United Nations Internships

If you are thinking of entering the world of diplomacy and public policy, an internship at the United Nations could be the ideal start for you.

United Nations

The objective of the internship is to give you a first-hand impression of the day-to-day working environment of the United Nations. You will be given a real chance to work with our people. As part of our team, working directly with outstanding and inspiring career professionals and senior management, you will be exposed to high-profile conferences, participate in meetings, and contribute to analytical work as well as organizational policy of the United Nations. Initially you will take on the amount of responsibility you can shoulder; the potential for growth, however, is yours to develop.

Duration: The internship program lasts for at least two months and can be as long as six months. Once selected, you must begin your internship either prior to or within one year of graduation.
Cost: United Nations interns are not paid. All costs related to travel, insurance, accommodation, and living expenses must be borne by either the interns or their sponsoring institutions.
Visa: You will be responsible for obtaining and financing the necessary visas.
Travel: You will arrange and finance your travel to the United Nations location where you will be an intern.
Medical Insurance: You will be responsible for costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during the internship and must show proof of a valid major global medical insurance coverage.
Confidentiality: You must be discreet and keep confidential any and all unpublished information obtained during the course of the internship and may not publish any documents based on such information.
Academic Credit: You may get academic credit from your institution of higher education for the internship. Check with your university to confirm their academic credit policy for internships.

UNICEF

The UNICEF Internship Programme offers eligible students the opportunity to acquire direct practical experience in UNICEF's work. UNICEF is active in various functional areas related to its mandate, which can be categorized in three main pillars: Programme and Policy, External Relations and Operations.

Internships are offered depending on the needs and capacity of offices to receive and supervise interns. Currently available internship opportunities are advertised on the UNICEF employment page.

Our Internship Programme has been revised to broaden the eligibility criteria and introduce the paid modality.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for an internship, applicants must meet all the following requirements:

Be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. degree program or have graduated within the past two years. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
Be proficient in at least one of UNICEF's working languages: English, French, or Spanish. Fluency in the working language of the office you are applying to is required.
Have excellent academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records.
Have no immediate relatives (e.g. father, mother, brother, sister) working in any UNICEF office.
Have no other relatives in the line of authority which that you will report to.

Individuals must demonstrate excellent academic performance through recent university or institution records. Additional consideration will be given to any past professional experience.

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted through the online e-recruitment system. To apply for an internship, open the internship advertisement page and click on the "Apply" button found at the bottom.

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)

The purpose of the Internship and Traineeship Programmes at UNITAR is to provide a framework by which individuals from diverse academic backgrounds may be assigned to UNITAR Programmes where their educational experience and skills can be enhanced through practical work assignments while they provide the institute with their assistance as qualified individuals specialized in various professional fields.

Eligibility Requirements

Internship

Initiated and completed during the course of graduate studies (university degree or higher) or post-graduate programmes. Duration: one to six months.
Assignments are usually on a full-time basis, but part-time arrangements may be agreed upon depending on both the requirements of the department/program and the availability of the intern.

Traineeship

Initiated after completion of graduate studies (university degree or higher) or post-graduate programs. Duration: three to 12 months.
Assignments are usually on a full-time basis, but part-time arrangements may be agreed upon depending on both the requirements of the department/program and the availability of the trainee.

Status

Interns / Trainees are not financially remunerated by UNITAR. They receive a monthly lump-sum to cover transportation.

How to Apply

Vacancies are posted on the UNITAR website. Spontaneous candidatures may also be considered. Candidates are encouraged to consult the UNITAR website to familiarize themselves with the program areas in which they could gain experience if they were selected. A letter of motivation as well as the P11 form or Curriculum Vitae are to be sent via e-mail.

United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

Are you dedicated to world development and want to gain practical experience to complement your studies? Internships at UNDP are a great opportunity for students and recent graduates to acquire direct exposure to UNDP's work.

Opportunities are available in a variety of areas and every attempt is made to match the interests of the intern with the needs of the organization. Visit our current vacancies and discover your development internship!

Internships can take place in UNDP Country Offices, at regional hubs or at headquarters in New York. The duration of an internship assignment varies in length according to the availability and academic requirements of the intern, as well as the needs of UNDP. Assignments are available on a part-time and full-time basis throughout the year.

Qualifications and Requirements

Interns are selected on a competitive basis. Applicants to UNDP internships must at the time of application meet one of the following academic requirements:

Be enrolled in a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher).
Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent).
Have graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.

As an applicant, you should be able to demonstrate an interest in the field of development and respect the principles of the United Nations Charter and UNDP's mission. The desire to work with and gain the confidence and respect of people with different language, national and cultural backgrounds is an essential part of working in the UN system. You should also be interested in global mobility as well as adaptability to varied physical and other environments.

Applicants should have written and spoken proficiency in at least one, and preferably two of the three working languages used by UNDP: English, French, and Spanish. Fluency in Arabic, Portuguese, Russian, or an Eastern European language is an asset.

Financial Issues

UNDP does not pay for internships. The costs associated with the latter must be borne by the nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or by the student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his or her own arrangements for travel, accommodation etc.

Further Career Opportunities

The purpose of internships is not to lead to further employment with UNDP but, as mentioned, to complement an intern's studies. However, a number of interns, having completed their studies and met the necessary requirements, have gone on to further assignments with the UNDP or elsewhere in the United Nations system.