High school international relations internship and research fellowship
This high school international relations internship lets students in Grades 9 to 12 take one local environmental project and study it in a global frame, with a mentor who guides each step. You link it to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, compare it with similar work in another country and write up what could transfer.
For school students taking IB Global Politics, Geography or Economics, or who enjoy Model UN, and want a field case behind their writing on global issues. Online, with field work near home and a parent or guardian present at every self-guided activity. The fellowship is paid because every student receives time and attention from senior researchers and leaders.
Why international relations matters for sustainability
Air pollution, plastic in the sea and a warming climate cross borders, so countries agree on shared goals to tackle them. The UN Sustainable Development Goals are 17 goals that all UN member states adopted. Progress on them still happens street by street, in cities and villages. International relations looks at how countries cooperate on this work and who pays for it. It also draws on development studies to ask which local programmes succeed and why.
Earth5R is an environmental organisation based in Mumbai, working in 150+ Indian cities. With the UN Technology Innovation Labs, now UN Global Pulse, it built a solar-powered river-cleaning machine for the Mithi River. The machine was first built in Finland and then rebuilt for Mumbai’s tidal and monsoon conditions. As a fellow you study cases like this one and compare them with programmes in other countries.
This work links to the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 17, Partnerships for the goals and Goal 13, Climate action.
Available projects in this high school international relations internship
Each project fits around school work and takes place near home. Your mentor shapes the final project with you.
Map a local project to the SDGs
Take one project near you, such as your school’s waste programme or a local cleanup, match it to specific SDG targets and indicators, and suggest how its progress could be measured.
One idea, two countries
Compare an Earth5R programme, such as zero waste housing societies, with a similar programme in another country using published reports, and explain what would need to change to transfer it.
From Finland to the Mithi
Study how a river-cleaning machine first built in Finland was rebuilt for Mumbai’s tides and monsoon, using photos, videos, build documents and view-only CAD designs.
Country positions on plastic
Read how two or three countries describe their plans on plastic waste in public UN documents, compare their positions, and link them to a waste count you run at school.
What you do in the field
- Read the SDG targets and indicators that match your project
- Run a small field task near home, such as a waste count
- Find and read reports on programmes in other countries
- Compare two programmes using a fixed set of questions
- Write a comparative case study with your mentor
- Present your findings in a research conversation
Skills you build
On a high school international relations internship, you collect your own data near home with a parent or guardian, using the Earth5R app and data forms. Earth5R checks the data on its platform before it goes into your project report.
How a high school international relations internship fits your school programme
For IB, IGCSE, CBSE and ICSE students. Your school decides what counts towards its own requirements.
IB CAS
Running an SDG awareness project or a school cleanup linked to a global goal can form a CAS project with a service element. Your CAS coordinator decides.
Extended Essay and IA
Comparing a local project with one abroad can support a World Studies Extended Essay or a Global Politics IA. Your supervisor approves the topic and the research question.
MYP, IGCSE and CBSE projects
An SDG mapping and comparison project fits the MYP Personal Project, IGCSE Global Perspectives research and CBSE or ICSE social science projects, if your school agrees.
University applications
A case study that links your own field data to global goals gives you a concrete example to discuss in an international relations personal statement.
How the high school international relations internship works
Every student moves through four phases. Your mentor checks each phase before you move on, and sessions pause during board exams.
Observe and Map
Go into the field near home, with a parent or guardian, and collect primary data for your project in International Relations.
Frame and Design
Find the root cause in your data and frame a problem worth solving, with your mentor.
Model
Build a working model, analysis or design for your solution, and test it.
Build and Deploy
Put your solution to work, measure the result and publish a verified record on earth5r.org.
Along the way you take part in research conversations with professors at MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, LSE and other universities, and ask your own questions. See how FIELDWORK works.
Where this can take you
University courses this leads to
- BA in International Relations
- BS in Foreign Service or International Affairs
- BA in Politics and International Relations
- BA in International Development
- BA in Global Studies or Global Affairs
Careers in this field
- Diplomat or foreign service officer
- Development programme officer
- Policy researcher at a think tank
- Analyst at an international organisation
- Climate and development consultant
Universities to aim for in International Relations
International relations admissions tutors look for students who follow world events and can connect global debates to data from a real place. A high school international relations internship with FIELDWORK gives you a case study you researched near home and compared with work abroad, reviewed by your mentor. Students use a high school international relations internship to build a record of real work for applications to universities like these.
USA · Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS)
Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service teaches undergraduates in Washington, DC, through the Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service. Its majors range from business and policy to science. School centres include the Center for Security Studies and the African Studies Program, which works on governance and economic development.
USA · Undergraduate programmes, Elliott School of International Affairs
The Elliott School in Washington, DC, offers a BA and a BS in International Affairs, plus regional majors such as Asian Studies. The BA draws on political science, history, economics, anthropology and geography, and each student picks a functional or regional concentration. The BS adds advanced science and technology courses.
USA · International Relations Program, School of Arts and Sciences
Tufts’ International Relations Program is an interdisciplinary undergraduate major in the School of Arts and Sciences. Its curriculum includes sustained study of a second language, designed to suit students with a range of interests and abilities. The programme also funds IR-related events and conferences for students.
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
UK · Department of International Relations
LSE’s Department of International Relations teaches undergraduate degrees in the field alongside master’s and research study. Its research clusters cover international institutions, law and ethics, international political economy, and security. Recent work includes joint projects with Tsinghua University on global sustainability.
UK · International Relations MA (Hons), School of International Relations
St Andrews’ four-year International Relations MA (Hons) is an undergraduate degree run by the School of International Relations. Students start with theory, foreign policymaking and international security. Honours options include international law and institutions, international political economy, and peace and conflict resolution, and students finish with a dissertation.
UK · Department of International Relations, School of Global Studies
The Department of International Relations sits in the Sussex School of Global Studies, beside International Development and Geography. Undergraduates can take a BA in International Relations or a joint degree with subjects such as International Development. Topics studied include climate change, inequality, global health and trade.
Netherlands · BSc International Relations and Organisations, Political Science
Leiden’s three-year, English-taught BSc International Relations and Organisations is based in The Hague, a city with many international organisations and embassies. Students study bodies such as the UN, the World Bank and NATO. They also look at world problems such as poverty, refugee crises and humanitarian cooperation.
Spain · Bachelor in International Relations, IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs
IE University’s four-year Bachelor in International Relations is taught in English in Madrid, or in Segovia and then Madrid. The curriculum is built around the UN 2030 Agenda and the role of multilateral organisations. Students work in a Policy Lab, join Model UN simulations and can specialise in International Development.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
Singapore · Bachelor of Social Sciences in Public Policy and Global Affairs (Honours), School of Social Sciences
NTU’s undergraduate degree in Public Policy and Global Affairs includes a core course in international relations and foreign policy. Students study international politics and comparative public administration alongside policy analysis. The common core adds a course on sustainability, and graduates can work in regional and international organisations.
Australian National University (ANU)
Australia · Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs
ANU’s Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs teaches undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees on Asia-Pacific and international politics, security and diplomacy. It belongs to the College of Asia and the Pacific. Its units include the Department of International Relations and the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre.
This list is for guidance. These universities offer undergraduate study in International Relations. Earth5R has no admissions arrangement with them, and admission decisions rest with each university. Students get help researching universities, scholarships and applications, depending on the programme.
What your fellowship fee pays for
An internship fellowship at Earth5R is time and attention from senior researchers and leaders. Each part below takes staff time and resources that we set aside for every fellow.
Live mentoring with experts
One-to-one mentoring in most fellowships, with regular check-ins on your project.
Dialogues with global researchers
Academics from international universities and renowned scientists, who answer your questions and discuss your work.
Support in the field
Guidance while you collect data and work on your project in the field.
References for your next step
References when you apply for jobs, higher studies and research programmes.
Your work, hosted for life
Your work and data stay on Earth5R’s website and servers for life, where universities and employers can check them.
Time from senior people
Each fellow receives time and attention from senior researchers and leaders, set aside for them.
Fee details available on request.
Choose your fellowship
The Multi-Year Fellowship can run from Grade 9 to Grade 12, with more scope each year.
The fee pays for live mentoring, dialogues with global researchers, support in the field, references and lifelong hosting of your work. Fee details available on request.
High school international relations internship: common questions
How does a high school international relations internship connect to field work?
Your research begins with one project near home, such as a cleanup or a school waste programme, and the people it serves. You then look abroad for similar work, so what you write about global goals is grounded in data you gathered yourself.
Does my child need to travel abroad for this?
No. The field work happens near your home, and you study other countries through published reports, official documents and news sources. Your mentor helps you choose sources you can trust and check.
Which countries can I compare with India?
Choose a country that publishes clear, reliable reports on a programme like the one you study. Students based outside India can use their home country, which lets them see that programme in person during their local field work.
Is the high school international relations internship paid?
Yes. FIELDWORK is a paid, mentored programme. The fee pays for live mentoring, dialogues with global researchers, support in the field, references and lifelong hosting of your work. Fee details are available on request.
Can my child do this high school international relations internship online?
Yes. Mentoring sessions run online, and field work takes place near where you live.
Is a parent or guardian present during field work?
Yes. A parent or guardian is present at every self-guided field activity. Online sessions are for students.
Does FIELDWORK pause during board exams?
Yes. Sessions pause during board exams, so the fellowship fits around school work.
What do students get at the end?
A certificate, a letter of recommendation, a project report and a verified profile on earth5r.org, where universities can check the work.
Related subjects for school students
Already at university? See the International Relations and Development internship fellowship for university students.
Apply for a FIELDWORK fellowship in International Relations
This high school international relations internship is for students in Grades 9 to 12. Work on a live Earth5R project with a mentor, take part in research conversations with global researchers, and build a verified record of your work. Fee details available on request.
