At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed this WHO internship so you know exactly what the interpretation work involves, the demanding language combination it requires, and the living allowance attached before the 26 September 2026 closing date. Based in WHO's Language Services Unit in Geneva, this highly competitive 24-week placement lets university students and recent graduates work alongside WHO's language professionals and even help test an AI interpretation platform.

Where You'd Be Working

🌐 The Language Services Unit, within the Department of Governing Bodies, provides translation, interpretation, editing, official records, word-processing and online services for WHO's governing bodies, the Director-General's Office and technical programmes, making WHO health policy accessible in the Organization's official languages.

🎧 The internship offers a limited number of places to students and recent graduates with the desired language combinations and academic background, under the supervision of a technical expert; the selection process is highly competitive.

What You'd Actually Do

🤖 Contributing to the testing of an AI interpretation platform.

🎙️ Dummy boothing from at least two into at least one of WHO's official languages.

🗣️ Interpretation from at least two into at least one of WHO's official languages.

🛠️ Collaborating on the effort to procure, test and roll out a new interpretation management tool, and contributing to the language team's technology work (one of these areas is your main focus).

📋 Under the Chief Interpreter, you can also assist with printing and distributing documents for interpreters, creating and updating interpreter profiles and meetings in the e-APG planning platform, following up on interpreter access, and preparing multilingual glossaries.

💬 Interested in communications-focused placements too? See Digital Communication for a European Network with Pistes Solidaires in 🇫🇷 France → https://youthworkshub.org/19439

What You'll Learn

📚 Insight into WHO's technical and administrative programmes and the difference between headquarters, regional and country offices; the objectives of the Office of Language Services; a richer understanding of language professionals' work; sharper skills in your area, notably interpretation; and a better grasp of modern language and workflow tools.

💼 Curious how internships abroad and their support work? Read Paid Internships Abroad for Students → https://youthworkshub.org/paid-internships-abroad

Who Can Apply

🎓 You must have completed the equivalent of three years of full-time university study before starting, and be enrolled in a course leading to a formal qualification as a conference interpreter (recent graduates may qualify if they apply within eighteen months of completing their qualification).

🗣️ Essential languages: expert knowledge of English and French and another WHO official language, preferably Arabic, Chinese or Russian; intermediate knowledge of further WHO official languages is desirable.

🧰 Core competencies include teamwork, communication and respecting cultural differences, with familiarity in Word, Excel and PowerPoint; a first experience of translation, editing, language technology or terminology, or within an international organisation, is an asset.

The Living Allowance

💶 Interns receive no salary but do receive a living allowance that varies by duty station and personal circumstances.

🏠 In Geneva, the maximum is 739 CHF/month for interns whose permanent residence is in the duty station, or 1,680 CHF/month for those living outside it.

🍽️ All Geneva interns also receive daily lunch vouchers (20 CHF per working day), plus accident and medical insurance from WHO.

The Details

🗓️ 24 weeks, starting 4 January 2027, full-time.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ What languages do I need? Expert English and French plus another WHO official language (preferably Arabic, Chinese or Russian).

❓ Is it paid? No salary, but a living allowance, daily lunch vouchers and insurance are provided.

❓ Can recent graduates apply? Yes, within eighteen months of completing their qualification.

❓ How long and when? 24 weeks from 4 January 2027.

Deadline

⏳ 26 September 2026

Link

🔗 https://careers.who.int/careersection/intern/jobdetail.ftl?job=2603751

For more international internships, explained plainly, visit Youth Works Hub.

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