Office of Inspector General Student Internship Program

Office of Inspector General (OIG) Student Internship Program

The OIG Student Internship Program provides students with the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, apply their educational knowledge to the real workforce, receive mentorship, and offer fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to problems. Opportunities are available in Washington, D.C. at USAID OIG Headquarters, Ronald Reagan Building 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20523.

The program enables students to provide volunteer services to OIG and expose them to OIG career opportunities. The program will focus on providing students substantive work experience. Ideally, students will be assigned to work in areas representative of their interests and field of study.

Selections are based upon academic achievements and concentrations of students, life/work experience, and the needs of OIG, among other things. OIG has an interest in students with a background or interest in law enforcement, criminal justice, fraud, law, accounting, foreign languages, forensics, political science, international affairs or development, or public administration or policy.

Types of Internships Available:

Students have the ability to work within any of OIG’s units, including Audit, Investigations, Management, General Counsel, Congressional and Public Affairs, Quality Assurance, and others.

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible to participate in the Student Internship Program, the student must meet ALL the following qualifications at the time of application:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen (If you are a U.S. citizen and hold dual citizenship with another country, please disclose the information in your application);
  • Must be at least 18 years of age;
  • Must be a student enrolled or accepted for enrollment at least half time in:
    • A junior or community college/2-year college;
    • A four-year college or university; or 
    • A graduate school, law school, MBA program, or PhD program;
  • Have at least a semester, or 6 months remaining in school. 
  • Must be in good academic standing with the student’s institution;
  • Must agree to a background check that may take up to 6 months;
  • Must be available to work at least 10 hours per week; and 
  • Must be able to work consecutively at least 3 months, but no more than 1 year.

Participants in the program must be enrolled at least half-time as students in order to participate in the program. You do not need to be receiving academic credit, nor do you need to be attending classes during time spent interning in order to apply. OIG recommends that students apply at least two semesters before scheduled graduation due to background check process.

Application Process:

  • Please send your resume, a one-page essay or cover letter articulating why you want to work for USAID OIG and what you are able to contribute to the organization, and a copy of your unofficial transcript and any questions you may have concerning the program to oiginternship@usaid.gov.
  • If you are a law school student, please contact OIGGCinterns@usaid.gov.
  • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. OIG typically selects candidates towards the end of Spring, Summer, and Fall for the following semester. The number of candidates selected is based on the needs of OIG.
  • OIG will schedule interviews with the most competitive applicants. Official notification of acceptance into the program will be provided by the recruitment point of contact.

Additional Information:

  • Academic credit may be earned by participating in the Student Internship Program as determined by your academic institution in coordination with OIG’s Human Resources. Please indicate if you require academic credit on your application package.
  • Transportation assistance through WMATA is available to student interns.
  • Paid positions are not available at this time.
  • Students are not guaranteed to receive a job offer for a full-time position at the conclusion of their time spent with OIG.
  • USAID OIG will provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate.
  • USAID OIG is an EEO employer.