The United Nations Secretariat Internship Programme places students and recent graduates in Secretariat entities to gain practical exposure to the Organization. Assignments may be offered by departments, offices away from headquarters, missions, regional commissions, and other Secretariat units.
Openings are published electronically as individual vacancies, so duties, location, work arrangement, and timing depend on the specific posting. Interns work under staff supervision on assignments intended to support learning and professional development.
Benefits & funding
- Internships last at least two months and may be extended to a total of six months.
- Full-time service is standard, while a receiving entity may approve flexible working arrangements.
- The United Nations does not pay interns. Travel, visas, accommodation, and living costs are paid by the intern or a sponsoring institution.
- Interns must maintain valid medical insurance for the full placement and provide a certificate of good health before starting.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be enrolled in or have completed a graduate programme at the second-degree level or above, or be enrolled in or have completed the final academic year of a first university degree at bachelor level or equivalent.
- Children and siblings of United Nations staff members are not eligible. Other relatives may serve only outside that staff member’s work unit and supervision chain.
- No nationality, residency, gender, age, or work-experience threshold is stated in the programme instruction.
- Applicants must be able to meet the insurance, health, visa, travel, and living-cost conditions relevant to the duty station.
Can you apply?
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Education required
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Application process
- 1Review current internship openings on the United Nations Careers portal.
- 2Check the vacancy-specific duties, location, work arrangement, qualifications, and dates.
- 3Submit the application through the electronic platform and follow every instruction in the opening.
- 4If selected, complete the required insurance, health, visa, and travel arrangements before the start date in the acceptance letter.
Program timeline
Each opening
Application deadline and selection schedule are stated in the vacancy.
On selection
The internship begins on the date stated in the acceptance letter.
Placement period
Service lasts two to six months.