If you are a high school student interested in government, public policy, or thinking about studying political science later, you should consider applying for a political science summer internship.
Political science internships expose you to how research, policy analysis, and civic work are handled in real offices. You might assist with data collection, help review policy documents, support campaign research, or take part in community-based projects. Many internships focus on areas such as public policy, governance, elections, law, or social programs, giving you a clear sense of how political systems are studied and organized.
Internships stand apart from programs because they involve real responsibilities. You work on active projects and support teams that are already operating. This makes the experience more grounded and easier to explain later. You leave with practical experience that fits naturally into college applications and early job conversations.
To help you sort through your options, here are 15 political science summer internships for high school students! If you are interested in political science summer programs for high school students, check our blog here.
15 Political Science Summer Internships for High School Students
1. U.S. Senate Page Program
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: No cost. $37,238 annual salary (prorated)
Subject Areas: Legislative process, government operations, public policy
Program Dates: Sessions are typically two distinct 3-4 week sessions. Summer: June and July
Application Deadline: Varies by Senator’s office
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a Social Security number; juniors age 16 or 17 for Spring or Fall sessions; rising juniors or seniors age 16 or 17 for Summer sessions; minimum 3.0 GPA; required health forms and insurance
The U.S. Senate Page Program places you inside the daily work of the Senate so you can see how lawmaking happens in real time. You deliver legislative papers, help set up the Chamber, and assist senators and staff as sessions move forward. You also work on the Senate floor, where you support roll call votes and help move bills and amendments to the right desks. Living in Washington, D.C, lets you watch the federal government at work each day. You are sponsored by a senator, and with only 30 pages selected, the program is tightly structured and selective.
2. U.S. Department of the Treasury Headquarters Student Internship Program
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Subject Areas: Economic policy, public finance, federal governance
Program Dates: January to May (Spring); May to August (Summer); September to December (Fall)
Application Deadline: October (Spring), December (Summer), June (Fall)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are enrolled in or accepted to an accredited institution and maintain student status throughout the internship
The U.S. Department of the Treasury Headquarters Student Internship Program places you inside real federal policy work. You work with Treasury staff to gather and review data that supports priorities across the department. Your tasks include reading research, tracking economic and financial news, and writing summaries that inform decisions. You build skills in analysis, writing, and project coordination through daily work with teams across Treasury and other federal agencies. You can apply to specific offices at Treasury headquarters, which lets you focus on the policy areas that interest you most.
3. Pathways Internship Programs at the U.S. Department of State
Location: Varies by posting; students can select opportunities near their location.
Cost: Paid. Stipend varies by post
Subject Areas: Diplomacy, foreign affairs, international public policy
Program Dates: IEP positions typically run for the duration of your academic program; ITEP positions take place during seasonal breaks and may operate year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by posting
Eligibility: U.S. citizens age 16 or older with a minimum 2.0 GPA who maintain student status throughout the internship
The Pathways Internship Programs at the U.S. Department of State give you paid experience inside federal offices that support diplomacy and foreign policy work. Depending on the office, you help with tasks tied to foreign affairs, public policy, international economics, or environmental issues. You work with professionals who guide you through real assignments that build skills in writing, analysis, and project coordination. The program has two tracks. The Internship Experience Program follows the academic calendar and can include benefits and the chance for future federal roles.
4. United States Senate Youth Program
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: Fully funded; delegates receive a $10,000 college scholarship
Subject Areas: U.S. government, civic leadership, public service
Program Dates: March 7 to March 14
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are high school juniors or seniors AND must be actively serving in high-level elected or appointed leadership positions within their school or community.
The United States Senate Youth Program brings you to Washington for one week to study how the three branches of the federal government work together. You attend as one of two delegates from your state, which places you in a small and selective group focused on public service. During the week, you join briefings and meetings with senators, leaders from the executive branch, Supreme Court justices, and senior officials from federal agencies. You also meet members of the national media and see how information moves between the government and the public.
5. Internships and Career Development – USC Center for the Political Future
Location: Online
Cost: No cost
Subject Areas: Environmental policy, policy analysis, civic engagement
Program Dates: June 1 to August 1
Application Deadline: Typically late May
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.5 GPA who are available for the full summer
Internships and Career Development at the USC Center for the Political Future give you a summer experience built around research and policy analysis. The program runs like a college-level internship, with clear assignments and regular feedback. Your main project focuses on the Center’s Climate Forward Conference. You review recorded sessions and write summaries that connect ideas, arguments, and policy takeaways. Over the summer, you complete research-based tasks and learn how organizations study public events and policy debates. While this is not a placement in a political office, it still gives you direct exposure to political communication and issue-focused inquiry.
6. Youth Council Internship at Democracy Maine
Location: Maine
Cost: No cost; paid $15 per hour
Subject Areas: Civic engagement, voter participation, state-level policy
Program Dates: Varies by the cohort. Spring, Summer, and Fall terms available
Application Deadline: January 16(Spring), May 15 (Summer), September 19 (Fall)
Eligibility: High school students; applicants age 15 or younger must complete a Maine work permit
The Youth Council Internship at Democracy Maine places you in a small group of high school students working to support civic engagement and voter participation across the state. You spend about five hours each week learning how state laws move through the legislature and how community organizing happens in practice. You have room to shape your projects, but most interns focus on facilitation, outreach, and communication. Your work can include helping plan community events, writing newsletters for youth council members, or creating short public service messages for use in classrooms.
7. Department of Education Student Internships – Student Volunteer Trainee Program
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: Not specified
Subject Areas: Education policy, public administration, data, and research
Program Dates: September to December (Fall); January to May (Winter/Spring); May-June; July-August
Application Deadline: July 31 (Fall), November 30 (Winter/Spring), March 31 (Summer)
Eligibility: Students age 16 or older who are enrolled at least half-time at an accredited institution, have institutional permission to intern, and can verify continued enrollment
The Department of Education Student Volunteer Trainee Program places you in a federal education office for eight to ten weeks. You work on real projects tied to your academic interests and the skills you want to build. Depending on your placement, your tasks can include data work, policy research, project coordination, communications, IT support, grants work, or human resources. Your office shapes assignments so you can learn while contributing to ongoing work. You usually work between 20 and 40 hours each week during the school year and may move to full-time hours in the summer, with schedules set during the interview process. All roles are posted on USAJobs, and you apply to openings that fit your goals.
8. Internship at Senator Chris Van Hollen’s Office
Location: Baltimore, Rockville
Cost: No cost; stipend provided
Subject Areas: Legislative work, constituent services, public policy
Program Dates: Varies by the cohort
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: High school students eligible for Fall/Spring in district offices
An internship at Senator Chris Van Hollen’s office places you inside a working congressional office for about 22 to 26 hours each week. You help with daily tasks such as answering calls, responding to constituents, and supporting casework that links residents with federal agencies. You also attend community events, sit in on meetings or briefings, and write short memos that sum up what you observe for staff. This work shows you how a Senate office communicates with the public and responds to local issues. You work closely with staff members who guide each assignment and help you build clear professional communication.
9. International Leadership Foundation – Youth Leadership Academy
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: $500 program fee; scholarships available
Subject Areas: Civic leadership, public policy, democratic institutions
Program Dates: Throughout July
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a 3.0 GPA or higher and demonstrated leadership or community service.
The International Leadership Foundation Youth Leadership Academy is a week-long program where you study how American democracy works while building an entrepreneurial way of thinking. You take part in seminars led by policy experts and AANHPI leaders that focus on civic life and public service. After the in-person week, you complete the Entrepreneurial Mindset Program certification through guided modules, weekly check-ins, and community-based tasks. Your work looks at how civic responsibility and entrepreneurial thinking connect in real situations.
10. UCLA’s Political Science Summer Institute
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Details here; scholarships available
Subject Areas: Political institutions, political theory, political behavior
Dates: June 22 to July 10
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 12 who are at least 15 years old
UCLA’s Political Science Summer Institute is a three-week program where you study how political institutions guide collective action and shape decision-making in the United States. You examine why the U.S. political system was created the way it was and how well it responds to present-day needs. You learn how social scientists build arguments, use evidence, and apply analytical tools to study political behavior. The coursework uses historical and modern cases so you can compare patterns across different periods. You also attend a career panel with professionals working in political science-related fields.
11. NSLC Political Action and Public Policy
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Cost: $4,295 (residential)
Subject Areas: Public policy, political campaigns, legislative advocacy
Dates: June 12-20; June 24-July 2
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students aged 14 to 18 who have completed at least one year of high school
NSLC Political Action and Public Policy places you inside simulations that show how laws are written, debated, and passed in Congress. You draft bills, present them in mock floor sessions, and work with peers to revise policy ideas. You also build a campaign plan that covers messaging, budgeting, and digital outreach. Sessions focus on political communication skills, including how to shape arguments and work with the media. The program includes a lobby day workshop that explains how advocacy groups influence policy, along with meetings with professionals who describe different roles in politics and public service.
12. Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Location: Cornell University, NY or University of Michigan, MI, or University of Maryland, MD
Cost: Free
Subject Areas: Political theory, social justice studies, power and identity
Dates: June 21 to July 25
Application Deadline: December 3
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors ages 15 to 18; students from underrepresented or economically disadvantaged backgrounds encouraged to apply
Telluride Association Summer Seminar is a six-week program built around discussion and close study of power, identity, and social systems. You choose between Critical Black Studies or Anti-Oppressive Studies, both grounded in humanities-based reading, discussion, and project work. You study books, films, and art while writing essays that receive direct feedback from instructors. Daily three-hour classes focus on close reading, group discussion, and clear argument building. You also join a public speaking program that helps you practice explaining complex ideas.
13. Tufts University’s Pre-College Program – Leadership for Social Change
Location: Tufts University Medford and Somerville Campus, MA
Cost: $5,750
Subject Areas: Social change, public policy, community-based research
Dates: July 5 to July 17
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are at least 15 years old
Tufts University’s Pre-College Program on Leadership for Social Change is a two-week course that looks at how social issues form and how communities respond to them. You start with an orientation that explains the structure of the program and the main ideas you will use. In the first week, you learn a framework for social change and practice studying systems using policy data and neighborhood-level information. In the second week, you complete a research project on a community issue by gathering sources, identifying stakeholders, and linking local problems to larger structures.
14. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Your local community (8-week internship) and Washington, D.C. (1-week summit)
Cost: Fully funded; You receive a paid salary for the internship and all expenses paid for the D.C. summit
Subject Areas: Civic leadership, non-profit management, community advocacy
Program Dates: Eight weeks during the summer (dates vary by local market); Summit typically takes place in late July
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are legally authorized to work in the U.S.
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program connects you directly with the practical side of civic engagement and non-profit work. You are placed in a paid, eight-week internship with a local non-profit organization, such as the Boys & Girls Club or Habitat for Humanity, where you learn how community groups manage resources and influence local policy. The highlight of the program is the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you join 300 other students for a week of workshops and meetings with congressional leaders on Capitol Hill.
15. Library of Congress High School Summer Internship
Location: Remote or Hybrid (Washington, D.C.)
Cost: Unpaid; volunteer service
Subject Areas: Primary source research, library science, public education
Program Dates: Late June to mid-July (typically 4 weeks)
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Current high school students or recent graduates who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The Library of Congress High School Summer Internship places you inside the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution to help make its vast resources accessible to the public. Working with the Informal Learning Office, you contribute to projects that help other students and teens engage with the Library’s collections. Your tasks might include researching primary source documents, drafting articles for the Library’s blog, or designing engagement strategies for exhibitions. You also attend professional development sessions with Library staff, giving you an insider’s look at how a federal legislative agency preserves history and supports congressional research.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. If you’re interested in political science, you could choose courses like International Relations or Political Theory and Philosophy. You can apply here!
Image source – Georgetown University