Last updated: October 2026
The International Rescue Committee, founded in 1933 "at the call of Albert Einstein" and working in more than 40 countries and 29 US cities, had 75 US internship postings on its Workday board on 3 October 2026, from Silver Spring and Atlanta to Salt Lake City and Denver. Nearly all are unpaid and part time; some offices pay a $15-a-day per diem for food and travel.
The IRC hires every term and says internships are "typically posted 2-3 months prior to the anticipated start date". So the nearest door is spring 2027, whose postings are expected this fall (Baltimore's spring window opens in October and closes in late November). Most summer 2027 roles should post around March 2027, though the first one, an immigration legal internship in Denver, went up on 1 October. In plain words: apply this fall for spring, or from March for summer.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | IRC Workday board (search by office city) or the All US Internship Opportunities pool. Some offices route applications to their own volunteer portal; follow the link in the posting |
| Application window (2027–28) | Spring 2027: expected Oct–Dec 2026 (Baltimore: opens October, due late November). Summer 2027: mostly ~Mar 2027, due mid-April to late May by office; one Denver legal role open now. Fall 2027: ~June 2027 |
| Rolling? | Mixed. Some offices set a firm deadline per term; others review on a rolling basis until roles are filled |
| Eligibility | At least two years of undergraduate study (general pool); some offices want current students or recent graduates; all interns must be based in the US; 24 of 75 postings require US work authorization |
| Duration | Usually 8–13 weeks or one term; most postings ask for about 15 hours a week, a few up to 30 |
| Compensation | Unpaid. Silver Spring and Baltimore postings offer a $15/day per diem; the general pool mentions a daily travel and meal stipend |
| Return offers | No conversion rate published; interns describe the internship as a door to other roles |
| Locations | About a dozen US offices, led by Silver Spring (19), Atlanta (11) and Baltimore (9), plus 4 fully remote roles |
| # Programs | Office-level internships in casework, immigration legal services, anti-trafficking, employment, youth and education, health, development and grants, operations and data |
Most of the 75 postings are for the fall 2026 term already under way, so the useful moves now are the general internship pool, the early summer 2027 legal role and watching for spring 2027 postings.
Extern's Externships are short, remote project programs, and unlike most IRC internships they fit around a part-time schedule. Most run 8 weeks at 5–10 hours a week. The Khan Academy Strategic Partnerships & Earned Revenue Externship matches the IRC's development and grants internships, and the ARCEH Children's Environmental Health Analytics Externship builds data skills for its health and youth programs. Explore all Externships.
What Is an International Rescue Committee Internship?
An International Rescue Committee internship is an unpaid, usually part-time placement in one of the IRC's US offices, most of them in its Resettlement, Asylum and Integration network that helps refugees and immigrants rebuild their lives. There's no national intern class: each office posts its own roles each term. Interns support caseworkers with newly arrived families, help immigration attorneys with applications, teach English, coach job seekers, run youth programs, or work on grants, operations and data. The IRC's general posting says internships "may qualify for academic credit", and its code of conduct, the IRC Way, lists integrity, service, equality and accountability as its standards.
When Do International Rescue Committee Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?
The IRC hires in three terms a year, office by office. Baltimore's internship page sets the clearest calendar: spring applications "open in October and are due late November", summer opens in March and is due mid-April, and fall opens in June and is due at the end of August. Last cycle's dates fit that pattern: spring 2026 reqs posted on 31 October and 5 December 2025, Silver Spring's summer 2026 reqs on 11 March 2026 with a 22 May deadline, and the fall 2026 wave in June and July. No spring 2027 postings were live on 3 October.
The general US internship pool is open, and the first summer 2027 role is live: an immigration legal internship in Denver for law students, with screenings from October to mid-March. Spring 2027 postings are expected this month and next. Most other live postings are for the fall 2026 term already under way.
Baltimore's spring 2027 applications expected to close (office page: due late November). Other offices post spring roles about 2–3 months before a January start, with their own deadlines.
Spring 2027 terms start (Silver Spring runs January to May; Baltimore late January to mid-April).
Summer 2027 postings expected around March 2027 (2026: 11 March in Silver Spring). Deadlines run from mid-April in Baltimore to late May in Silver Spring (2026: 22 May).
Summer terms run June to August; Denver's legal interns start with orientation on 1 June 2027. Fall 2027 postings follow in June.
How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.
Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open
IRC windows are short and office-specific. Baltimore's spring window runs about six weeks, and Silver Spring's summer 2026 roles posted on 11 March with a 22 May deadline and a 1 June orientation. Some postings stay up after their term starts with old titles still attached, so a role you find late may already be past its deadline: read the date in the body, not just the title.
Where offices review on a rolling basis, as Denver says it will "until all positions are filled", early applicants get the first screening calls. Apply in the first week a posting appears for the office and term you want.
Which International Rescue Committee Internship Programs Should You Target?
The IRC posts dozens of office-level internships each term. Common tracks on the board on 3 October:
| Track | What you do | Typical commitment | Example offices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resettlement casework | Help newly arrived families with appointments, paperwork, housing and follow-ups | 15+ hrs/week, one term | Silver Spring, Atlanta, Baltimore |
| Immigration legal services | Client intake, preparing applications and petitions, legal research under an attorney | 15–25+ hrs/week | Denver, Silver Spring, Baltimore, Atlanta |
| Employment and economic empowerment | Job coaching, employer research, financial coaching | 15 hrs/week | Silver Spring, Atlanta, Tallahassee |
| Youth and education, English language | Afterschool programs, ESOL classes, tutoring | 15 hrs/week | Atlanta, Louisville, New York |
| Development, grants and operations | Grant and award support, donations, inventory, supply chain, data | 10–24 hrs/week; some remote | Atlanta, Tallahassee, New York, remote |
Browse every live role on the IRC Workday board and filter by city.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
Requirements vary by office; the postings we read set these bars:
• Education: the general pool asks for at least two years of undergraduate study; Silver Spring wants current students or recent graduates; Denver's legal role is for law students or recent graduates.
• Location: "All interns must be based in the U.S." (general pool).
• Work authorization: 24 of 75 postings require authorization to work in the US, and 13 say the IRC can't sponsor it.
• Age and commitment: many offices require interns to be at least 18 and commit to about three consecutive months.
• GPA: none published.
Can You Do an IRC Internship Remotely?
A few roles, yes. On 3 October, 41 postings were hybrid, 29 in person, 4 fully remote and 1 open to remote, covering grant support, data systems, training media and health research. Client-facing casework and legal roles are hybrid or in person, and Baltimore says every internship needs at least one day a week in the office.
What Skills Does the International Rescue Committee Look For, and How Do You Build Them?
We read all 75 live US internship postings on the IRC's Workday board on 3 October 2026, cutting the staff benefits boilerplate that ends every req.
The IRC's list is practical. Computer skills, usually Microsoft Office, appear in 61 postings, and working independently in 55. Organization, data entry and record keeping follow, because much intern work is case files and client data. Almost half want a second language (Spanish, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, French or Swahili, among others), and many ask for genuine interest in refugee and immigrant issues.
What International Rescue Committee looks for in interns
Skills across 75 International Rescue Committee intern & analyst job descriptions · live US postings, 3 Oct 2026
Method: keyword scan of the full text of all 75 US internship postings (74 intern-titled plus one legal externship) on the IRC's Workday board on 3 Oct 2026, excluding the staff benefits paragraph. Several offices reuse one template across roles, so office templates weigh on the counts.
How Is Demand for Policy, Legal and Nonprofit Interns Moving Right Now?
Policy intern postings · Sep vs Aug 2026
vs 537 in August
Policy and legal internships for 2027 started posting in September. The IRC posts closer to each term, so pair an early application elsewhere with the IRC's spring or summer window.
Daily US job-posting counts, Sep 1–30 vs Aug 1–31, 2026. Covers under half of US postings; shows direction, not market size. Pay = median of employer-published ranges only (47 postings in September, 55 in August).
Build These Skills Before You Apply
Each skill maps to a remote Externship you can do around a part-time IRC schedule.
| Skill (from real JDs) | JD evidence | Externship that builds it |
|---|---|---|
| Grants and partnerships | USG Award Support Intern: grant and award support on US government awards | Khan Academy Strategic Partnerships & Earned Revenue |
| Data and records for family programs | Postings: "Maintain accurate and up-to-date physical and electronic files" | ARCEH Children's Environmental Health Analytics |
| Operations and people data | Community Engagement Intern: "maintenance of our inventory database"; Atlanta supply chain internship | Amazon Fulfillment Center People Analytics |
| Health program operations | Health and Medicaid research internships in New York | Healthcare Operations Consulting |
These build the desk side of an IRC internship. The client-facing side, including languages and work with English learners, comes from volunteering or community work.
What Is the International Rescue Committee Application and Interview Process Like?
The IRC's process runs office by office:
1. Pick an office and a term. Search the Workday board by city, or apply to the All US Internship Opportunities pool if you're flexible.
2. Check where to apply. Some postings, such as Denver's, ask you to apply through an IRC volunteer portal link in the body rather than the Workday Apply button.
3. Send your materials. Usually a resume and cover letter; Silver Spring also asks for at least three references.
4. Phone screen and interview. Offices run their own screenings; a spring 2026 applicant on Reddit had an offer by 8 December 2025.
5. Orientation. Terms start with an orientation, such as Silver Spring's in-person session on 1 June 2026.
What Students on Reddit Say
Students discuss IRC internships on several subreddits, mostly about workload and whether unpaid work is worth it.
A student with a spring 2026 IRC offer described it as unpaid and in person at 12 to 15 hours a week. Commenters said that's a light load compared with other DC internships, which often ask for 20 or more hours.
A former unpaid intern at the IRC's New York resettlement office said they loved it, and a student said an IRC internship opened doors to other internships, though others noted an internship doesn't guarantee a job at the same organization.
A Florida State commenter said the Tallahassee office is always looking for interns: unpaid, about 15 hours a week with some remote days, and real on-the-ground work with refugees that looks good on a resume.
How Do You Stand Out for an IRC Internship?
Three moves. First, lead with languages and client experience. Almost half of the postings name a second language, and many ask for experience with diverse communities or English-language learners. Put any language, interpreting or tutoring work at the top of your resume.
Second, show you can handle sensitive information and work on your own. The postings repeat "work independently", organization and confidential handling of client files, so a cover letter example of managing records or casework-style tasks lands better than general passion.
Third, plan for unpaid work. Ask whether your office offers the $15-a-day per diem, arrange academic credit early, and pick an office you can reach for in-person days. The IRC doesn't publish applicant numbers or a conversion rate.
What Other Companies Should You Consider?
These humanitarian, legal and international organizations draw the same applicants; several don't have a guide yet.
- United NationsUN Secretariat internships for students interested in international affairsGuide →
- ACLUcivil-rights nonprofit whose legal internships overlap IRC's immigration workGuide →
- Mercy Corpshumanitarian INGO and direct peerCareers site
- HIASUS refugee resettlement agencyCareers site
- Save the Childrenhumanitarian INGO focused on childrenCareers site
Our nonprofit and social impact internships summer 2027 guide covers more mission-driven options.
FAQ
Can I still apply for a summer 2026 IRC internship?
No. Summer 2026 terms ended in August; Silver Spring's deadline was 22 May 2026. A few postings still carry summer 2026 titles, so check the deadline in the body. Open now: the general US internship pool and the first summer 2027 role, a Denver legal internship. Spring 2027 postings are expected this fall.
When should I apply for an IRC internship for summer 2027?
Mostly around March 2027. The IRC posts internships about two to three months before they start, and summer 2026 roles in Silver Spring were posted on 11 March 2026 with a 22 May deadline. Some roles post earlier: Denver's summer 2027 immigration legal internship went up on 1 October 2026.
When do IRC spring 2027 internships open?
From about October 2026. Baltimore's office page says spring applications open in October and are due in late November, and other offices post spring roles roughly two to three months before a January start. No spring 2027 postings were live on 3 October 2026, so check the board weekly.
Are IRC internships paid?
No. Nearly all IRC internship postings say they're unpaid. Silver Spring and Baltimore offer a per diem of $15 a day for food and travel, and the general internship posting mentions a daily travel and meal stipend. The benefits paragraph at the end of each posting applies to staff, not interns.
Who can apply for an IRC internship?
The general posting asks for at least two years of undergraduate study and says all interns must be based in the US. Some offices want current students or recent graduates, and Denver's legal role is for law students. On 3 October, 24 of 75 postings required US work authorization and 13 said the IRC can't sponsor it.
How many hours a week is an IRC internship?
Usually about 15 hours a week, part time, for one term or roughly three consecutive months. Of the postings that state hours, 15 a week is the most common, but some ask for 20 to 30, and Denver's legal internship asks for at least 25. Most are hybrid or in person.
Where are IRC internships located?
In IRC offices across the US. On 3 October 2026 the 75 postings were led by Silver Spring, Maryland (19), Atlanta (11) and Baltimore (9), with others in New York, Richmond, Tallahassee, Louisville, Salt Lake City, Miami, Denver and Elizabeth, New Jersey, plus four fully remote roles.
Can I get academic credit for an IRC internship?
Often. The IRC's general internship posting says internships may qualify for academic credit, and Baltimore says university credit may be arranged. Because the internships are unpaid, credit is worth setting up with your school before you start; ask the office about any paperwork they need to sign.
Spring 2027 postings should appear this fall and summer roles around March. A remote Externship fits around a part-time IRC schedule and adds a finished project to your application.
About the Author
Bifei Wang has spent 17 years focused on human flow and the growth of young professionals, spanning international education, career training and coaching, and recruitment process outsourcing. Over 7 years at Extern, he has had one-on-one sessions with thousands of students exploring careers in consulting, finance, tech, marketing, and data, giving him a firsthand view of how the job market has shifted for early-career professionals and what it actually takes to break in.
