What is the Foreign Policy Intern Scheme?

Every year, we offer one or more one-year positions to work with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Policy Planning Staff – a team of policy advisers and analysts providing strategic foreign policy advice to the Foreign Secretary and our other decision-makers.

As an intern you will have the opportunity to work on a range of cutting-edge foreign policy issues at the heart of the Office.

This will include organising events with external Foreign Office stakeholders, including - think tanks, journalists, NGOs and other foreign ministries.

The opportunity to do a familiarisation visit to an overseas embassy is also a possibility.

What will I be doing?

Interns will play a vital role supporting and contributing to the work of this high profile and high performing team. Responsibilities will include:

• conducting research on high-profile foreign policy issues by engaging with FCO experts, other government departments and think tanks/NGOs;
• writing or contributing to strategic policy papers;
• organising events with think tanks/other foreign ministries and monitoring think tank activity

When do placements start?

The placements usually start in the summer period (June/July 2008), but this can vary, and are for 12 months only. Start dates are negotiated once successful.

Will I get paid?

All successful candidates will be paid £16,914 (starting) plus London Location Allowance of £3,000.

What are the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible:

You must either be an undergraduate able to commit to working a full year in the FCO in London or already have a degree in a relevant subject (politics, international relations, economics).

We are looking for a candidate who:

• has a keen interest in international affairs
• has good IT and research skills, is well motivated, has good communication skills and is comfortable working independently.
• is over 21 years of age at the time of applying
• is a British citizen
• has been resident in the UK for 2 out of the last 10 years immediately prior to the application, at least one year of which must have been a consecutive 12-month period (unless the applicant has served overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government, or has lived overseas because of their parents' or partner's Government employment).

Security clearance

To enable the appropriate security checks to be carried out, the applicant must have resided for at least three consecutive years in one country.  Please note that a lack of sufficient background information may prevent you from being granted security clearance.

How do I apply?

The scheme for the 2008 Foreign Policy Internship has now closed. Details for the 2009 scheme will be added in autumn 2008.
 
Please note that individual CVs will not be accepted. It is the responsibility of applicants who are currently studying for a degree to ensure their university will allow 12 months release. Candidates who are invited for an interview will be contacted at a later date. No feedback will be given during the application stage.