Brookings Internship Program 2026 | Paid Internship in USA

The Brookings Internship Program 2026 offers paid internships to degree-seeking students and, occasionally, recent graduates. This program provides valuable pre-professional, significant, and hands-on work experience directly connected to academic fields or career aspirations. Approximately 150 interns are selected annually across spring, summer, and fall cohorts. Internships are available within five research programs (Governance Studies, Economic Studies, Foreign Policy, Global Economy and Development, and Brookings Metro) and various business units such as communications, finance, and human resources. The program aims to help interns explore and refine career interests, develop essential skills, contribute to research projects, and support Brookings’ mission of promoting innovative ideas and solutions to global challenges. This is a highly competitive and prestigious 12-week program, which can be hybrid (requiring some physical presence in the DC Metropolitan area) or entirely remote (within the United States, with specific state restrictions).

This is a paid internship program offering competitive compensation and a comprehensive set of benefits designed to support interns' emotional, financial, and physical well-being. Brookings fosters a flexible, inclusive, and respectful work environment. Interns also gain opportunities for continuing education and personal growth, contribute to work that makes a meaningful impact on society, and participate in diversity-promoting events and community-building activities.

Ethiopian students are eligible if they meet the following criteria: - **Nationality**: International students are welcome to apply if they possess a visa status sponsored by their college or university or are otherwise authorized to work in the United States (e.g., F-1 or J-1 student status with OPT or CPT). - **Academic Level**: Applicants must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program. PhD students are explicitly NOT eligible. - **Recent Graduates**: Recent graduates may apply for selected positions if they have graduated within one year before the internship start date and meet the specific requirements of the posting. - **Background**: The program welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds, academic majors, fields of study, or prior work experience. - **Previous Interns**: Individuals who have previously interned with Brookings are not eligible to reapply. - **Remote Work**: If working remotely, applicants must reside within the United States for the entire internship period and cannot work from Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.

Applicants must submit the following documents: - Resume - Cover Letter - Official/Unofficial Transcript - Writing Sample (if required by the specific internship posting) - Two References OR Two Letters of Recommendation (only for selected interns)

The application process is conducted online. Applications are only accepted after the internship positions are officially posted. Interested candidates should visit the official Brookings careers website (linked as 'Apply Now' or 'Official Website') and follow the instructions to submit their application. All applications must be received before the stated deadline.

- Applicants will receive a confirmation email once their application is complete. - It is important to monitor your email and the online application portal for updates on your application status. - Notifications will be sent via email if an application is found to be incomplete. - For the Fall 2026 program, internship openings are posted beginning the week of May 11, 2026. The application deadline is June 14, 2026. Selections will be made by July 31, 2026. Cohort start dates are either September 8 or September 21, 2026, with end dates of November 20 or December 11, 2026.