Internship Opportunities at SWP

Internship Opportunities at SWP

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 praktikum@swp-berlin.org 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 European security, international crisis management (in particular changes in conflict and violence against civilians or sanctions), nuclear security, maritime security, space and cyber security (especially emerging tech) 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.

Required Documents for an Internship Application

Applications will only be accepted if the application form has been completed in full and all required documents have been submitted.

The application form can be completed on screen. If your browser does not support this option, please download the PDF file (→ Save Document), open it with a PDF reader (e.g., Adobe Acrobat), ‘Enable all Features’, complete and save it. The completed application form can then be sent as an e-mail attachment.

Additional documents:

• Motivation letter (one page maximum)
• Curriculum vitae
• Interim and final degree certificates
• References or employment references, if applicable
• If applicable, a certification from the university regarding the mandatory internship and its required duration (extract from the module handbook or certification from the Registrar’s Office)  
• Current enrolment certificate or proof of future enrolment in a master’s programme
• Copy of residence permit (for foreign applicants)
• Certifications of any grants or benefits (including the amounts) awarded by private or public organisations in relation to the internship

Expense Allowance/Remuneration

Interns at SWP receive an expense allowance of € 450.00 per calendar month. Exceptions apply only if interns are already in receipt of internship funding by another public or private organisation for the internship.

Please note that due to the Working Hours Act you may only work a maximum of nine hours per week as part of any employment in addition to the internship.