Who can apply?
- U.S. citizenship.
- Current enrollment in an accredited degree or certificate program. The program is aimed at undergraduate, graduate, first- and second-year law, and LLM students.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent.
The program is unpaid. Budget for living and commuting costs, and do not count on credit until your college confirms it.
Dates, pay & program timing
The SEC Scholars Program is a 10-week internship and is currently unpaid; the SEC tells participants to work with their college or university on whether they can receive credit. Scholars may work part-time or full-time on a schedule agreed with their supervisor, but must work on-site at least 16 hours a week, at the Washington, D.C. headquarters or a regional office. The SEC's tentative timeline at review listed announcements for summer 2026 (December 1, 2025 to January 5, 2026), fall 2026 (March 12 to April 16, 2026) and spring 2027 (July 23 to August 27, 2026), with selections in February, April–May and September–October 2026. Dates for the summer 2027 term were not posted.
View the deadline calendarThese details reflect the sources at the review date. An overview is not a live job offer. Check the official page for today's application status and the selected opening's written terms.
How to apply to SEC
- Watch USAJOBS, where the SEC posts Scholars Program opportunities when they become available, including Business Program roles at headquarters and regional offices.
- Prepare your most recent transcript and proof of current enrollment.
- Before applying, ask your college or university whether it will award credit for this unpaid internship.
You leave FirstInternships to apply. We do not accept applications, offer referrals, or represent the employer.
Our editorial advice · not employer requirements
How to prepare a stronger application
Because the program is unpaid but needs only 16 on-site hours a week, some students combine it with paid work. Map out a weekly schedule before you apply so you can answer honestly when a supervisor asks about availability. This is our suggestion, not an SEC rule.
The SEC's work is enforcement and examinations. A short, specific interest — reading a company's 10-K, a securities law class, or a market event you followed — is more useful than general interest in finance.
Your preparation, on this device
Make it a plan.
Checking an item saves this program. These are planning prompts, not a substitute for the employer's full requirements.
Add a stage & next actionOfficial sources & update notes
We reviewed these publisher pages on . They establish the program facts above; our preparation suggestions are independent editorial guidance.
We do not infer deadlines, remote eligibility, or guaranteed offers from older recruiting cycles. Read our editorial process.