Digital Corps Fellows are able to work remotely, in-person, or in a hybrid model depending on the needs of their placement agency. Fellows have the option of working from Washington D.C., where many agencies are headquartered. Your location will be negotiated and determined during the selection process.
Fellows who are not located in Washington, D.C. should expect to travel occasionally for agency work and program events. All official travel costs will be covered by the program.
Yes, Fellows’ salary will vary depending on work location (including telework) according to the Office of Personnel Management’s locality pay tables.
Yes, current students are eligible to apply in advance of their expected graduation or completion date as long as they meet the program eligibility criteria.
We recommend including documentation of when you are expected to graduate with your transcript, such as a copy of your application to graduate or a letter from your university or professor stating when you are expected to graduate.
Candidates graduating from an international university are eligible to apply, but there is an additional step of certifying your degree and documenting reciprocity.
The U.S. Digital Corps can only accept certificates and degrees from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions. You can use the Department of Education's accredited schools database to look up your school's accreditation, or qualifying career or technical educational program.
Yes, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria for the Digital Corps. Please note, current federal employees who are at a higher grade level ( > GS-9) will start at a GS-9 on the same career ladder as all Fellows, and may not be eligible to receive the program-wide recruitment incentive, but may be eligible to start at a higher step level if allowed under the maximum payable rate rule.
Current federal trainees and interns may still be eligible to receive the recruitment incentive.
No. Anyone who meets our eligibility criteria is able to apply.
We are not able to accept or consider letters of recommendation or other materials not explicitly requested during the application process.
We recommend that you apply to the track that most closely matches your skill set and prior experience. Doing so will help our team thoughtfully pair candidates with agencies and projects. Your track selection will not limit the projects you are considered for and Digital Corps Fellows will have ample opportunity to learn and grow in areas beyond their selected track.
Our team works thoughtfully to match Fellows with agencies where they can make the greatest impact, taking into account both the needs of the agency and the strengths of each candidate. During the selection process, candidates will have the opportunity to indicate their interests and preferences. However, Fellows’ final placement will be based on mutual interest between candidates and agencies as well as the alignment of skill sets. This ensures a placement that is beneficial for both the Fellow and the agency.
Our June 2022 cohort included 38 Fellows, our 2023 cohort included 48 Fellows, and in 2024 we brought on 70 Fellows across all five tracks. We anticipate a similar cohort size for 2025, but the exact breakdown among tracks will depend on agency projects.
Digital Corps Fellows will work at the same agency for the duration of the fellowship, though we anticipate you will have opportunities to contribute to multiple high-impact projects over the course of the two years.
If you’re not selected, we still encourage you to apply to future opportunities, pending you still meet the eligibility criteria for the program.
Fellows who successfully complete the two-year fellowship will be eligible to convert to full-time, career positions in the competitive service at their agency.
We are unable to facilitate one-on-one connections for potential or current applicants but we encourage you to join us for any of our virtual info sessions to hear from our Fellows and ask about their experiences. If you are selected for an agency position and are considering an offer, we will be able to connect you with a current Fellow to help you make a decision if helpful.
The U.S. Digital Corps was launched in collaboration with agencies across the federal government. All USDC Fellows and program staff are hired in civil service positions, which means that changes in administration do not impact Fellows' employment or positions, or the program's continuation.
U.S. Digital Corps does not have internship opportunities. The USAJOBS Internship Portal is a good resource for internships across the federal government. There are also many third-party organizations that facilitate civic tech internships.
If you don’t see your question, email us at usdigitalcorps@gsa.gov.
