Internships

2008 Summer Internship Program: June 9-August 15

Applications for the 2008 Summer Internship are no longer being accepted. Please check back in early 2009 for information regarding next summer's program.

Federal Student Aid, the largest agency in the U.S. Department of Education, offers a unique and exciting summer internship program in Washington, D.C., for undergraduate and graduate students interested in learning about government, gaining valuable work experience and building a network of friends while earning money for school.

Just as Federal Student Aid wants the millions of college students who apply for aid each year to succeed, we also want to see our interns succeed. That's why our program insists that our student employees receive opportunities to grow through professional development activities, team-building exercises and social networking opportunities. Additionally, we are committed to providing you with demanding tasks that will challenge you and, ultimately, make you a more qualified applicant for future employment.

We invite you to check out our internship opportunities.

• Overview
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Eligibility Requirements

Internship Overview

In the summer of 1999, Federal Student Aid established this internship program to engage the students we serve in the government's financial aid process. So far, more than 400 students from across the country have participated in our program.

The Federal Student Aid Internship Program has proven to be mutually beneficial. While students are gaining valuable paid work experience that will enrich them academically, Federal Student Aid receives the opportunity to connect with their most important customer, the student. Working cooperatively, the Federal Student Aid Internship Program supports our efforts to dramatically improve the delivery of student financial aid to millions of students.

Why would you be interested in interning at Federal Student Aid?

• Excellent Pay and Benefits: Pay ranges from approximately $12 to $19 an hour depending on experience and education. Interns will accrue annual and sick leave throughout the summer. Interns also enjoy transit benefits to help pay transportation costs.
• Great Location: Our office is located near Capitol Hill in the heart of Washington, D.C., the focal point of our nation. The Union Station metro stop, just two blocks from the building, offers an exciting environment to eat lunch, shop and meet other federal and political employees in the area. As neighbors to CNN, past interns have watched famous anchors film news clips right outside our building. We take advantage of our location and make sure our interns experience a true D.C. summer.
• Valuable Work Experience: This isn't your typical mindless, administrative internship. Here, interns work on substantive projects and collaborate with supervisors who value their input. With more than 35 positions each summer, interns receive the opportunity to work in offices related to their specific interests, from communication to information technology to emergency preparedness. Interns may find themselves preparing policy papers, writing press releases, developing web sites, or working on numerous other interesting projects, depending on their placement. As a student employee, you will work on substantive work and get real on-the-job experience that will prepare you for your future career.
• Career Development and Networking Opportunities: Interns will work alongside field professionals who will gladly pass on knowledge and engage in career counseling. Interns will attend a range of classes to prepare them for their next steps. We often ask interns to continue working with us throughout the school year, and we are continuously searching for potential full-time employees. Interns will also have a chance to socialize and form a cohesive group with the more than 35 other interns in the program.
• The Fun Stuff: Beyond your typical assignments, our interns have numerous opportunities to get to know each other as they work and explore the city together. In past, our interns have been fortunate enough to receive White House and Capitol tours. Many interns also choose to get together outside of work to take advantage of all that D.C. has to offer.

Although we have tried to anticipate many of your questions in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section, please feel free to send additional questions to us at fsa_interns@ed.gov.

We hope you can join us!

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible applicants meet the following criteria:

• A student taking at least half-time academic or vocational and technical course load in an accredited technical or vocational school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, graduate or professional school. Please note that if you have graduated or will graduate prior to the program’s end, you are not eligible to participate unless you enroll in another program, such as graduate school.
• Applicants must qualify at the minimum GS-3 level (At least 30 college credits or a combination of education and experience as designated in OPM's Qualifications Standards for Clerical and Administrative Support Positions).
• Non-citizens may be eligible for employment. To determine your specific eligibility, please contact us at fsa_interns@ed.gov.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify at the time of appointment that they have registered with the Selective Service System.