Policy Internships
Policy internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience, mentorship from working policy professionals, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Insurance, with Bipartisan Policy Center, ETS, and Tesla among the employers posting roles now.
Find Policy InternshipsOverview
Showing 5 of 20+ Policy Internships
Please be aware of recruiting scams!
CALSTART is a mission-driven industry organization focused on transportation decarbonization and clean air for all.
For over 30 years, it’s been CALSTART’s mission to develop, assess, and implement large-scale, zero-emission transportation solutions to mitigate climate change and support economic growth. CALSTART works with businesses, organizations, governments, and communities to create real-life impact toward clean air and equitable access to clean transportation for all. CALSTART provides scientific, technical and policy support for regulatory development and clean technology and infrastructure acceleration.
Intern Project:
Intern Project Key Deliverables:
- Research on a variety of clean transportation topics including but not limited to: zero-emission vehicle policies (state and federal), vehicle battery technology, utility practices, ZEV infrastructure planning, and federal funding programs
- Prepare presentations, notes, and other materials for internal and external meetings
- Provide policy analysis and writing for reports, issue briefs, proposals, best practice case studies, fact sheets, blogs, etc.
- Prepare internal policy newsletters
- Member engagement
Qualifications:
- Completed at least three years of accredited college/university level coursework pursuing a bachelor's degree in political science, public policy, environmental studies, communications urban studies, transportation planning, sustainability, business development, or other related fields
- Foundational knowledge of environmental and clean energy and transportation policy
- Self-driven and motivated individual that is passionate about policy, environmental science, decarbonization strategies and interest in clean energy technologies
- Strong writing skills and an ability to communicate technical information in a clear and accessible manner.
- Experienced in research and report writing with the ability to search through directions, summarize findings, and assist managers with presentational materials.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and task management abilities.
- Ability to communicate with multiple stakeholders and audiences.
- Ability to work independently in a remote work environment.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, especially PowerPoint
- Weekly Minimum Hours of Availability: < 15
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Please be aware of recruiting scams!
CALSTART is a mission-driven industry organization focused on transportation decarbonization and clean air for all.
For over 30 years, it’s been CALSTART’s mission to develop, assess, and implement large-scale, zero-emission transportation solutions to mitigate climate change and support economic growth. CALSTART works with businesses, organizations, governments, and communities to create real-life impact toward clean air and equitable access to clean transportation for all. CALSTART provides scientific, technical and policy support for regulatory development and clean technology and infrastructure acceleration.
Intern Project:
Intern Project Key Deliverables:
- Research on a variety of clean transportation topics including but not limited to: zero-emission vehicle policies (state and federal), vehicle battery technology, utility practices, ZEV infrastructure planning, and federal funding programs
- Prepare presentations, notes, and other materials for internal and external meetings
- Provide policy analysis and writing for reports, issue briefs, proposals, best practice case studies, fact sheets, blogs, etc.
- Prepare internal policy newsletters
- Member engagement
Qualifications:
- Completed at least three years of accredited college/university level coursework pursuing a bachelor's degree in political science, public policy, environmental studies, communications urban studies, transportation planning, sustainability, business development, or other related fields
- Foundational knowledge of environmental and clean energy and transportation policy
- Self-driven and motivated individual that is passionate about policy, environmental science, decarbonization strategies and interest in clean energy technologies
- Strong writing skills and an ability to communicate technical information in a clear and accessible manner.
- Experienced in research and report writing with the ability to search through directions, summarize findings, and assist managers with presentational materials.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and task management abilities.
- Ability to communicate with multiple stakeholders and audiences.
- Ability to work independently in a remote work environment.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, especially PowerPoint
- Weekly Minimum Hours of Availability: < 15
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Policy Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Insurance
Tips for Your Policy Internship Search
Apply earlier than your peers do
Large federal agencies, think tanks, and policy organizations open summer internship applications the preceding fall, often in September or October. Smaller nonprofits and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Check for openings in both waves so you don't miss the early cohorts that fill before most students start looking.
Build a portfolio before your first application
Policy hiring teams expect limited work history at the intern level, so give them something else to assess. Document two or three research projects, policy memos, or published analyses that show your process and conclusions. Link to them wherever you can so a recruiter can evaluate your work in under two minutes.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Apply directly to organizations running smaller cohorts alongside your campus activity so you're reaching employers that don't show up at fairs.
Practice your policy interview format out loud
Policy intern screens often involve a written exercise, case discussion, or analytical prompt rather than a standard Q&A. Practice constructing a policy argument or summarizing research findings aloud, explaining your reasoning as you go. Interviewers weigh how you think through ambiguous problems as much as whether your final answer is correct.
Target structured programs built for people new to the field
Rotational and cohort programs at larger agencies, think tanks, and corporate public affairs teams are designed to train interns with limited professional experience. The Presidential Management Fellows pipeline is one well-known example. These programs recruit early and fill fast, so identify the ones that fit your background and apply in the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 22% of the policy internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start sorting through listings, then filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate so you're only reviewing roles you can actually take.
Policy Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a policy internship?
Lead with coursework, personal projects, and a portfolio rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For policy candidates, a documented policy memo, research brief, or published analysis gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a policy internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it is performance on real deliverables, available headcount on the team, and whether the return-offer decision comes before or after your graduation timeline. Position yourself by treating every project as a work sample, and stay in contact with your manager, but don't plan your job search around it.
When should I apply for policy internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large government agencies, think tanks, and policy-focused organizations recruit summer interns the preceding fall, sometimes opening applications in September or October. Smaller nonprofits, advocacy groups, and co-op programs post much closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round and a second application wave in late winter catches many of them.
Are policy internships paid?
Most professional policy internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by employer size, sector, and location, with federal government internships, large think tanks, and corporate public affairs teams generally offering structured stipends or hourly rates. Nonprofit and advocacy roles vary more widely. Where an employer discloses compensation, it appears in the listing.
What should a policy internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three documented projects that show your research and analytical process, naming the tools you used and linking to published analyses, policy briefs, or writing samples where the work is visible. Add relevant coursework in public policy, political science, economics, or law. Keep the resume to one page.
Are there remote policy internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 78% of the policy internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they draw a national applicant pool, so apply early once you decide what works for your schedule. Filter by work type to see only the arrangements you can actually commit to.
What is a Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) internship?
The Presidential Management Fellows program is a competitive two-year federal leadership development fellowship targeting recent graduate-degree holders who want to enter public policy and government service. It recruits early in the academic year, places fellows across federal agencies, and is widely considered one of the most direct entry points into a federal policy career. Apply in the first open window, as slots are limited.
Can international students get policy internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
See All 20 Policy Internship Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Policy Internships