Federal Diversity Internship Initiative
Opening doors to a fulfilling career in the Federal Government.
If you want to spend your life serving the public good, consider a satisfying career as federal employee. Join students from a wide variety of backgrounds, exploring potential careers with select U.S. federal agencies. In this highly selective program, you'll get first-hand insight into working for the federal government, gain valuable professional experience and build a network of fellow public servants.
In partnership with multiple U.S. federal agencies, this program will give you the opportunity to experience what it's like working for the U.S. government.
Students from underrepresented backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
Federal Agency Partners
We work with a multitude of different federal agencies. Examples of our federal agency partners include:
- Census Bureau
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
- Department of Veteran Affairs
- National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)
Eligibility
To be eligible to participate, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program (AA/AS, BA/BS, Master's, JD, MD, or Ph.D.) at an accredited higher education institution.
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Be able to work full-time (40 hours per week) for the duration of the internship.
- Have a confirmed interest in working with the federal government.
Program Components
During this 10-week Summer or 15-week Spring or Fall program, you will be immersed in a full-time federal work environment five days a week, assisting with projects and performing tasks that your internship mentor assigns. Your internship placement may be in the Washington, D.C. area, or in one of several regional locations across the United States, where our federal partner agencies have availability and internships that fit your skills, interests and career objectives.
Program Benefits
This is a fully funded program sponsored by multiple U.S. federal government agencies. Sponsorship covers the cost of the program, housing (if needed) and roundtrip travel to and from the internship site city. You will be responsible for living expenses and local transportation. However, a stipend will be provided to help alleviate these expenses.
In addition, various professional development sessions will be available to enhance students’ knowledge and marketability. The Washington Center organizes multiple hands-on experiences to prepare you for your career including Resume Review & Cover Letter Writing, LinkedIn Review, Interviewing & Pitching Yourself, etc. TWC also organizes networking opportunities during your internship and has highly active alumni networks of which you will be a part.
Housing and Living
Fully furnished housing is provided by TWC for all participants who need it. Housing is arranged in close proximity to internship sites, both in Washington, D.C. and in regional locations across the United States. Housing accommodations can, and typically do, require shared-living arrangements with other interns. Every effort is made to arrange housing near essential amenities like grocery stores, public transit and medical facilities.
Academic Credit
You may be eligible to receive academic credit for your participation in this program. However, credits are determined and awarded by each university. TWC does not grant credit. You are responsible for arranging any academic credit through your college or university. You should discuss arrangements with your institution, prior to starting the program.
Dates and Deadlines
Requests from our contracted federal agencies are received on an ad hoc basis for our Spring, Summer and Fall sessions.
How to Apply
Register Your Interest
Express your interest in the Federal Diversity Internship Initiative using this form:
You can also email federal@twc.edu with questions.
Upon submission of a completed interest form, you will be contacted via email with an application link upon TWC receiving a request from one of our many federal agency partners. Submitting an application will enter you to be considered for that relevant agency; an interest form submission simply ensures we contact you upon that opening as these opportunities may not be posted publicly. Please note that there is no fixed timeline for this process as it varies based on each agency's needs, processes and internal timelines.
Application Documents
You need to submit the following documents along with your application:
- Resume: Submit a max 2-page resume in PDF format reflecting relevant work experience, volunteerism, awards, leadership, extracurricular activities, research, and academic experiences. Your resume must include your GPA and your current contact information including email address, home address and telephone number.
- Transcript: Submit your most recent transcript. Both unofficial and official transcripts are accepted. Please ensure that your Social Security Number is crossed out on the submitted document.
- Statement of Interest: In a maximum 300-word statement in PDF Format, please address your specific interest in interning with the relevant federal agency, along with what skills and experiences you have that make you a unique candidate. In short, we want to know: Why this agency? What skills and knowledge do you have that has prepared you for this opportunity? What do you hope to gain from this experience?