Internships at the Society

About Our Internships

Every year, the National Geographic Society provides a number of students with a paid opportunity to spend the summer exploring and learning with us. We offer a wide  range of dynamic internships that are designed to offer a well-rounded experience. Our goal is to provide engaging, educational, and work-related opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students.

The Program

In addition to gaining extensive professional experience, our internship program seeks to inspire, educate and build lasting connections through regular events with some of the National Geographic Society’s staff, Explorers, educators and storytellers. Throughout the program, you will receive support and guidance from a wide array of National Geographic staff as you explore what it is like to help us achieve our mission to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world.

In 2026, we’re thrilled to open the Museum of Exploration (MOE), a groundbreaking attraction at our Washington, D.C., offices. The MOE will invite visitors to embark on immersive expeditions that celebrate the spirit of exploration and discovery. As we focus our efforts on preparing for opening day and welcoming guests in the months that follow, we’ve decided to postpone our 2026 Internship Program to ensure we can continue offering a best-in-class experience. The program will resume in 2027, inviting a new class of interns to spend the summer learning and exploring with us. 

KEY DATES

Application period: January 18, 2027 – February 26, 2027
Start date: June 7, 2027
End date: August 13, 2027

How to Apply for an Internship

We are looking for bold people who share our passion for exploration, storytelling, science, and education and who want to help spread our mission. If this sounds like you, we encourage you to explore our open positions.

View Internships

When completing the online application, please submit a resume and cover letter, uploaded as a single document file. (Please review our FAQs, below, prior to submitting your application.)

National Geographic Society follows the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health officials. To promote the health, safety, and well-being of all staff, all National Geographic Society employees are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

National Geographic is an equal opportunity employer. All employment-related decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, citizenship, marital status, or any other legally protected category.

If you have questions about the application process, please contact careers@ngs.org.

Testimonials

Hear from previous National Geographic Society interns in their own words. Mouse over the cards below to learn about their experiences in the program.

Class of 2018
“I loved all of the Meet and Greets that were offered to interns. It was a great way to see more of National Geographic, learn about many different career paths, and have the opportunity to ask questions. I also loved being able to contact any National Geographic employee for lunch of coffee so that I could learn more about their job and career path.”
Class of 2017
“One of my favorite moments was during the first week when I realized that the intern office was located just a few doors down from Sylvia Earle’s office. Clearly a mistake on someone’s part somewhere …”
Class of 2019
“The internship was even better than I could’'ve expected. I knew it would be cool to be at National Geographic, but I did not know I would feel so supported and welcomed by everyone I interacted with. I felt like I was doing meaningful work, and was never ‘just an intern,’ but a part of the team.”
Class of 2017
“My internship has been an amazing combination of opportunity and learning, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
Class of 2019
“The most valuable aspect of my internship was to see the diverse range of talents/departments that are present in Nat Geo. This ultimately gave me a chance to interact, connect and learn from different individuals about their professional work in Nat Geo.”
Class of 2017
“I've been surprised, in the most positive way possible, at how broad the verb ‘explore’ can be. I’ve always thought of exploration as synonymous with faraway places and dangerous terrain. But being here has shown me that being an explorer is about your state of mind, not a physical place. You can do it anywhere — as long as you never stop listening and asking questions.”
Class of 2018
“I found it really inspiring during this internship to hear the various paths people have taken to get where they are today. Everyone I’ve met at NGS and NGP is passionate about what they do and it is infectious to be in an environment where people are truly dedicated to mission driven work.”

FAQs

An intern should be a student enrolled at an accredited college or university and be a rising sophomore or above. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
Internships are offered in the summer. The program is 10 weeks long and runs from June through August.

Internships are posted in mid-January.

All internships will be U.S.-based. Most internships will be remote with one week in Washington DC.

Yes, however we encourage students to be selective and strategic and only apply for positions that aligns closely with their academic background and qualifications.

National Geographic Society does not offer unpaid internships for college credit. All internships are paid, however, you would still be eligible to earn academic credit if required by your university.
At this time, all National Geographic Society internship opportunities are US based.
A student must be enrolled in an accredited college or university and be eligible to work in the U.S. in order to qualify.
Yes. Please submit a resume and cover letter. Each document must be submitted as a single file. Applications without a cover letter will be deemed incomplete.
Unfortunately, once an application is submitted, it cannot be amended. If additional information is required for your application, a member of our Human Resources team will reach out to you.
While interns are not eligible for most company benefits, they are eligible for sick and bereavement leaves, participation in our 401(k) program, and to receive discounts at our National Geographic Store and free membership to our gym.
Responsibilities vary for each role, but all of our internships are designed to provide a learning opportunity to our students. Some interns will work on one project throughout their internship and some will work on multiple smaller projects. Interns will have the opportunity to network, receive mentorship, attend meetings and participate in our events.
Notification will only go out to candidates that are selected or make it to the interview process.
National Geographic Society follows the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health officials. To promote the health, safety, and well-being of all staff, all National Geographic Society employees are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Photo credits: Florence Goupil