Our nation’s current and future challenges make it imperative that government identify, recruit and retain the next generation of public servants.
With just under 7% of the full-time federal workforce under the age of 30, executive branch agencies are working to meet this need, prioritizing the design and implementation of paid internship programs that provide students with valuable work experience, an expanded professional network, and a better understanding of the importance and impact of public service.
Managed by the Partnership for Public Service, the Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program helps bring diverse young talent to government and offers students the opportunity to apply their educational training to work at a federal agency. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students from across all academic disciplines are welcome to apply.
Program Benefits
Selected participants in the program will receive:
- A 10-12 week internship at the National Science Foundation
- Stipends:
- Full-time interns (full-time defined as a minimum of 32 hours/week) receive a stipend of $6,500, plus $5,500 for housing and travel expenses.
- Part-time interns (part-time defined as 20 hours/week) receive a stipend of $3,250, plus $750 for travel expenses.
- Professional development sessions, including orientation and networking events throughout the spring.
Program Eligibility
To apply to the program, candidates must be:
- U.S. citizens at the time of application submission.
- For the spring 2024 term, enrolled at an accredited educational institution in an undergraduate or graduate program. Undergraduates must be current second-year students/sophomores and above.
- Able to demonstrate superior academic achievement and have a GPA above 2.5.
- Interested in at least one of the following career tracks:
- Public Administration: May include positions in finance, human resources, management/administration, or similar fields.
- Science, Mathematics and Engineering: May include positions in the fields of science and health, engineering and math. This track is open to candidates from technical backgrounds.
- Government Contracting and Acquisition. May include positions relating to federal contracting and acquisition, procurement, and business.
- Liberal Arts. May include positions in communications, arts, humanities, graphic design, public policy, writing/editing, communications, public affairs and social sciences.
- Public Interest Technology: May include positions in operations technology-focused policy, graphic design, writing/editing, program management, data analysis, entrepreneurship and stakeholder management. This track is open to candidates from both technical and social science backgrounds, but candidates must be interested in technology innovation and harnessing the full potential of technology for public good.
Students admitted to the program must successfully complete a background check before beginning the internship in January 2024.
Spring 2024 Timeline
- August 14: Applications for the spring 2024 cohort open.
- October 23: All completed applications must be submitted.
- November 3 – 22: Virtual interviews conducted.
- December: Background check process begins.
- December: Virtual Orientation.
- January 16: Internship Begins.
FAQs
U.S. citizens currently enrolled at an accredited educational institution in an undergraduate (current 2nd years/sophomores and above) or graduate program with a 2.5 GPA or above are eligible to apply. Students must be current second-year students/sophomores and above.
Optional reference letters may be uploaded directly through the application portal or emailed to [email protected] with the applicant’s name referenced in the subject line.
Stipend amounts vary by each term, agency and part-time or full-time status. Please refer to the Program Benefits section on each page to learn more.
In-person internship opportunities in the Washington, D.C., area and fully virtual internships are available.
In-person internship opportunities in the Washington, D.C., area and fully virtual internships are available.
Participating agencies for the Futures Leaders in Public Service Internship Program vary by each term. Please refer to each program page to learn more.
Applicants can select up to two preferred career tracks. Agencies will rank the intern candidates that are the best fit for their positions. If a candidate receives offers from multiple agencies, the candidate may select the opportunity that is the best fit for them.
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