Internships at the United Nations

Depending on the organisation, internships can be full-time or part-time and based in headquarters, country or field offices. They are generally unpaid but some organisations offer monthly allowances to cover living expenses (see list below).

Certain UN organisations have strict policies regarding subsequent employment of interns, adhering to a 6-month 'cooling-off periodInterns are not eligible for appointment to any position within the same organisation for a period of 6 months following the end of their internships. '. Others, like UNICEFUnited Nations Children's Fund , encourage you to apply for consultancies, short-term or staff positions following your internship.

Requirements

Internships are generally open to current university students or recent graduates with English language proficiency. Work experience is not required but may be beneficial.

You get a chance to experience first-hand what working at the United Nations really is like.

Overview of internships

The list below indicates the requirements and main characteristics of internships offered by some UN organisations.

More details can be found under the respective links in the table.