Council on Foreign Relations: Navigating the Summer Internship Requirements

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) offers several internship programs for students interested in international relations and foreign policy. These programs, including the Blavatnik Internship Program and the Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program, provide valuable experience and exposure to the field. This article delves into the requirements, opportunities, and benefits associated with CFR internships.

Available Internship Programs

CFR provides various internship opportunities across its New York and Washington, DC offices, as well as remote positions. These internships are available year-round on a semester basis. The application postings for the Fall 2026 semester will be available in June/July 2026.

Blavatnik Internship Program

The Blavatnik Internship Program is supported by a generous gift from the Blavatnik Family Foundation. This program offers interns the chance to gain insights into critical foreign policy issues and interact with leading experts and practitioners. Blavatnik interns are recruited year-round on a semester basis for positions in CFR’s New York and Washington, DC, offices. An intern’s duties generally consist of research, editing and writing, event coordination, and/or departmental support. Blavatnik interns participate in CFR’s Intern Professional Development program, which complements their substantive work with a series of skill-based workshops, training, and career advice sessions. policymakers, and sought-after experts.

The Blavatnik Family Foundation prioritizes higher education as well as scientific and medical research and innovation. Its activities are highly concentrated to drive meaningful impact and to promote discoveries at major research institutions that will benefit the whole of society. To that end, the Foundation has made transformational gifts to Harvard, Yale, and Tel Aviv Universities, and established the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University.

Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program

The Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program is supported by a generous gift from the Robina Foundation, CFR members, and family and friends of Franklin Williams. CFR is committed to help make the foreign policy community in the United States more reflective of America as a whole and looks to identify the next generation of diverse foreign policy leaders through its Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program. Robina Franklin Williams interns are recruited year-round on a semester basis for positions in CFR’s New York and Washington, DC, offices. An intern’s duties generally consist of research, editing and writing, event coordination, and/or departmental support. Robina Franklin Williams interns participate in CFR’s Intern Professional Development program, which complements their substantive work with a series of skill-based workshops, training, and career advice sessions. policymakers, and sought-after experts. Events range from brown bag lunches with policy experts to a health fair, and an annual Ping-Pong championship.

The Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program, supported by a generous gift from the Robina Foundation, CFR members, and family and friends of Franklin Williams, is named in honor of the late Ambassador Franklin H.

Volunteer Internship Program

CFR also offers a Volunteer Internship Program for individuals considering a career in international relations. Volunteer interns are recruited year-round on a semester basis in both the New York and Washington, DC, offices. These internships are generally offered in various departments, including the Executive Office, CFR.org, the Studies Program, Publications, Communications, the Meetings Program, the Corporate Program, and Foreign Affairs publishing. Each semester requires a part-time commitment of at least fourteen to twenty-one hours per week.

General Requirements for CFR Internships

CFR generally considers undergraduate and graduate students with majors in international relations, political science, economics, or a related field for its Blavatnik Internship Program. All applicants should have completed the equivalent of four semesters of college coursework (not including AP classes in high school) by the time they begin an internship. A regional specialization, language skills, and additional requirements may also be needed for some internships. In addition to meeting the intellectual requirements, applicants should have excellent skills in administration, writing, research, and computers, as well as previous office experience. There is one posting for the New York office, one for the Washington, DC office, and one for remote applicants. Applicants should apply to their desired work location and check off on their application each internship that they are interested in being considered for. A full list of available positions is available above. A complete application consists of a resume and a cover letter.

Educational Background and Coursework

Applicants should typically be undergraduate or graduate students majoring in international relations, political science, economics, or a related field. Completion of at least four semesters of college coursework (excluding AP classes) is generally required.

Skills and Experience

Successful applicants should possess excellent skills in administration, writing, research, and computer applications. Previous office experience is also beneficial. A regional specialization and language skills may be necessary for certain internships.

Read also: WSAC Overview

Application Process

To apply for a CFR internship, candidates must submit a resume and a cover letter. Applicants should apply to their desired work location, indicating their interest in specific internships.

Internship Duties and Responsibilities

An intern’s duties generally consist of research, editing and writing, event coordination, and/or departmental support. Interns may also be involved in:

Research: Conducting research on various foreign policy issues.
Writing and Editing: Drafting memoranda and other written materials.
Event Coordination: Assisting with the organization and execution of CFR events.
Departmental Support: Providing administrative and logistical support to CFR departments.

Benefits of CFR Internships

CFR internships offer numerous benefits, including:

Professional Development: Interns participate in CFR’s Intern Professional Development program, which includes skill-based workshops, training, and career advice sessions.
Networking Opportunities: Interns have the chance to interact with policymakers and sought-after experts.
Exposure to Foreign Policy Issues: Interns gain insights into critical foreign policy issues.
Access to CFR Events: Interns can attend a wide variety of events, including brown bag lunches with policy experts and health and wellness programs.

The Blavatnik Internship Program at CFR was established through a generous gift from the Blavatnik Family Foundation. The program provides paid internships to more than one hundred interns each year. Blavatnik interns gain new insights into critical foreign policy issues and interact directly with leading experts and practitioners. They are offered professional development training to complement their substantive work with a series of skill-based workshops, trainings, and career advice sessions as a foundation for future work in the field of foreign policy and international affairs, and beyond. By providing a competitive hourly wage to all interns, the goal of the program is to make the Council’s highly competitive internships accessible to a broader range of qualified students from all backgrounds, making way for new talent and increasingly diverse perspectives in the field of international relations.

Additional Internship Opportunities

Besides CFR, other organizations offer internships in foreign policy and international affairs:

House Foreign Affairs Committee Minority Staff: This committee offers internships during the Spring, Fall, and Summer sessions, providing policy and administrative support.
USAID: USAID offers paid and unpaid internships and fellowship opportunities.
Other Organizations: Various think tanks and international organizations, such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Brookings Institution, provide internship opportunities for students interested in foreign policy.

About Len Blavatnik

CFR Member Len Blavatnik is among the world’s most accomplished businessmen and prominent philanthropists. A dual US-UK citizen, Len is the founder and chairman of Access Industries, a privately held company headquartered in New York with investments across a range of sectors, including strategic equity, global media and entertainment, real estate, and biotechnology. The Blavatnik Family Foundation is exclusively self-funded and has contributed more than $1 billion to 250 institutions worldwide over the past decade, fostering scientific innovation, world-class culture, and preparing future leaders.

About Ambassador Franklin H. Williams

Ambassador Franklin H. ambassador to Ghana and was the chairman of the board of trustees of Lincoln University, one of the country’s historically black colleges.

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