Exploring the Blavatnik Internship Program: Opportunities and Insights
The Blavatnik Internship Program, funded by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, offers unique opportunities for students interested in international relations, political science, economics, and related fields. This program provides paid internships to over one hundred interns each year, primarily within the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). The Foundation prioritizes higher education as well as scientific and medical research and innovation. Its activities are highly concentrated to drive meaningful impact and to promote discoveries at major research institutions that will benefit the whole of society. To that end, the Foundation has made transformational gifts to Harvard, Yale, and Tel Aviv Universities, and established the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University.
The Blavatnik Family Foundation's Broader Impact
Len Blavatnik is among the world’s most accomplished businessmen and prominent philanthropists. A dual US-UK citizen, Len is the founder and chairman of Access Industries, a privately held company headquartered in New York with investments across a range of sectors, including strategic equity, global media and entertainment, real estate, and biotechnology. The Blavatnik Family Foundation is exclusively self-funded and has contributed more than $1 billion to 250 institutions worldwide over the past decade, fostering scientific innovation, world-class culture, and preparing future leaders.
The Blavatnik Family Foundation's commitment extends beyond internships, supporting scholarships, fellowships, and various programs at esteemed institutions. For instance, since 2020, the Foundation has supported Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships at Brandeis University. Furthermore, it provides two full-tuition scholarships to students enrolled in Georgetown University's MA in Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies. The Foundation's Fellowship in Life Science Entrepreneurship offers Harvard Business School alumni and Harvard-affiliated postdoctoral researchers the opportunity to advance new ventures around promising life science technologies and develop their leadership talents during a 12-month fellowship year. The Foundation has been a major supporter of the American Secretaries of State Project, a joint initiative of Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, and Harvard Business School.
More recently, beginning in 2024, the Blavatnik Family Foundation has committed to supporting the Hoover Institution History Lab (HHL) at Stanford University for five years. The Warner Music / Blavatnik Center for Music Business was established in March 2021 through a gift from the Warner Music Group / Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund. The Foundation has a longstanding partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering and provides funding for its Engineering Leaders Scholarships program. In 2025, the Blavatnik Family Foundation made a $25 million donation to the USC School of Cinematic Arts to create a virtual production center. The 15,000-square-foot center will house two stages with wraparound LED walls that students and industry professionals will use to gain experience with virtual production technology. Military Academy at West Point, the Foundation is committing to developing leaders of character for lifetimes of service to the nation as Army officers and beyond. The Cold War International History Project at the Congress-chartered Wilson Center supports the full and prompt release of historical materials by governments on all sides of the Cold War.
CFR Internship Overview
CFR generally considers undergraduate and graduate students with majors in international relations, political science, economics, or a related field for its Blavatnik Internship Program. All applicants should have completed the equivalent of four semesters of college coursework (not including AP classes in high school) by the time they begin an internship. A regional specialization, language skills, and additional requirements may also be needed for some internships. In addition to meeting the intellectual requirements, applicants should have excellent skills in administration, writing, research, and computers, as well as previous office experience.
Read also: Your Guide to Nursing Internships
Blavatnik interns are recruited year-round on a semester basis for positions in CFR’s New York and Washington, DC, offices. There is one posting for the New York office, one for the Washington, DC office, and one for remote applicants. Applicants should apply to their desired work location and check off on their application each internship that they are interested in being considered for. A full list of available positions is available above. A complete application consists of a resume and a cover letter.
What to Expect as a Blavatnik Intern
An intern’s duties generally consist of research, editing and writing, event coordination, and/or departmental support. Blavatnik interns participate in CFR’s Intern Professional Development program, which complements their substantive work with a series of skill-based workshops, training, and career advice sessions. policymakers, and sought-after experts. In addition, CFR offers a wide variety of events for staff and interns, including an award-winning health and wellness program. Events range from brown bag lunches with policy experts to a health fair, and an annual Ping-Pong championship.
Other Internship Opportunities
While the Blavatnik Internship Program at CFR is a prominent option, it's worth noting related opportunities that can enhance a student's experience in international affairs and related fields.
Crossroads Eurasia Internships
These internships offer a unique blend of structured learning and spontaneous exploration, taking participants beyond traditional classroom settings in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Timing: One to three months. Can be combined with other Crossroads Eurasia internships (e.g. teaching or camp)Russian proficiency: The better your Russian, the more challenging we can make it. At the very least, we require four semesters of Russian or equivalent. Past experience: None required. Deadline to apply: March 15, 2020.
American Councils Study Abroad
American Councils Study Abroad is now accepting applications for Fall and Academic Year 2020 study abroad programs in Russia and Kazakhstan. RLASP offers participants the unique opportunity to study Russian language and area studies in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladimir, Russia or Almaty, Kazakhstan while pursuing volunteer opportunities, internships, and cultural interests in an overseas immersion setting. Small class sizes and local conversation partners to assist participants with language learning. BRLI combines Russian language courses and an internship in Moscow, St. Petersburg, or Almaty. On the Heritage Speakers Program participants work with American Councils staff and host university faculty to develop an individualized program serving your unique needs as a language learner. The curriculum focuses on intensive language gain in the areas of grammar, conversation, and vocabulary development. Available in Moscow, St.
Read also: Comprehensive Internship Guide
Short-term Unpaid Internships in Russia
We offer short-term unpaid internships in Russia. A combination of the structured and the spontaneous, our programs take you out of the classroom and away from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Summer Language Institute (SLI) Ukrainian Program and Internship
1st-year Ukrainian classes taught at the SLI provide the equivalent of an academic year’s worth of study. Classes meet on the University of Pittsburgh campus Monday - Friday from 9am to 3pm. Post-SLI Internship Opportunity for 6-Week Ukrainian StudentsSLI is pleased to announce that during the summer of 2020, we are partnering with the Ukrainian Museum-Archives in Cleveland, Ohio to offer a limited number of internships to SLI-Ukrainian students. Students who apply and are accepted to the internship would work at the museum-archives on a project that makes direct use of their newly-acquired knowledge of Ukrainian. Students would also have the opportunity to use the vast resources of the archives to complete a research project related to their academic or career interests. This internship must be taken for academic credit and would commence immediately after the completion of the 6-week beginning Ukrainian course in Pittsburgh. The number of credits taken and the duration of the internship would be negotiated between the applicant, SLI, and the director and curator at the museum-archives.
Virtual Student Federal Service
The Virtual Student Federal Service is the largest virtual internship program in the world. Department of State-run program to harness technology and a commitment to global service among young people to facilitate new forms of engagement. Students work remotely on projects up to 10 hours per week from September to May, and can have a flexible schedule during the school year. Visit USAJOBS.gov to view and apply to the announcement. Visit USAJOBS.gov to view and apply to the announcement.
Crossroads Eurasia Research Internship
(Program details) This internship combines small-group classroom instruction, hands-on field research, and intensive writing. The first week is the classroom week - you refine your topic, learn how to gather information, and structure your research. You can explore any topic you like, and if you don’t have one, that’s OK. We can give you ideas. The second and third week is the research itself. You are out and about, doing interviews, observing, running surveys, etc. During the fourth week, you write.
The Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program
The Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program, supported by a generous gift from the Robina Foundation, CFR members, and family and friends of Franklin Williams, is named in honor of the late Ambassador Franklin H. CFR is committed to help make the foreign policy community in the United States more reflective of America as a whole and looks to identify the next generation of diverse foreign policy leaders through its Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program. CFR generally considers undergraduate and graduate students with majors in international relations, political science, economics, or a related field for its Blavatnik Internship Program. All applicants should have completed the equivalent of four semesters of college coursework (not including AP classes in high school) by the time they begin an internship. A regional specialization, language skills, and additional requirements may also be needed for some internships. In addition to meeting the intellectual requirements, applicants should have excellent skills in administration, writing, research, and computers, as well as previous office experience. There is one posting for the New York office, one for the Washington, DC office, and one for remote applicants. Applicants should apply to their desired work location and check off on their application each internship that they are interested in being considered for. A full list of available positions is available above. A complete application consists of a resume and a cover letter. About Ambassador Franklin H. WilliamsAmbassador Franklin H. ambassador to Ghana and was the chairman of the board of trustees of Lincoln University, one of the country’s historically black colleges. Robina Franklin Williams interns are recruited year-round on a semester basis for positions in CFR’s New York and Washington, DC, offices. An intern’s duties generally consist of research, editing and writing, event coordination, and/or departmental support. Robina Franklin Williams interns participate in CFR’s Intern Professional Development program, which complements their substantive work with a series of skill-based workshops, training, and career advice sessions. policymakers, and sought-after experts. In addition, CFR offers a wide variety of events for staff and interns, including an award-winning health and wellness program. Events range from brown bag lunches with policy experts to a health fair, and an annual Ping-Pong championship.
Read also: Internship Opportunities
Application Insights and Deadlines
Prospective applicants should be aware of application deadlines and requirements. For example, the deadline to apply for some programs, such as Crossroads Eurasia, was March 15, 2020. While this date has passed, it serves as a reminder to check for updated deadlines on official program websites. Fall 2026 applications will be posted in June/July 2026.
tags: #Blavatnik #Internship #Program #details
