Student Programs

The New York State Senate is proud to offer internship opportunities to undergraduates in school and graduates who are either in school or mid-career. Please see the sections below to find the program that is right for you.

Undergraduate Program

The undergraduate program is intended to provide talented and able students with firsthand experience in New York State government at the legislative level. Each session, from the beginning of January through the end of April, 30 Session Assistants are selected to join a Senator's office and work full time as staff. The program takes place entirely on-site at the Senate in Albany, NY.

Applicants come from a wide variety of backgrounds, disciplines, and campus experiences. The enrollment will consist predominantly of college juniors and seniors. Exceptional sophomores are occasionally selected. Freshmen are ineligible

This program was created to foster an appreciative understanding of the roles of process, personalities, and problem-solving in state government as well as return energetic and informed men and women to the classroom, to voter constituencies, and to the workplaces that serve New York State. The opportunity to experience government and observe policy development is unparalleled.

Graduate Programs

The graduate fellowships offered by the Senate are broken into Legislative Fellowships and Memorial Fellowships. For each of the Memorial Fellowships, only one candidate per session will be awarded the position.

Legislative Fellowship - Candidates are assigned to specific Senator offices where they will function as if they were regular staff.

Roth Fellowship - The recipient of the Roth Fellowship will be placed in Senate Press Office.

Wiebe Fellowship - The recipient of the Wiebe Fellowship will be placed in the Majority Counsel/Program Services Office.

Biggane Fellowship - The recipient of the Biggane Fellowship will be placed in the Senate Finance Committee.