Ukrainian Defense and Security Internship Program
For the first time, a group of organizations across Ukraine's defense sector are coming together under one umbrella to open their doors to interns. You'll have the chance not only to contribute to an organization inside Ukraine's defense ecosystem, but to join a broader community of Serpens’ interns working toward the same goal.
Get experience inside
the organizations building Ukraine's
defense and security capacity
Backgrounds in policy, international relations, data and research, engineering and software, or communications — we place you against your strengths, not a single profile.
Remote-friendly. Some host organizations may prefer in-person work — this is noted at the matching stage.
Ukrainian and international students and early-career professionals with an interest in defense.
No formal age or institutional requirement. What matters is drive and a genuine interest in the track you choose.
Our Partners: who can you work with
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and more.
Program Structure:
Find Your Track:
01. Partnerships
Support policy coordination and outreach with government and international partners — drafting materials, tracking correspondence, and helping prepare high-stakes meetings.
02. Analytics & Research
Gather data, draft analysis, and contribute directly to research projects that shape how Ukraine's defense sector understands its own challenges.
03. Defense Tech
Build the tools the front line needs. Work hands-on with your host's engineering team — software development, prototyping, and testing.
04. Communications
Tell the story that matters right now. Work on content and media strategy, helping Ukrainian defense organizations reach the domestic and international audiences.
Where You'll Work
Analytical centers
Security and strategy research
Policy institutions
Government-adjacent, shaping policy
Defense-tech manufacturers
Frontline hardware and software
Industry clusters
Defense-industry associations
Venture capital funds
Backing the defense ecosystem
Veteran organizations
Supporting those who served
Rehabilitation centers
Medical care and prosthetics
Charitable foundations
Funding frontline & humanitarian needs
A role that matters
A placement matched to your track and interests, inside a vetted host organization actually working the problem — not a simulation of one.
A shared curriculum
Biweekly guest sessions and applied workshops covering defense, policy, and security themes — alongside your placement.
A network that lasts
Join an alumni base of 75+ interns who've gone through the programme since 2025.
A platform for your work
In the final weeks, you can synthesize your placement into an individual paper or project, with mentor feedback and a platform through SCIS to publish and share it.
Application Process
Apply — Submit your application through the link on this page. Deadline Nov 1, 2026.
Interview — Shortlisted candidates are invited to speak with the SCIS internship team.
Matching — We match you to a track and a host organization aligned with your interests and skills.
Kickoff — Orientation begins Week 1 (January 4th, 2027) and your placement starts.
SCIS has run 3 cohorts since 2025, drawing 100+ applications per cycle — 75 interns have completed the program to date.
Join our alumni network.
Joining the program also means joining the SCIS alumni network — and that connection doesn't end when your internship does. Alumni stay linked to SCIS and its partner organizations long after the program wraps, through ongoing opportunities, introductions, and a network that keeps growing as the sector does.
Apply Here
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the internship paid?
No — this is an unpaid internship.
Do I need a security clearance?
For some host organizations, yes — particularly those working closer to defense-industrial or classified-adjacent work, where you'll need to go through clearance process before starting.
I'm not Ukrainian — can I apply?
Yes. The programme is open to Ukrainian and international applicants alike. You don't need Ukrainian citizenship or residency to apply — many of our interns are Ukrainians based abroad, alongside international applicants. Some host organizations prefer in-person work in Ukraine, which is confirmed during matching.
Is there a chance of a job afterward?
Interns who perform well are frequently kept on by their host organization, or brought on with SCIS directly, once the internship ends.