Fund Internship Program (FIP)

Our summer interns gain an insider’s view of the member-country-focused mandate and critical international work of the IMF. You will build professional networks while you apply your research and analytical skills to help us explore questions of real importance to our member countries and to global economic stability. Whether you see a future for yourself in international organizations or are simply curious about policy and operational work, this is an ideal opportunity to familiarize yourself with both while leveraging your cutting-edge skills and expanding your research experience.

We recruit for the FIP on a global basis with approximately 50 students from around the world joining us each year at IMF headquarters in Washington, D.C. These paid internships take place between June and October and run for 10 to 12 weeks.

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What Would I Do

You will work closely with an experienced IMF colleague on a current issue or research question of importance to our members. ( See below for information on internships in the IMF’s Legal Department). The results of your work may be presented to IMF staff at the end of your internship, and many of our interns have had their work published by the IMF.

Previous FIP research topics have included:

  • A Bottom-Up Approach to Modeling Inflation Dynamics in LAC
  • Taking Stock of Digitalization and its implications for Inflation Dynamics and Monetary Policy
  • A Review of the Experience with Diversification, Poverty Reduction, and Inequality
  • The Role of Prudential Policies in Attenuating the Credit Cycle
  • Macro-Financial Performance, PFM, and Corruption Indicators
  • The Role of Intangible Assets and Innovation Policy in ASEAN
  • What is Behind High Interest Rate Spreads in Africa? 

    • The IMF's Legal Department also offers internships under this program. In past years, Legal Department projects have included:

  • Analysis of the Legal Framework for Capital Controls Under the European Economic Area
  • Research on the Insolvency of Non-Bank Financial Institutions
  • Research on the Legal Mandate of the IMF In Financial Regulation
  • Cross-Country Comparisons of Effectiveness in AML/CFT Efforts

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    Who Should Apply

    For the Economic internship, you should have concentrated your studies on monetary and international economics, public finance, financial markets, economics, or a related field. In addition, you should possess strong analytical and quantitative skills and have an excellent command of written and oral English. If you are currently completing a PhD, you must be:

  • Registered as an active student (i.e. returning to university studies after completing the internship)
  • Below the age of 32 at the start of the internship

    • If you are currently completing a master’s degree, you must be:

  • Registered as an active student at the time of application (not yet graduated)
  • Below the age of 28 at the commencement of the internship

    • If you are applying to the Legal Department Internship you must be:

  • Within one to two years of completing an LLM, J.D, or equivalent advanced degree in law
  • Below the age of 32 at the commencement of the internship

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    How to Apply

    Applications for the Fund Internship Program is typically open in early December. Interested candidates are welcome to apply for the program at that time by visiting the IMF’s vacancy postings on the IMF Career Site.

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    Other Internship Programs

    The Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies (JISP) targets Japanese citizens who are studying at, or applying to, a PhD program in macroeconomics at a university outside of Japan. Information and application process is detailed on the JISP website.

    Internships in other areas, such as IT, may be advertised periodically on Workday. Please see the job advertisement for details of the terms and requirements for these positions.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is this a paid Internship?

    Yes, this internship is paid. FIP participants receive:

    • • A competitive salary
    • • Round-trip restricted economy class air travel from their university to Washington, D.C.
    • • Limited medical insurance coverage.

    What kind of visa would I need, and would the IMF facilitate this?

    If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S., and do not have another work authorization that would allow you to work at the IMF, you will need a G4 visa. We will provide the paperwork necessary to facilitate your G4 visa request with U.S. authorities. For those studying in the US who have an F-1 visa, an acceptable work authorization would need to be obtained (e.g. CPT).

    What are the minimum and maximum durations of the Internship?

    The minimum duration is 10 weeks and the maximum duration is 12 weeks.

    Will I be notified when my internship application is received by your office?

    You will receive a system-automated acknowledgement of your application. Only candidates who are short-listed for further consideration will be contacted by a FIP recruiter.

    Does the IMF provide housing for non-local interns?

    The IMF does not provide housing, nor housing assistance. Interns are responsible for finding and securing their own accommodations.

    Can an internship lead to a longer-term assignment?

    An internship cannot be extended beyond 12 weeks. However, the internship enables you to develop first-hand knowledge of the IMF and provides the IMF hiring managers with first-hand knowledge of your skills and potential, which raises the chances that you will gain a longer-term position, such as with the IMF's Economist Program.