Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) Provides Internship Opportunities to U.S. Students

Established in 2009, the Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) creates internship opportunities and virtual jobs for college students in the U.S. The program leverages students’ digital expertise to help move government work forward.

These are “e” internships, meaning applicants can work from anywhere. And this years’ interns are able to connect with more agencies than ever before.

Mentors and projects come from a variety of governmental agencies such as the National Park Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Transportation, USDA, and State Department. Virtual internship mentors seek skills like videography, writing, research, coding, and web design for their projects.

You can apply for a variety of projects such as creating audio descriptions of National Park locations, researching history of ancestral lands, producing a podcast, editing previously written work, and so much more.

VSFS Application Requirements

U.S. Citizenship
Student status (may be enrolled full or part time in a degree or certificate program)
Ability to commit roughly 10 hours per week to the project
Ability to commit to a project for the full academic year

Please note that these U.S. State Department internships along with all other VSFS internships are unpaid and interns do not receive government benefits; however, many who have taken VSFS internships have gone on to secure a full-time job with the government.

What’s Next?

To apply, visit www.USAJobs.gov. Mentors review applications in August, conduct interviews, and make their decisions by September. For more information check out the VSFS FAQ page or email VSFS@state.gov.