Students And Internships

If you’re looking for an opportunity to develop your skills, enhance your career potential and make a global difference each day, apply to become a member of our elite student workforce. You will see first-hand how your work supports homeland security, disaster relief and our nation’s warfighters.

Our student internship programs

You are our future workforce; therefore, the work assigned to you is professional and conducted in a learning environment that provides you with real-world experience and an opportunity for potential long-term employment.

We offer both college and high school student internship opportunities. Student internship assignments are entry-level professional jobs, which involve a great deal of independent and team-oriented work under the guidance of a supervisor and mentors.

If you perform successfully and meet the program requirements, we may invite you to continue in the program during your entire degree program, or we may offer you a permanent employment position upon graduation.

High school student internship requirements

Students must currently be in their junior or senior year of high school and must:

• Be in good standing and possess a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Be a U.S. citizen at least 16 years of age at the time of application.
• Be able to obtain a security clearance.
• Pass a drug screening.
• Have a valid work permit when required by state.
• Be able to work 40 hours per week during the summer.

Read our high school student internship FAQs.

College student internship requirements

To participate in our college internship program, you must be:

• A U.S. citizen and at least 18 years of age.
• Currently enrolled at least half-time in an accredited two-year or four-year college or university.
• Enrolled in an associate, bachelor's, graduate or post-graduate degree program with coursework related to NGA's mission.
• Submit an updated official transcript unless you have not completed your first semester of college. If you have started a graduate program but have not completed your first semester, you must submit your undergraduate transcript.
• Able to obtain and retain a Top-secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmentalized Information (TS/SCI).
• Pass a drug test and not have illegal drug use in the past 12 months. Prior drug use is carefully evaluated.

If you are selected, we highly encourage you to work a minimum of 10 weeks each summer for the duration of your tenure.

How to apply to student internships

The application process for internships is the same as applying for a job announcement.

SEARCH AND APPLY FOR OPEN NGA INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR JOB SEARCH PORTAL

Tips when applying:

When you find an internship that you want to apply for:

1. Tailor your resume to the mandatory and desirable qualifications in the position description. You must address 100 percent of the mandatory qualifications. You will rate amongst the best qualified if you address both the mandatory and desirable qualifications.
2. Fill out the application. There is no place to attach a resume, but you will fill out the fields in the application based on your resume information. Your application should include your objective, prior and current education (include if you are enrolled in an accredited college or university), current GPA, work experience, relevant skills, awards, achievements and languages.
3. We will review submitted applications to make sure you meet the necessary qualifications and, if you do, we will refer you to a hiring official to schedule an interview.

If selected, pre-employment steps may include:

• Background security investigation
• Counterintelligence polygraph
• Drug screening
• Vision test (for some roles)
• Physical test (for some roles)
• Completion of a training assessment

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR STUDENT INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Science, mathematics and research for transformation (SMART) program

• Open to: Undergraduate or graduate students
• Majors/fields: STEM disciplines
• Application period: September 1—October 31
• Benefits: You can receive a full scholarship, stipend for living expenses and employment in the federal government upon degree completion.

The SMART Program is a scholarship opportunity established by the Department of Defense (DoD) to support undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. You can receive a full scholarship, stipend for living expenses and employment in the federal government upon successful degree completion. To be considered by the NGA, rank us as your first choice for placement.

Learn more about the SMART program.

Undergraduate Scholarship Program

• Open to: Undergraduate students
• Majors/fields: STEM disciplines
• Application period: November 14—December 10
• Benefits: You can receive a full scholarship, annual salary, top secret security clearance and employment at NGA upon degree completion.

The Stokes Undergraduate Scholarship Program offers students tuition reimbursement and an exciting and purposeful internship opportunity while pursuing their bachelor’s degree. Scholars will attend a qualifying educational institution full-time and report to an NGA facility during their summer breaks to work alongside experienced NGA staff and GEOINT experts. Upon graduation, we may offer interns the opportunity to non-competitively convert to full-time employment.

This program is modeled after the Louis Stokes Educational Scholarship which established an undergraduate and graduate training program, leading to a baccalaureate or graduate degree, to facilitate the recruitment of individuals, particularly minority high school students, with a demonstrated capability to develop skills critical to the mission of NSA, including mathematics, computer science, engineering and foreign languages.

GEO-Scholar Program

• Open to: Undergraduate students
• Majors/fields: Critical needs per the annual talent acquisition report
• Application period: November 14—December 10
• Benefits: You can receive a full scholarship, a paid internship, top secret security clearance and employment at NGA upon degree completion.

The Geo-Scholar Program offers recipients tuition reimbursement, travel assistance and hourly pay during a summer internship period. You will attend an accredited university full-time and report to an NGA facility during your summer breaks to work alongside experienced NGA staff and GEOINT experts. The program provides students with early career experience and an exciting and purposeful internship opportunity while pursuing their bachelor’s degree. Upon graduation, we may offer interns the opportunity to convert to full-time employment.