Borlaug-Ruan International Internship
A programme by World Food Prize Foundation
An unpaid international internship of at least eight weeks, with no fee to apply or take part. Applications for 2027 have not opened yet.
At a glance
| Best for | Students with a link to a Foundation programme |
|---|---|
| Duration | At least eight weeks |
| Format | In person |
| Cost | Free |
About Borlaug-Ruan International Internship
The Borlaug-Ruan International Internship places students at agricultural research and development organisations abroad. The Foundation says it has placed 460 students since 1998, in countries including India, Brazil, Kenya and China. The Foundation and host organisations provide an intern research project, weekly mentorship and supervision, specialised training, virtual tours and cultural immersion.
The internship is unpaid. Interns commit to a full-time placement of at least eight weeks in summer 2027, and do not return home except in an emergency.
Who can apply
- Its internship page describes eligibility as having taken part in, volunteered for or otherwise been involved with a Foundation programme.
- Age: the internship page says applicants must be 17 or older on 1 June 2027. The application page says between 17 and 20 on that date. The two pages do not agree.
How to apply: Applications for 2027 have not opened yet. The page says they will open soon.
Where to apply
Other World Food Prize Foundation programmes
- Innovate for Impact ChallengeAn AgTech challenge for early-stage startups, run with America’s Cultivation Corridor, with prizes and finals at the Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines.
- Global Youth InstituteA three-day academic conference in Des Moines each October, where student delegates from Youth Institutes share their research.
- Youth InstitutesYouth events co-hosted with agricultural universities in nine countries, where students present their research on food security.
- USDA Wallace-Carver FellowshipA paid fellowship with USDA research centres for American college students, run in partnership with the USDA. Closed until further notice.
- World Food PrizeThe Foundation’s annual cash award to a living individual whose work improves the world’s food supply, presented each October.
- Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and ApplicationAn annual award for professionals under 40 for field research and application, endowed by The Rockefeller Foundation.