Do I need a visa to do a politics internship in New York?

Yes. Most participants require a J-1 Intern or Trainee visa to complete a politics internship in New York. See full visa requirements >

How long are politics internships in New York?

Programs typically run from 4 to 24 weeks, with start dates available year-round.

What qualifications do I need for a politics internship in New York?

You don't necessarily need a politics degree or previous professional experience to apply for a politics internship in New York. The right qualifications will depend on the internship placement, but relevant studies in politics, international relations, public policy or a related subject can be useful. Transferable skills such as research, writing, analytical thinking and clear communication can also help you succeed in a politics role. Your placement is matched to your experience, interests and career goals.

How can I get a politics internship in New York?

To get a politics internship in New York, start by identifying which side of politics interests you most, whether that's international relations, city government, public affairs or advocacy, and consider how your education, skills and experience line up with it. You can then apply for an internship program and discuss your career goals, interests and placement preferences during the application process. At The Intern Group, you'll complete an online application and interview before working with the team to secure a politics internship that matches your profile and goals.

At the Guggenheim museum during a politics internship in New York

Politics Internships in New York

New York hosts something no other city on earth can claim, nearly every country's diplomatic mission to the United Nations, all operating within blocks of each other alongside a city and state political machine managing one of the most complex governments in America.

Beyond its role as a genuine global diplomatic capital, New York runs its own sprawling political ecosystem, City Hall, the state legislature in Albany with a genuine presence in the city, and a campaign consulting industry that helps elect candidates from local city council races to the presidency. For interns, that combination offers exposure to international diplomacy and domestic political machinery operating side by side in ways few other cities can match.

Whether you're a university student, recent graduate, gap year student or career changer, a politics internship program in New York can help you build practical experience within one of the world's most uniquely positioned political environments.

Guaranteed Internship
Vetted roles in leading New York political, policy and diplomatic organizations.

Complete Overseas Support
Visa assistance, New York housing, social & cultural events and 24/7 staff support included.

Global Career Network
Join 15,000+ alumni with dynamic workshops, networking events, and employer references.

Example political host organizations in New York

We've previously placed interns with organizations across New York's diplomatic, public affairs, policy research and advocacy sectors. The organizations featured represent examples of the types of professional environments where participants have gained experience.

Why do a politics internship in New York?

The United Nations headquarters brings representatives from nearly 200 countries into a single stretch of Manhattan, alongside the NGOs, advocacy groups and think tanks that cluster around it specifically to engage with international diplomacy up close. Working near that world offers genuine exposure to multilateral negotiation and international relations conducted at a scale that exists in only a handful of cities worldwide.

New York's domestic political scene runs with its own serious complexity, a city government managing services for over eight million people, a state legislature that regularly makes national headlines, and a campaign consulting industry that's shaped elections from local races to the presidential level. Add a media capital's worth of political journalism and commentary happening in the same city, and New York offers interns a genuinely rare vantage point where international diplomacy, domestic governance and political media all operate in close proximity.

The city is particularly strong in areas such as international relations and diplomacy, city and state government, public affairs and political campaigns, giving you exposure to nearly every corner of how political influence actually operates.

Experience politics where diplomacy meets domestic government

United Nations access
See how international diplomacy plays out through the UN and the missions, NGOs and advocacy groups clustered around it.

Deep specialization
Explore politics across international relations, city and state government, campaigns and advocacy.

Global networking
Build connections within one of the world's most internationally diverse political and diplomatic communities.

Media and politics intersection
Learn how political journalism, commentary and public opinion shape and respond to political decisions in real time.

Meeting other interns during a politics internship in New York

Explore politics internships in New York

New York's political landscape spans the United Nations and international missions, city and state government offices, public affairs consultancies, policy think tanks and advocacy organizations. Your internship could give you the opportunity to see how organizations in the city shape political outcomes with genuinely global and local consequences.

International Relations & Diplomacy

With the United Nations headquarters and nearly every country's diplomatic mission based in the city, New York offers real exposure to how multilateral diplomacy actually gets conducted. Your internship could involve supporting briefing preparation, research or event coordination.

You could work on: Briefing preparation · Diplomatic research · Event coordination · Correspondence support

City & State Government

Supporting New York's city or state government offices means genuine exposure to how public services get delivered and legislation gets debated at a genuinely large administrative scale. You could support policy research, constituent correspondence or briefing preparation.

You could work on: Policy research · Constituent correspondence · Briefing preparation · Legislative research

Public Affairs & Government Relations

New York's public affairs consultancies manage lobbying and government relations campaigns on behalf of major industries and organizations, work built around genuine understanding of political influence. You could support stakeholder research, briefing preparation or monitoring.

You could work on: Stakeholder research · Briefing preparation · Policy monitoring · Meeting coordination

Policy Research & Think Tanks

New York's think tanks produce research on issues ranging from foreign policy to urban planning, work that regularly shapes both public debate and government thinking. You could support research projects, report drafting or event coordination.

You could work on: Research support · Report drafting · Data analysis · Event coordination

NGO & Advocacy

Advocacy organizations clustered around the United Nations campaign on issues ranging from human rights to climate policy, work that requires genuine strategic thinking about international influence. You could support campaign research, policy analysis or stakeholder engagement.

You could work on: Campaign research · Policy analysis · Stakeholder engagement · Report drafting

Public Policy Analysis

Understanding how a policy proposal will actually play out requires genuine analytical rigour, and New York's policy analysts work across issues spanning both domestic and international scope. You could support policy research, data analysis or report preparation.

You could work on: Policy research · Data analysis · Report preparation · Comparative research

Example politics internship roles in New York

Depending on your skills and interests, you could take on a role such as:

Campaign Strategy Intern
Political Communications Intern
Global Projects Coordinator
Policy & Communications Intern
Impact Operations Lead
Climate Policy Analyst
International Relations Intern
Digital Campaigns Fellow

Your exact role will depend on your host organization and placement.

Explore more example Politics roles >

Going on a cultural excursion during a politics internship in New York

What can you gain from a politics internship in New York?

A politics internship in New York offers more than a line on your CV/resume. It's a chance to see how international diplomacy and domestic politics operate side by side, developing practical skills through work with genuinely global and local stakes.

Build New York politics experience

Add international politics experience to your CV/resume and show future employers that you've worked within one of the world's most uniquely positioned political environments.
Work on real political projects

Put your knowledge into practice through projects that could involve diplomacy, city government, public affairs or advocacy, depending on your placement.
Grow your international political network

Connect with professionals across New York's diplomatic, government and advocacy sectors while building relationships with fellow interns from around the world.
Understand diplomacy and domestic politics side by side

See how international negotiation and local government decisions unfold in genuinely close proximity to each other.
Experience New York's political culture

Gain insight into how the United Nations, city and state government, and political media combine to shape debate on both a local and global scale.

At Madison Square Garden during a politics internship in New York

What's included in the New York internship program?

Your program includes support designed to help you get the most from your international internship, from placement and accommodation to visa support, career coaching and 24/7 in-country support.

Explore the full New York internship program >

Hear from our New York interns

"I chose to do my internship in New York because it's the financial capital of the world, and around half of the workforce was born abroad. So, through that, I would get different perspectives and a better understanding of different cultures. New York also has the same language as here in the UK, so I felt like I could fully immerse myself in the work. There were also relevant opportunities to my degree, which I thought would help with future job applications." - Natasha Baird, New York intern

"The Intern Group has been really supportive from the beginning, from the resume refining process and job matching to the visa application process. At every step, whenever you have a question, you can email them and they'll respond pretty quickly. There was also one time when I was really anxious about getting a job, and I had a video interview with my paired TIG staff member at the time. He was really happy to give me a video call and explain the process to me. So I felt like everyone was really helpful throughout the whole process." - Sonia Chen, intern in New York

Sightseeing during a politics internship in New York

Is a New York politics internship right for you?

A New York politics internship could be a great fit if you want hands-on exposure to international diplomacy and domestic government operating in close proximity.

Whether you're a university student, recent graduate, gap year student or career changer, you can build practical political skills while experiencing how organizations in New York shape diplomacy, policy and campaigns. It's an opportunity to build your CV/resume, expand your professional network and discover where a career in politics could take you.

What is it like to live as a politics intern in New York?

Living as a politics intern in New York means UN General Assembly week each autumn turns entire neighbourhoods near the East River into a genuine spectacle, motorcades, security details and a level of diplomatic energy you won't find anywhere else in the country. Political panels, book talks and foreign policy discussions run most weeknights across the city if you want to expand your thinking on an issue, often free and open to the public.

Weekends offer real contrast, a walk through a park, a museum visit, or simply catching up with fellow interns over dinner while comparing which political story dominated your week.

At Top of the Rock during a politics internship in New York

FAQs

: Yes. Most participants require a J-1 Intern or Trainee visa to complete a politics internship in New York.

See full visa requirements >
: Politics interns are placed with a mix of international missions and diplomatic organizations, city and state government offices, public affairs consultancies, think tanks and advocacy groups, depending on your interests and experience.

Discover example host organizations >
: Programs typically run from 4 to 24 weeks, with start dates available year-round.
: You don't necessarily need a politics degree or previous professional experience to apply for a politics internship in New York. The right qualifications will depend on the internship placement, but relevant studies in politics, international relations, public policy or a related subject can be useful.

Transferable skills such as research, writing, analytical thinking and clear communication can also help you succeed in a politics role. Your placement is matched to your experience, interests and career goals.
: To get a politics internship in New York, start by identifying which side of politics interests you most, whether that's international relations, city government, public affairs or advocacy, and consider how your education, skills and experience line up with it.

You can then apply for an internship program and discuss your career goals, interests and placement preferences during the application process. At The Intern Group, you'll complete an online application and interview before working with the team to secure a politics internship that matches your profile and goals.

Realize your potential with an international internship

1

Apply online

Complete our simple application form and tell us about your passions, qualifications, and experiential requirements.
2

Interview

If your interview is successful, confirm your enrollment with a tuition deposit.
3

Secure your internship

Collaborate in the internship placement process & accelerate your career.