Join one of the Danish representations in North America and put your skills to work for Denmark. We welcome interns from many different study backgrounds.
An internship in the Danish Foreign Service offers exciting experiences and gives you the opportunity to gain insight into Danish diplomacy while testing your skills in an international environment.
You will become an integrated part of the team you are assigned to. You will be assigned a supervisor within the team, who will introduce you to the team's tasks and provide ongoing guidance and feedback on your work. The specific tasks you will take on vary depending on which team you are assigned to.
If your educational institution requires you to submit an academic assignment in connection with your internship, it is your educational institution's responsibility to guide you on this.
North America offers 33 internship positions in the following departments/teams:
Internship duration and application deadlines
We recruit interns twice a year for 6-month internships during the following periods:
Requirements
To be considered for an internship, you must be enrolled in a bachelor's or master's degree program at a higher education institution, and you must remain enrolled throughout the entire internship period.
If you are a foreign national, you must have lived in Denmark for at least 3 years, have permanent residence in Denmark at the time of application, and be enrolled in a study program at a higher education institution in Denmark throughout the entire internship period.
It is furthermore a condition for being offered an internship that you have not previously interned in the Danish Foreign Service, that you can be security cleared by the Danish authorities, and that you maintain your security clearance throughout the entire internship period.
Please make sure in advance that your educational institution's internship requirements are compatible with an internship in the Danish Foreign Service (e.g., learning objectives and required internship length).
Qualifications
We are looking for students with strong analytical skills, initiative, a high level of commitment, and a curious, open, and positive approach to problem-solving. We also expect good proficiency in both Danish and English, as well as familiarity with the MS Office suite (PowerPoint, Excel & Word).
Vacation and working hours
Working hours average 37 hours per week (including lunch break). You accrue 2.08 vacation days per month of internship, corresponding to 12.5 days over the course of your 6-month internship.
If your degree program requires you to submit an academic assignment in connection with your internship, you may also be granted between 3 and 10 days of writing leave.
Housing and insurance
You are responsible for arranging your own housing. You are required to have travel insurance (which must also cover repatriation in case of illness or death) and liability insurance covering you outside of working hours. It is recommended, though not required, that you also take out accident insurance.
Expenses
The internship is unpaid, and you are responsible for covering all associated expenses yourself, including housing, insurance, transportation, visas, vaccinations, etc.
However, compensation of DKK 5,000–6,000 per month may be provided to cover certain documented expenses related to the internship.
Most interns are able to continue receiving their SU (Danish state education grant) during the internship. It is your own responsibility to clarify the terms that apply to your SU.
How to apply
You apply for an internship in North America by completing and submitting an online application form - click here. The link will be active from August 10 to September 10, 2026.
In the application form, you will be asked to indicate your priorities. Here you must select the relevant reference number listed next to the desired internship position, as shown in this internship posting.
You are welcome to apply to multiple missions, up to a maximum of 10. If you wish to apply for internship positions at other missions and regions, you must do so via their respective websites, using their application links and reference numbers. Please note that all missions can see which missions you have applied to, and have access to the applications you submit.
When applying, you must upload your CV, a cover letter, and your diploma/transcript of grades. In addition, you may upload other documents, such as a reference from an employer or your educational institution, if you believe it is relevant to your application.
Your cover letter should describe why you want an internship, what you hope to gain from it, and what relevant experience and skills you have (including language skills, if applicable) in relation to the specific internship position. The cover letter must not exceed one page.
If you have any questions about internships in North America, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]. The deadline for your application is September 10.
Got questions about the application process, eligibility, or what life as an intern is really like? Check out our FAQ for everything you need to know.
