🌍 Internship at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency 🕊️ Geneva, Amman, Budapest, Copenhagen or a Field Office Worldwide 🤝 (Paid)

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is looking for talented, motivated and passionate individuals from around the world, people who bring knowledge, fresh thinking and different ideas to strengthen the organization's capacity to support people forced to flee. If you are a student or recent graduate who wants to spend a few months inside one of the world's most important humanitarian organizations, the UNHCR Internship Programme is built exactly for that. 🌱

It offers eligible students and recent graduates the chance to gain real experience in the humanitarian sector, in line with their academic background and future career goals, whether that is at the Geneva headquarters, a Global Service Centre, or a field office out where the work actually happens.

About the UNHCR Internship Programme

🕊️ UNHCR works every day to protect and support refugees, stateless people and others forced from their homes. Interns become part of that mission for the length of their placement, contributing to meaningful assignments rather than sitting on the sidelines.

📚 The programme is designed to connect your studies to practical work. Placements are matched to your academic programme and career aspirations, so the experience actually builds toward where you want to go.

🧭 Internships are made available based on the needs of offices and their capacity to receive and supervise interns and give them meaningful work, so the roles on offer shift with what UNHCR teams need at any given time.

Who Can Apply

To be considered for an internship, you must:

🎓 Be a recent graduate or a current student in a graduate or undergraduate programme at a university or higher education institution accredited by UNESCO. Recent graduates are those who finished their studies within two years of applying.

📖 Have completed at least two years of undergraduate study in a field relevant to, or of interest to, the work of the organization.

👨‍👩‍👧 Not have immediate relatives (father, mother, brother or sister) working for UNHCR as a staff member on any contract type, or as an affiliate, at the time of application.

⏳ Not have used up the maximum cumulative internship period with UNHCR, counting any prior internships (8 months for full-time, 12 months for part-time).

🗣️ Be proficient in English at a minimum B2 level.

Where You'll Work

🌍 Internships are offered at various locations. These include UNHCR headquarters in Geneva, the Global Service Centres in Amman, Budapest and Copenhagen, or field country offices around the world.

💻 Subject to approval from their managers, interns may telework within or outside the country of the duty station, and remote internships are part of the mix too.

How Long It Lasts

📆 Internships can begin at any time during the year and normally run between two and six months, with the possibility of extension.

🔁 The maximum length is up to eight months for full-time internships, or up to 12 months for part-time internships. These maximums apply cumulatively, including any earlier internships you may have done at UNHCR.

Allowance, Travel and What's Covered

💶 Interns who do not receive financial support from an outside party will receive an allowance to help partially cover costs related to food, local transportation and living expenses.

📊 For full-time internships, the allowance corresponds to 50% of the monthly net salary of the General Service (GS) level 3 step 1 in "H" duty stations, and 70% of that same salary in all other duty stations. For part-time internships, it is calculated at 50% of the applicable full-time rate at the respective duty station. Remote internships are compensated as well.

✈️ Unless provided or paid by a sponsoring entity, UNHCR will reimburse interns engaged from outside the country of the duty station for return travel costs to and from the duty station, by the most economical route available, regardless of how long the journey is.

🛂 Arranging a visa and covering related visa costs is the intern's own responsibility, though UNHCR can provide support with the required documents.

Medical Insurance

🏥 Before starting, candidates are responsible for arranging their own medical insurance and providing UNHCR with proof of valid coverage for the full period of the contract. UNHCR accepts no responsibility for medical insurance costs and does not cover medical evacuation for interns.

⚕️ Interns placed in locations where medical facilities are inadequate are advised to make sure their insurance covers emergency medical evacuation. The chosen insurance should provide the geographical coverage needed for both accident and illness.

Diversity and Inclusion

🌐 Internships are open to all nationalities. UNHCR's workforce is made up of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions, and the organization works to sustain and strengthen that diversity to ensure equal opportunities and an inclusive working environment.

🤝 Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. UNHCR also warmly welcomes applications from candidates with a refugee or stateless background.

A Note on Fraud

🚫 UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process, including application, interview, meeting, travel, processing or training. If anyone asks you to pay, it is not a genuine UNHCR offer.