Partnerships, Fellowships & Grants

International Internship Grant (IIG)

The Elliott School strongly encourages students to integrate their studies with practical international internship experiences. To help with this goal, GSS offers a limited number of competitive grants for Elliott School graduate students participating in unpaid or low-pay international internships. These grants are designed to help defray the costs of an international internship, not fully fund the experience. Students are encouraged to research outside funding sources before submitting a grant proposal. Currently enrolled Elliott School graduate students may apply for an International Internship Grant through the IIG online application.

Hear from IIG Recipients!

Hannah Ritter

M.A. in International Affairs

IIG Internship: Centro de Estudios Públicos (CEP) in Santiago, Chile

"This summer, with support from the International Internship Grant, I had the opportunity to be a research intern at the think tank Centro de Estudios Públicos (CEP) in Santiago, Chile.
This internship provided invaluable research experience and allowed me to immerse myself in Chilean culture before returning to campus."

Victoria Casas

M.A. in International Affairs

IIG Internship: U.S. Embassy in Chile, American Spaces

"This summer...I had the opportunity to intern in Santiago, Chile, with American Spaces. During my time with the embassy, I conducted original research and presented my findings to a team of public diplomacy FSOs. This experience gave me firsthand insight into...the Foreign Service and strengthened my confidence in pursuing this path."

Guidelines

You must have secured an internship or have started an internship at an organization that offers substantial opportunities directly related to your degree program and specialty.
Your internship must require at least 30 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks.
You must be a currently enrolled Elliott School graduate student and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
International students are eligible to apply, but the internship cannot be located in your home country or within the U.S.
The internship cannot be located in a country in which you have citizenship or foreign national status.
The internship must abide by the GW Global: Elliott School Travel Advisory policy.

Application Requirements

Only completed applications will be accepted; we will not consider your application unless you carefully complete the application steps, which include:

Application Summary
Basic personal and internship information
Current Resume
Completed and signed Internship Employer/Mentor Form
Faculty Support Form completed and signed by a GW faculty member
Interest essay (500 words maximum): Please submit an essay about why you want to complete this internship and how it relates to your immediate and long-term career goals.
Completed Personal Budget form including alternative sources of funding
Copy of most recent GW transcript (printable from the web; unofficial copies are accepted)

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

International Internship Travel Guidelines

Elliott School graduate students participating in an international internship must adhere to the following guidelines:

International Travel Registration:
- Graduate students traveling to a Department of State (DoS) travel advisory Levels 1–3 and/or CDC Travel Health Notice Levels 1–2 destinations must complete the International Travel Registration at least 30 days before departure.
- Before completing the proposal, students should review the DoS travel advisory level and CDC Travel Health Notice Levels for their specific region, as advisories may vary within a country and are subject to change.
- Students planning to travel to a DoS Level 3 destination should prepare a backup travel plan to a DoS Level 1 or 2 destination in case travel guidance changes.
High-Risk Travel Proposal:
- Students traveling to a DoS advisory level 4 and/or CDC travel health notice level 3-4 must apply for the High Risk Travel Proposal for Individual Travelers a minimum of 30 days before your departure date. Travel to DoS Level 4 and/or CDC travel health notices level 3-4 destinations will most likely not be approved.

Application Timeline & Deadlines

When to Apply?

	Applications Open	Priority Application deadline	Application Decision Sent by:	Travel Registration Deadline
Fall 2026	May 1st	July 15th	August 1st	30 days before departure
Spring 2027	September 1st	November 15th	December 1st	30 days before departure
Summer 2027	January 11th	April 15th	May 1st	30 days before departure

*Students are encouraged to apply as soon as they have secured an internship. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to early applicants.

If you have any questions, please contact the International Education Program Associate at [email protected]

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

Frequently Asked Questions

What is required in the application?

Personal and internship information sections
Completed and signed Internship Employer/Mentor Form
Interest essay (500 words maximum): Please submit an essay about why you want to complete this internship and how it relates to your immediate and long-term career goals. Please limit it to 500 words.
Faculty Support Form completed and signed by a GW faculty member
Estimated Budget Sheet, including personal and alternative sources of funding
Current resume
Copy of most recent GW transcript (may be unofficial)

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

Do you have to have your internship before the application deadline?
Yes.

Does my internship have to be for a required time length?
Yes. Your internship must consist of at least 30 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks.

How do I find an internship?
The Graduate Student Services (GSS) will work with you to secure an internship at an organization that offers substantial opportunities related to your program. Feel free to also check out our GSS International Internship and jobs abroad database.

What countries are covered by the International Internship Grant?
All countries where students are permitted to travel and that align with the GW Travel Policy.

Do I need recommendations from the faculty?
You only need (1) one GWU faculty member to approve your application.

If I am a 2nd-year student, am I still eligible to apply for the International Internship Grant?
Yes, if you are a continuing student, you are eligible.

Do I need to be an Elliott School graduate student to apply for International Internship Grant?
Yes.

Do I need language skills?
No. However, some employers do request language proficiency.

Can I combine an internship with a study abroad program?
Yes. As long as you meet the 30 hours per week and 10-week minimum duration requirements of your internship.

Can I be awarded the International Internship Grant twice?
Yes, as long as you are a currently enrolled Elliott School graduate student with a GPA ≥ 3.0

Can I go to my home country?
No. The goal of the International Internship Grant is to enable students to experience new cultures beyond their native land.

What is the maximum award amount?
Up to $3,000. The award amount is determined by your proposed budget sheet.

Where is the proposed budget sheet?
It is a section within the online application.

When do I get the grant funding?
Before you depart for your internship. The funding will be directly deposited into your bank account so long as you have set up your direct deposit account with GW.

Knowledge in Action Career Internship Fund

The GW Career Services Council established the Knowledge in Action Career Internship Fund (KACIF) to encourage GW students to pursue high-quality unpaid internships that foster career exploration and enhance their academic program, while reducing the financial challenges associated with unpaid internships. This highly competitive program provides grants ranging from $750 to $3,000 to GW undergraduate and graduate students pursuing internships that are necessarily unpaid.

Quinn Fellows Fund

The Quinn Fellows Fund, funded by a generous donation from Mr. Michael Quinn, provides financial support for graduate and undergraduate students pursuing international business internships overseas or within the U.S., in the public or private sector, and in any type of organization. Each individual award will be up to $3,000. The funding can be used to supplement an unpaid and/or underfunded internship as well as travel and living costs associated with overseas internships.

GWU-Grameen Bank & Trust Partnership

The Internship Program with the Yunus Centre at the Grameen Bank & Trust offers internship opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students interested in working on development projects with the Grameen Bank & Trust. The internship provides valuable hands-on experience in microfinance, poverty reduction, and international development in Bangladesh. Questions about the internship program can be directed to the Internship Director, Dr. Jane Ives, [email protected].

Rosenthal Fellowship in International Relations

The Harold W. Rosenthal Fellowship in International Relations is a prestigious program that offers our nation’s most civic-minded students the opportunity to spend a summer working to solve some of our biggest national and global challenges.

Established in 1977 to honor Harold Rosenthal, a Senate staff member who was a victim of a terrorist attack while on official duty at age 29, this fellowship provides a select number of graduate-level students studying international affairs the opportunity to gain work experience in a congressional or executive branch office while participating in a series of professional development events.

Learn More about the Rosenthal Fellowship

DACOR Bacon House Foundation Fellowship

Every three years the DACOR Bacon House Foundation offers graduate fellowships for study toward a Master’s Degree in international affairs. These are $10,000 tuition-only grants. Recipients must be U.S. citizens. The fellowships are for study at any accredited graduate school in the United States. The next eligibility period for the Elliott School is 2029-2030.

Learn more about the DACOR Bacon House Foundation Fellowship