Internships are valuable experiences; they provide great opportunities for enriching yourself professionally and personally, as well as for finding a job. If you want to explore your potential as an individual, consider doing an internship, especially outside your home country. Employers value international experience when they are recruiting candidates.
What can you accomplish in an internship?
Among the internships opportunities available are programmes in intergovernmental organizations. Along with the benefits mentioned, these programmes have the advantage of promoting humanitarian missions in multiple countries, allowing their participants to contribute to a fairer and more sustainable world.
Contacts
If you would like to know more about how to apply to these international internship opportunities, please contact Career Services at your respective School:
If you are selected for an internship that will happen in an Erasmus Programme participant country and they do not provide financing, you may apply for a scholarship. Contact your School's Career Services to learn more.
The African Development Bank offers internships that allow students to gain experience in an international development context. Candidates must be under 30 years old and enrolled in a Master’s degree (or have finished one in the past year). Internships are designed for students from various areas, so any student may apply, provided they speak English and have knowledge of French (or vice versa). The Bank opens calls for applications twice a year. Internships take place at the Bank’s headquarters in Cote d’Ivoire or one of their Regional or Country Offices. Interns may be provided with a monthly stipend.
For more information on this internship programme, please consult the African Development Bank website.
This programme provides students with the opportunity to work in an international development organization in Manila, Philippines. It is intended for students in Master’s or PhD programmes in fields related to ADB’s work. ADB opens applications for interns twice a year (15 July to 15 September for winter interns, and 1 December to 31 January for summer interns). Interns receive a stipend.
For more information this internship programme, please consult the ADB website.
This programme allows students to gain experience in international development in Washington, D.C., USA. Internships are designed for students with Bachelor’s in various areas who are currently enrolled in a Master’s or PhD programme. WB opens calls for applications twice a year (1 December to 31 January for summer interns, and 1 October to 31 October for winter interns). The internship is paid.
For more information this internship programme, please consult the WB website.
This programme provides individuals who have at least a standard 3-year higher education degree with the opportunity to work in one of the European Commission’s sectors in Brussels, Belgium. These traineeships are designed for students from various areas, so any student may apply as long as he or she is an EU citizen. The Commission opens calls for applications twice a year (from 16 July to 30 August for spring trainees, and 6 January to 31 January for fall trainees), and trainees receive a stipend.
For more information on this programme, please consult the European Commission website.
ICRC offers two internship opportunities: unpaid traineeships for undergraduates, and paid “associate” positions for recent graduates with Bachelor’s degrees. Internships are designed for graduates from various areas, so any student with one year of professional experience may apply. Internships take place in Geneva, Switzerland. Applications occur when openings appear during the year.
For more information on these programmes, please consult the ICRC website.
The IMF offers internships to MSc and PhD students in macroeconomics or related fields who have finished at least one year of their programme. Interns work in Washington, D.C., USA under supervisors to research issues in the field. To apply, Master’s students must be under 28, and PhD students under 32. This internship is paid, and runs from June to October. Candidates must apply by 6 January.
For more information on this internship programme, please consult the IMF website.
IOM offers internships around the world in which students gain knowledge on issues of migration. Candidates must be in the last year of their Bachelor’s or starting their Master's degree, and may submit applications at any time. Students under the age of 36 in any field may apply. Internships occur in Geneva, Switzerland or a national office. Depending on the situation, an intern may receive a stipend.
For more information on this internship programme, please consult the IOM website.
ILO offers internships to students in undergraduate, Master’s or doctoral programmes, as well as those who have finished such degrees in the past 6 months. Internships may be available in fields such as social and political sciences, psychology, economics and information technology, among others. Applications can be submitted for open positions. Interns work in Turin, Italy, and receive a monthly stipend.
For more information on this internship programme, please consult the ILO website.
NATO interns gain practical experience in various fields, as well as a better understanding of the Alliance. Internships happen in Brussels, Belgium, and are designed for graduates from various areas, so students in any field can apply. Candidates must be over 21 and in the last year of their Bachelor’s or starting a Master's. Candidates must be proficient in English and/or French. Applications may be submitted during the first months of the year. Interns receive a stipend.
For more information on this internship programme, please consult the NATO website.
The OECD offers both research and corporate internships. They publish vacancies for interns quarterly. Interns work in various areas, so any student may apply, provided that he or she is enrolled in a full-time degree programme. Internships occur primarily in Paris, France, and interns receive stipends.
For more information on this programme, please consult the OECD website.
The UN Internship programme allows students to gain experience in diplomacy and public policy. Applicants can be Master’s, PhD, or last-year Bachelor's students, or graduates who have completed any degree in the past year. Interns work in various fields, so students from any area can apply. The UN has regular openings for interns in their global offices. These internships are unpaid.
For more information on this internship programme, please consult the UN website.
Internships at the AUC are designed for Master’s, PhD, or final-year undergraduate students in economics, law, gender studies and environmental science (ECSH and ESPP students will be suitable candidates). These internships combine development studies with practical cooperation experience. Students may apply to the vacancies posted on the AUC website. These internships are unpaid.
For more information on this internship programme, please consult the AUC website.
UNICEF offers students practical experience in the areas of its mandate: programming and policy for youth issues, external relations, and operations, among others. Candidates must be Bachelor’s, Master’s or doctoral students, or have completed one of these degrees within two years. Internships are designed for students from various areas, so students from any field may apply. Positions open periodically during the year. Interns may receive a stipend, depending on their internship.
For more information on this internship programme, please consult the UNICEF website.
WHO internships provide experience in the field of health for students in management or the social sciences. Candidates may be Master’s or Bachelor’s students who have completed 3 years of study at the time of the internship, or recent graduates who have completed their degrees within 6 months. WHO opens calls for applications twice a year (from 1 September to 15 October for winter interns, and from 10 January to 25 February for summer interns). In cases of need, WHO may provide interns with stipends.
For more information on this internship programme, please consult the WHO website.