USAID offers paid internships and fellowship opportunities to qualified, talented students and recent graduates.

We draw enthusiastic and forward-thinking interns from a wide variety of fields of study.

Interns and fellows generally work in one of USAID’s offices in Washington, D.C., and at USAID Missions abroad, supporting program work in economic growth, agriculture, education, health, environment, democracy and governance, conflict prevention, and humanitarian assistance. Internships and fellowships allow students the opportunity to explore federal careers and offer valuable work experience.

Work as an Intern or a Fellow at USAID

The work assigned to an Intern or a Fellow varies in complexity by educational experience and may include:

• Research
• Writing program memoranda
• Drafting documents
• Facilitating meetings and special events
• Attending program discussions in the Agency, at the Department of State, or on Capitol Hill
• Communicating about program issues with USAID field Missions abroad, and with USAID’s many stakeholders and the general public
• Participating in employee engagement and mentoring events

Keep Me Informed

You can receive notifications for open USAID positions by setting up a saved search in USAJobs. 

First, sign up for a USAJobs account. Once you have created an account profile, search for a student position at USAID, save your search, and agree to receive email notifications. Thereafter, USAJobs will send you an email if a new job is posted that matches your search. 

Some jobs are posted then quickly close, meaning there is a short window to apply. If you save a search and set up email notifications, you will have a better chance of knowing when new jobs become available. 

For more information on saving a search, please visit How to Save a Search in USAJOBS.

Paid Internship Opportunities

Pathways Internship Program

The Pathways Internship Program is a paid internship designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions—from high school to graduate level—with opportunities to work in agencies and explore federal careers while still in school and getting paid for the work performed. Internships offer students invaluable hands-on experience and exposure to careers in the public service and international development. 

Internships run for the fall, spring, and summer semesters. During the school year, interns are permitted to select from a 20-hour, 25-hour, and full-time work schedule; in the summer interns generally work full-time. These positions are temporary and do not convert into permanent positions. The new Career Internship Program offers the students the opportunity to work until they graduate from their educational programs. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent job in the Civil Service, though this is not a guarantee.

Announcements are posted on USAJobs several months before the internship start date to give students the opportunity to obtain the required security clearances before starting.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen, national or legal permanent resident. Non-citizens may apply. (Must be U.S. citizen prior to conversion to competitive appointment)
• Must be at least 16 years of age by the closing date of the announcement
• Must maintain student eligibility for duration of internship*
• Must be enrolled or plan on enrolling in the current or upcoming semester in an accredited (Verify Accreditation):
  • High school
  • Associate’s
  • Bachelor’s
  • Master’s
  • Professional
  • Doctorate
  • Vocational/technical
  • Certificate (must be equivalent to post-secondary level education and at least one academic year of full-time study)
• Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 at the time of the application for undergraduates and 3.0 for graduate students throughout the internship appointment

*The term ”student” indicates a person who has been accepted for enrollment or is enrolled as a degree-seeker in an accredited college or university at least half-time. Some positions may also accept currently enrolled high school students. Note: Students may apply for positions that are unrelated to their degree programs.

Qualification Requirements

To qualify for this position: 

• At the GS-01 grade level: You must be enrolled in a high school or GED program.
• At the GS-02 grade level: You must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• At the GS-03 grade level: You must have completed one full academic year of post-high school study.
• At the GS-04 grade level: You must have completed two full academic years of post-high school study or an associate’s degree.
• At the GS-05 grade level: You must have completed all requirements for a bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree.
• At the GS-07 grade level: You must have completed one full academic year of graduate-level education or eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement Provision after completing a bachelor’s degree.
• At the GS-9 grade level: You must have completed two academic years of graduate-level education, or a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree.
• At the GS-11 grade level: 
  • For research positions, you must have completed all requirements for a master’s or equivalent graduate degree; 
  • For non-research positions, you must have completed all requirements for a PhD or equivalent degree.

Compensation and Benefits

While the U.S. Government uses at least six different pay scales, the majority of Civil Service employees are paid using the GS (General Schedule) pay scale. The GS pay scale for Civil Service employees features 15 pay grades: GS-1 (lowest) to GS-15 (highest) with 10 steps within each grade. For more information, please visit the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) GS pay scale page.

Employees hired under the Pathways Programs on appointments for 90 days or more are eligible to earn annual and sick leave. 

Interns hired under the Seasonal Student Trainee Program are considered temporary employees and are generally eligible to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program if they are expected to work 130 hours per month or more for at least 90 days, in accordance with 5 CFR 890.102. 

Those who meet the criteria laid out in these provisions will receive the same government contribution as full-time permanent employees. There is no provision for temporary employees to be eligible for life insurance coverage.

How to Apply

Once an announcement is posted on USAJobs, candidates must complete applications (to include all required documents) electronically.

Candidates have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement to complete the application process. This includes submitting the online application as well as any required documents as defined in the Required Documents section in the listed announcement. Candidates should complete their applications the day the announcement opens to ensure they receive consideration. If candidates fail to submit all of the required documents or submit their applications late, they will be disqualified for consideration of employment.

Due to the volume of applications for USAID’s Pathways programs, there is typically a maximum number of applications for each vacancy announcement. The vacancy will close on the closing date listed in the announcement at midnight the day that the maximum number of applications are received, or when the first of these conditions are met. If the application limit is reached on the same day the announcement opened, the open and close date will be the same.

Required Documents

Candidates: You must submit all required documents listed below that are applicable to you by 11:59 p.m. ET on USAIDJobs on the closing date of the announcement: 

• A resumé that includes the following:
  • Contact information;
  • Academic standing/GPA;
  • Work/volunteer experience including the work schedule and hours worked per week as well as dates of employment; and title, series, and grade, if applicable;
  • Supervisor’s name, phone number and email address for each work period listed and whether or not we may contact them for reference checks; and references.
• Current Transcripts: An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however if selected, an official college transcript will be required. Transcripts must include the student’s name, name of the school, current GPA/academic standing, past and current coursework, and degree program. If your school’s transcripts or documentation do not provide all the necessary information listed above, you should include additional official academic documentation that meets the requirements.
• Proof of enrollment or class registration and documentation that states projected graduation date: Proof of enrollment may include a screenshot of the semester class schedule, an official letter of enrollment, or official transcripts. The document should indicate the academic institution where the student is actively enrolled in courses, the degree or certificate program, and enrollment in at least a half-time status (as defined by the academic institution).
• Veterans' preference documentation: If you are claiming veterans’ preference, you must submit proof with your application.

Candidates: You must submit these documents for your application package to be considered complete. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents are received within the required timeframes. USAID cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in the mail service, system failure or downtime, etc. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

Veterans’ Preference

For 5-point veteran’s preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 is preferable) which must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. If you are currently on active duty, you must provide a certification on letterhead from your military branch which contains your military service date, expected date of discharge or release, and the character of service to show that your military service was performed under honorable conditions. The expected date of discharge or release must be within 120 days of the date the certification is submitted for consideration for this vacancy announcement.

For 10-point veteran’s preference, you must submit a current version of the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference), dated October 2013, and any documentation required by this form to support your claim. Previous editions of the SF-15 will not be accepted. If we cannot verify your 10-point preference status, you will receive 5-point preference if veterans’ preference requirements have been met.

For sole survivorship preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4 is preferable) or another form of official documentation which shows your discharge or release from active duty occurred on or after August 29, 2008, and was based on a sole survivorship discharge.

For more information, please visit OPM’s Veterans Services page.

Pathways Recent Graduates Program

The Pathways Recent Graduates Program affords developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the Civil Service to individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion (except for veterans precluded from doing so due to their military service obligation, who have up to six years after degree completion to apply). Successful applicants are placed in a dynamic, developmental program with the potential to lead to a Civil Service career in the Federal Government. The program lasts for one year (unless the training requirements of the position warrant a longer and more structured training program). Recent graduates may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances, a term appointment lasting one to four years).

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen, national or legal permanent resident. Non-citizens may apply. (Must be U.S. citizen prior to conversion to competitive appointment)
• Must have graduated within the previous two years (veterans precluded by their military service obligation will have up to six years) from a qualifying degree or certificate from a qualifying institution (Verify Accreditation):
  • Associate's
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Professional
  • Doctorate
  • Vocational/Technical degree
  • Certificate (must be equivalent to post-secondary level education and at least one academic year of full-time study)
• Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above undergraduate
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above graduate

Qualification Requirements

To qualify for Recent Graduate positions at the GS-09 level, you must satisfy one of the requirements described below:

• At the GS-05 grade level: Completion of all requirements for a bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree.
• At the GS-07 grade level: Completion of one full academic year of graduate-level education or eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement Provision after completing a bachelor’s degree.
• At the GS-9 grade level: Completion of two academic years of graduate-level education, or a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree.

Compensation and Benefits

While the government uses at least six different pay scales, the majority of Civil Service employees are paid using the GS (General Schedule) pay scale. The GS pay scale for Civil Service employees features 15 pay grades, GS-1 (lowest) to GS-15 (highest) with 10 steps within each grade. For more information, please visit the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) GS pay scale page.

Learn more about employee benefits available to Pathways participants.

Employees hired under the Pathways Program on appointments for 90 days or more are eligible to earn annual and sick leave. Interns hired under the Seasonal Student Trainee Program are considered temporary employees and are generally eligible to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program if they are expected to work 130 hours per month or more for at least 90 days, in accordance with 5 CFR 890.102. Those who meet the criteria laid out in these provisions will receive the same government contribution as full-time permanent employees. There is no provision for temporary employees to be eligible for life insurance coverage.

How to Apply

Once an announcement is posted on USAJobs, complete applications (to include all required documents) must be submitted electronically.

Candidates have until 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement to complete the application process. This includes submitting the online application as well as any required documents as defined in the Required Documents section in the listed announcement. Candidates should complete their applications the day the announcement opens to ensure they receive consideration. Should candidates be missing any of the required documents or submit their application late, they will be disqualified for consideration of employment.

Due to the volume of applications for USAID’s Pathways programs, there is typically a maximum number of applications for each vacancy announcement. The vacancy will close on the closing date listed in the announcement or on midnight the day that the maximum number of applications are received. The vacancy will close when the first of these conditions are met. If the application limit is reached on the same day the announcement opened, the open and close date will be the same.

Required Documents

Candidates: You must submit all required documents listed below that are applicable to you on USA Jobs by 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of the announcement: 

• A resume that includes the following:
  • Contact information;
  • Academic standing/GPA;
  • Work/volunteer experience including the work schedule and hours worked per week as well as dates of employment; and title, series, and grade, if applicable;
  • Supervisors name, phone number and email address for each work period listed and whether or not we may contact them for reference checks; and references.
• Current transcripts: An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however if selected, an official college transcript will be required. Transcripts must include the students name, name of the school, current GPA, date degree was conferred, coursework, and degree program. If your school’s transcripts or documentation do not provide all the necessary information listed above, you should include additional official academic documentation that meets the requirements.
• A completed Assessment Questionnaire
• Veterans preference documentation: If you are claiming veterans’ preference, you must submit proof with your application.

Veterans’ Preference

For 5-point veteran’s preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 is preferable) which must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. If you are currently on active duty, you must provide a certification on letterhead from your military branch which contains your military service date, expected date of discharge or release, and the character of service to show that your military service was performed under honorable conditions. The expected date of discharge or release must be within 120 days of the date the certification is submitted for consideration for this vacancy announcement.

For 10-point veteran’s preference, you must submit a current version of the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference), dated October 2013, and any documentation required by this form to support your claim. Previous editions of the SF-15 will not be accepted. If we cannot verify your 10-point preference status, you will receive 5-point preference if veterans’ preference requirements have been met.

For sole survivorship preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4 is preferable) or another form of official documentation which shows your discharge or release from active duty occurred on or after August 29, 2008 and was based on a sole survivorship discharge.

For more information, please visit OPM’s Veterans Services page.

Conversion Opportunity

Recent graduates must complete at least 40 hours of formal, interactive training each year of the program. They must also adhere to individual development plans to create and track career planning, professional development, and training advancement. Throughout the program, they will receive mentorship.

Recent graduates may be converted to a term or permanent, career or career-conditional, appointment in the competitive service upon completion of the one-year service requirement. To be eligible for conversion, recent graduates must:

• Be a U.S. Citizen upon conversion;
• Complete all requirements of the Recent Graduates Program successfully;
• Complete at least 40 hours of formal, interactive training;
• Demonstrate successful job performance consistent with the applicable performance appraisal program; and
• Meet the (OPM) qualification standard for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted.

Note: Conversion to a permanent opportunity is not guaranteed

Presidential Management Fellowship Program

The Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) Program is the government's flagship entry-level leadership development program for advanced degree candidates. The PMF Program aims to inculcate a lasting bond as well as a spirit of public service in participants, ultimately encouraging and leading them to a career in the U.S. Government. Rotations are an integral part of the PMF experience and essential in the development of well-rounded and versatile employees.

Individuals must have completed a qualifying advanced degree within the two-year period preceding the PMF Program announcement issued by OPM and must participate in a rigorous, multi-hurdle selection process. Fellows are appointed at the GS-9 or GS-11 level, depending on the Agency’s need and candidates' education and specialized experience.

For more information, please visit the Presidential Management Fellowship website.

Third-Party Internship Program

Through the Third-Party Internship Program, USAID engages with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and other entities whose primary goal is to attract a diverse, often underserved, next-generation workforce to careers in the Federal Government through internships and professional development training. The Office of Human Capital and Talent Management uses the following third-party programs to source and select talented students who can then be placed in Bureaus/Independent Offices or Missions..

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) National Internship Program

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities represents more than 500 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), including colleges, universities, and school districts, throughout the U.S., Latin America, and Spain. The HACU National Internship Program is a HACU-paid internship places current undergraduate and graduate students in internships in a variety of federal agencies. 

HACU interns work on a year-round schedule, and may choose a 20-hour, 25-hour, 30-hour, or full-time work schedule. They may not work overtime.

For more information, please visit the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities website.

International Leadership Foundation

The International Leadership Foundation (ILF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes the civic awareness, public service, and economic effectiveness of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Their mission is to develop young leaders in the U.S., Asia, and other Pacific Rim countries in the fields of public service, entrepreneurship, and international business and politics through a network of business and community leaders.

Since founding in 2000, ILF has provided scholarships and leadership training for over a thousand select AAPI college students nation-wide.

For more information, please visit the International Leadership Foundation website.

INROADS

INROADS is a nonprofit organization that creates pathways to careers for ethnically diverse high school and college students across the country.  The organization positions its graduates to advance in their careers, and it assists employers foster diverse and inclusive workplaces. INROADS envisions a world in whichwherein which leaders enrich the composition and culture of business and social communities through diversity and inclusion. 

The mission of INROADS is to deliver innovative leadership development programs and creative solutions that identify, accelerate,, and elevate underrepresented talent throughout their careers. 

For more information, please visit the INROADS website.

The USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program

The Payne Fellowship seeks to attract outstanding individuals who are interested in pursuing careers in USAID’s Foreign Service. If you want to work on the front lines of some of the most pressing global challenges of our times — poverty, hunger, injustice, disease, environmental degradation, climate change, conflict and violent extremism – USAID’s Foreign Service provides an opportunity to advance U.S. foreign policy interests and reflect the American people's compassion and support of human dignity. The Payne Fellowship, which provides up to $96,000 in benefits over two years for graduate school, internships, and professional development activities, is a unique pathway to the USAID Foreign Service. 

For more information, please visit the Payne Fellowship website.

Watch this webinar recording and review Payne Program publications for more information.

Connect with USAID Development Diplomats in Residence as a resource to learn more about a career in Foreign Service.

Employment Opportunities and Resources

Employment opportunities and resources are available to the general public interested in development work with USAID, including veterans and persons with disabilities.

Be sure to create a profile, search for USAID vacancies, and set an alert for notifications on USAJOBs.