Internship

Position description

We are currently offering three-month student internships starting 1st October 2025. 

Please refrain from applying for a later period. Our website will be updated regularly with new start dates.

Please send your complete application in a single PDF file, stating your preferred research division, to [email protected] by 30th June 2025.

As a research institute, SWP offers three-month full-time internships to interested and motivated students. We are particularly interested in prospective academics specialising in political sciences and related social sciences (economics, law, administrative sciences).

The internships take place at our location in Berlin-Wilmersdorf.

To apply for an internship at SWP you must meet the following criteria:

• You are currently enrolled in a master’s degree course or
• You already hold a bachelor’s degree and will be enrolled in a master’s programme throughout the entire internship period or
• You already hold a bachelor’s/master’s degree and are currently enrolled in a secondary bachelor’s/master’s programme

Please note that applications from students enrolled in first-degree courses cannot be accepted.

General Responsibilities 

• Support all research activities within the research division, including assistance with research projects, preparation of documents and reports
• Preparation of conference and meeting minutes and reports
• Literature research
• Editing of scientific texts, researching and analysing material, assisting in the planning of events and conferences
• General administrative tasks

Requirements 

• Very good written and spoken English
• Good IT skills (MS Word, MS Excel, web browsers)
• Interest in policy advisory and communication
• Motivation, commitment and team-working skills

Research Divisions and Requirements 

Research Division »EU/Europe« 

• Regularly participate in lectures and courses covering key research areas
• Knowledge of another official EU language or of a language pertaining to one of the regional focus areas would be desirable

Research Division »International Security« 

• Knowledge of current security policy issues
• Proven scientific involvement in one or more key research topics such as international crisis management, nuclear security, maritime security or German defence policy (proof in the form of a degree or minor subject is sufficient)
• In addition to political science students, students of economics, engineering and natural science degree courses are also welcome to apply

Research Division »The Americas« 

• Degree course with a regional focus
• Detailed knowledge of the politics and/or economics of the USA and/or Latin America

Research Division »Eastern Europe, Eurasia« 

• Good knowledge of at least one of the regional languages (e.g., Russian)
• Country-specific knowledge of Russia and/or other CIS countries

Research Division »Africa and Middle East« 

• Interest in current political affairs pertaining to the region or sub-region
• Knowledge of Arabic or Persian (for the region Middle East) or French (for the region Africa) are an advantage

Research Division »Asia« 

• Proven social scientific involvement relating to one or more countries in the region
• Knowledge of one of the regional languages, e.g., Chinese, Japanese or Hindi, is desirable

Research Division »Global Issues«

• In addition to political science students, students of social sciences, international law, as well as economics or other degree courses with a focus on international relations, are welcome to apply
• Interest in interdisciplinary discourse and knowledge of any of the key political topics listed here
• At present, we are only offering internships for the key research areas United Nations, Sustainability Governance and Climate, and Environment. Please indicate which area you are interested in. Internships for the other research areas of the »Global Issues« division will likely be available again at a later date.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on jobs-near-me.org