical support for current projects. There are programs that specialize in the following areas: Americas, China, Conflict Resolution, Democracy, Human Rights and Global Access to Information Program. There are also Graduate Assistantships available for 9/12 months that are paid (20h per week, $14hour).
Deadline: Usually March 1 for summer session
Atlantic Council, Washington, D.C.
The Atlantic Council promotes constructive leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the Atlantic Community's central role in meeting global challenges. The Council provides an essential forum for navigating the dramatic economic and political changes defining the 21st Century by informing and galvanizing its uniquely influential network of global leaders.
Deadline: Usually March 15 for summer session.
Wilson Center, Washington, D.C.
Internship appointments are generally consistent with academic semesters (i.e. Fall, Spring, Summer) and last approximately nine to twelve weeks. The majority of the interns at the Woodrow Wilson Center serve as research assistants or scholar interns for visiting scholars. Research assistants are talented college students from universities around the country who combine part-time hours at the Center with their studies and with other activities. A research assistant typically works 12-15 hours a week per scholar.
Deadline: Usually March 15 for summer session
Council on Foreign Relations, NYC / Washington, D.C.
The Council on Foreign Relations' Internship Program offers outstanding volunteer opportunities for college students and graduate students, who are focusing on international relations and pursuing a career in foreign policy or related field. Volunteer interns are recruited year-round on a semester basis and all volunteer internships are filled on a rolling basis. An intern's volunteer duties generally consist of program coordination, research, editing, and writing.
Deadline: not posted yet for summer semester
Alliance for Peacebuilding, Washington, D.C.
The Alliance for Peacebuilding hosts assistants year-round on a semester basis for different program areas. With a broad exposure to a wide variety of civil society organizations, government and military partners, and representatives from fields closely related to peacebuilding, interns engage with AfP's network of partners both overseas and in Washington, learn about all of the latest news, events, jobs and research going on in the peacebuilding field, and represent AfP at important events in Washington, DC.
Deadline: not posted yet for summer semester
The Washington Institute for Near East policy, Washington, D.C.
Full-time and part-time research internships at The Washington Institute are open to current undergraduates as well as recent graduates. Interns provide research and administrative support to Institute staff. Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume by email, indicating their availability: if they are available full time and when they are available to start.
Deadline: Usually April 1 for summer session
Project on Middle East Democracy, Washington, D.C.
While all POMED internships are unpaid, POMED will support candidates in receiving academic credit for their work. There are internships on policies, civil society and specific countries of the Middle East. To apply they ask for a cover letter, resume, and a 3-5 page writing sample. Internship in every semester.
Deadline: not yet for summer session (check back in March)
Clinton Foundation Internships, New York, Little Rock, Boston / Overseas
Many positions in 5 areas: programs, communications, logistics, technology, presidential center. Within each area there are specific departments with description. Applicants have to indicate the department.
Deadline: not indicated
National Nuclear Security Administration Graduate Fellowship Program
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Graduate Fellowship Program (NGFP) is a full-time, salaried fellowship program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy for highly motivated graduate-level students interested in a career in nuclear security.
Working directly in NNSA offices nationwide, Fellows engage in a full year of:
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Hands-on experience in nuclear security and nonproliferation.
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Career development, professional networking, and specialized training.
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Extensive interaction and collaboration with security professionals and leading researchers.
Deadline: Usually October 19
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The Academy's Visiting Scholars Program provides residential fellowships for junior faculty members and postdoctoral scholars in the humanities and social sciences. The fellowship program offers scholars a year for research and writing free from teaching and administrative duties, a collaborative work environment, and the opportunity to interact with Academy members. It also creates a national network for these scholars, assisting them in their research and professional development.
The Academy seeks proposals in the humanities and social sciences relating to American history, culture, and public policy from the founding period to the present.
Deadline: Usually October 20
City of University of New York (CUNY) Advanced Research Collaborative (ARC)
The Advanced Research Collaborative (ARC) of the Graduate Center invites applicants for Distinguished Fellowships for the 2016 - 2017 academic year. Applicants should have outstanding records of published re- search and scholarship. In addition to academic distinction, preference will be given to scholars whose interests strengthen the research priorities of ARC in the following areas: Inequality, Immigration, or Multilingualism.
Distinguished Fellows are provided with an office, a computer, and access to the Graduate Center's academic infrastructure.
Deadline: Usually October 26
The Nuclear Scholars Initiative
The Nuclear Scholars Initiative aims to provide top graduate students and young professionals from around the country with a unique venue to interact and dialogue with senior experts on nuclear weapons issues.
The program brings together a select group of roughly 20 individuals with a demonstrated interest and/or expe- rience in nuclear issues to attend monthly workshops hosted by CSIS. During these sessions, experts from across the nuclear enterprise share their insights and engage the class of Scholars on a variety of nuclear issues. Over the course of this six-month program, each Scholar prepares a research paper that they will present to a panel of experts and later publish in a journal produced by CSIS.
Deadline: Usually October 30
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
The Science & Technology Policy Fellowships program provides opportunities for scientists and engineers to learn first-hand about policymaking and implementation while contributing their knowledge and analytical skills to policymakers. The objective of the Diplomacy, Security and Development Program is to infuse scientific and technical expertise into policy development and program planning, implementation and evaluation in the areas of:
- Foreign policy and international trade, treaty engagement, and multilateral cooperation
- Disaster preparedness and response
- Infrastructure, environmental, cyber and health security, terrorism and warfare prevention, and nonpro- liferation
- International aid, capacity building, and development assistance
Deadline: Usually November 1
Fung Global Fellows Program, Princeton University, New Jersey
The Fung Global Fellows Program, inaugurated in the 2013-14 academic year, reflects Princeton University's commitment to engaging with scholars from around the world and inspiring ideas that transcend borders. The program brings exceptional international early-career faculty members working in the social sciences and the humanities to Princeton for a year of research, writing, and collaboration. It is administered by the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS), which serves as a site for integration and joint activity across all of the University's international and area studies programs.The program theme for 2016-17 will be "International Society: Institutions and Actors in Global Governance."
Deadline: Usually November 1
Fellows devote an academic year in residence at Princeton to research and writing about topics involving human values in public and private life. The program is open to scholars in all disciplines provided their research plans qualify. In recent years fellows have been drawn from fields including philosophy, political theory, literature, his- tory, classics, economics and law, but this list is not meant to be exhaustive. Fellows are expected to reside in or around Princeton and to be active contributors to the intellectual life of the Center.
Deadline: Usually November 2
American Council of Learned Societies, Comparative Perspectives on Chinese Culture and Society
ACLS invites proposals in the humanities and related social sciences that adopt an explicitly cross-cultural or comparative perspective. Projects may, for example, compare aspects of Chinese history and culture with those of other nations and civilizations, explore the interaction of these nations and civilizations, or engage in cross-cul- tural research on the relations among the diverse and shifting populations of China. Proposals are expected to be empirically grounded, theoretically informed, and methodologically explicit.
Deadline: Usually November 4
American Council of Learned Societies, Henry Luce Foundation / ACLS Program in China Studies
The Henry Luce Foundation/ACLS Program in China Studies seeks to maintain the vitality of China Studies in North America through fellowships and grants designed primarily for scholars early in their careers. Studies on and in China have developed over the last 30 years in the United States and Canada into a robust field, but current conditions pose daunting problems, especially for scholars just before and just after the dissertation.
Postdoctoral Fellowships
For scholars who are preparing or augmenting their PhD dissertation research for publication, or who are embarking on new research projects. Postdoctoral fellowships support work based on the applicant's research in China that aims to produce a scholarly text in English. A working knowledge of Chinese is required.
Collaborative Reading-Workshop Grants
For scholars of different disciplines to investigate texts that constitute essential points of entry to Chinese pe- riods, traditions, communities, or events in contemporary or historical times. These grants provide support for collaborative reading of texts in a workshop format that is interdisciplinary and crosses scholarly generations. A wealth of often complex and challenging texts is a distinctive feature of the Chinese cultural record, making close reading by a group of scholars especially fruitful, because they can bring to bear diversity of research, experience, and expertise.
Deadline: Usually November 4