Learn by Doing
To truly thrive in any career, its not enough to learn—you need to apply your knowledge in the real world. At Fletcher, we give students numerous opportunities to turn coursework into practice.
Through internships, field research, simulations and client-based projects, you’ll build the expertise, confidence and global perspective that set you apart in the job market. Experiential learning isn’t just part of the curriculum; it’s at the heart of how we prepare graduates to lead with impact from day one.
Internships
Fletcher’s Office of Professional Development helps you translate your studies into real-world impact, guiding your search for internships that provide hands-on experience in your chosen field. These opportunities deepen your understanding of the sector while building the skills, networks and professional relationships that can lead directly to your first role after graduation.
Recently, Fletcher students have completed internships with a wide range of institutions, including:
- Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions, United Nations
- U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
- Deloitte
Consulting and Client Work
Get real-world experience by working directly with actual clients through our client-based courses, practicums and capstones.
- Courses with real-world clients: Field Studies in Global Consulting; Managing NGOs and Social Enterprises; and the International Law Clinic
- Practicum clients: NATO, U.S. Department of Energy, U.N. Secretary General’s Office
- Capstone clients: recent capstone projects have connected students to organizations across the public, private and multi-lateral sectors
- GIS Mapping the World Project: students coordinate with clients to produce maps, spatial analyses and other outputs that explore key questions and tell compelling stories
Research and Thought Leadership
At Fletcher, research isn’t just something you read about—it’s something you do. Fletcher is a dynamic research institution where students actively shape the future of global scholarship. You’ll find opportunities to work as a research assistant in our research centers, collaborate directly with faculty, publish in student-led journals and participate in high-level academic and policy conferences. These experiences not only allow you to explore your passions and share your ideas but also prepare you to make a meaningful impact on the world..
Learn more about opportunities for research through our centers, or take a look at our student-led journals:
Competitions
Fletcher students excel in international and national competitions, from security exercises to business pitches—proving their skills under pressure.
Recent competitions include:
- Raisina Dialogue Competition
- Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
- ISSP-sponsored Army War College Strategy Competition
- Tufts Idea Competition
- Fletcher D-Prize
- Kellogg Morgan Stanley Sustainable Development Challenge
- Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge
- Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition
- Jean-Pictet Competition
Career Trips
To help students expand their network beyond the Greater Boston area, our Office of Professional Development organizes career trips that connect students with professionals across sectors. Participants engage with private companies like Deloitte, Goldman Sachs and Amazon; multilateral institutions including the United Nations and World Bank; NGOs like CDP and Save the Children; and U.S. government offices like the departments of treasury, defense and state. These trips include:
- New York City (typically held in the fall semester)
- Washington, D.C. (typically held in the spring semester)
Simulations and Exercises
Students put their strategic skills to test under pressure through our immersive simulations:
- ISSP Red Team
- Processes of international negotiation in-class simulations
- Mediation training
- Nuclear threat simulation (Korea working group)
- International climate negotiation simulation, designed annually by a current government negotiator
- Energy security crisis simulation
Conferences
Beyond our student-led conferences, we encourage and support students to present at and attend industry-leading conferences around the world. These forums—whether pitching round-tables or discussing original research—offer opportunities to network, cultivate professional skills and engage with new areas of inquiry.
Faculty lead groups of students to participate in the following multilateral conferences:
- U.N. Oceans Conference
- Arctic Circle Assembly
- UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP)
- Raisina Dialogue
Student Experience
Fletcher’s Office of Student Experience offers countless ways to build real-world skills—through student-led treks abroad, high-profile conferences and over 30 student clubs, all designed to help you make the most of your time at Fletcher.
Exchange Programs
Go global with Fletcher exchanges. Study at Sciences Po in Paris, The Graduate Institute in Geneva, or spend a semester in France, Spain, China, or at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, gaining international experience and a global perspective to advance your career.