🇮🇹 Graphic Design Trainee 🎨 European University Institute (EUI) Internship in Florence, Italy 🖌️ (€1,540/month)

The European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy, is recruiting a Graphic Design Trainee for its Communications Service. It is a paid, full-time traineeship of 12 months with a monthly grant of €1,540, open to recent graduates from EU Member States and candidate countries benefiting from a pre-accession strategy. The call (vacancy notice TR.SCOM.1.2025) is open with no specific deadline, so applications are accepted as soon as possible. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the vacancy notice and the EUI traineeships page so you have every detail in one place.

What Is the European University Institute?

The EUI was founded in 1972 and is located in Florence, Italy. It is a treaty-based post-graduate institution for advanced research and training in the social sciences and humanities, and it presents itself as the leading institute in Europe dedicated to these fields. Its work rests on three pillars:

🎓 Training early-stage researchers

📊 Policy-relevant research

🏛️ Training current and future policymakers

The EUI also hosts the Historical Archives of the European Union, located at Villa Salviati.

Inside the Communications Service

The Communications Service devises and implements the EUI Communication Strategy. Its work covers:

📰 Public and media relations

🌐 The EUI website and social media presence

🎤 Institutional events

🎓 Promotion of the PhD, postdoctoral, master's, fellowship and executive education programmes

The service is based at Via dei Roccettini 9, 50014 San Domenico di Fiesole (Florence), Italy.

One Open Call, Five Trainee Profiles

Vacancy notice TR.SCOM.1.2025 is an open call to draw a reserve list of trainees for five profiles within the Communications Service: Events, Graphic Design, Marketing, Multimedia, and Research and/or Institutional Communications. This post covers the Graphic Design profile only. Across all profiles, the service looks for a positive "can-do" attitude, creative ideas, willingness to learn, technological awareness and the ability to work in a team.

Who You Will Work With

The Graphic Design Trainee works under the Multimedia & Design Head of Sector and is coordinated by the Graphic Design Officer.

Graphic Design Trainee Tasks

🖨️ Support the production of printing and electronic design materials, such as banners, posters, flyers, brochures and booklets.

💻 Support the creation of design materials for the web, online event platforms and digital interfaces, including graphic animations for social media (X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram).

📸 Support the production of multimedia materials, including photos and videos.

🎨 Apply the EUI corporate identity to all graphic materials.

🤝 Support EUI members with their graphic design requests.

🔐 Support the application of the data protection policy and compliance with EUI rules.

Required Qualifications for the Graphic Design Profile

🎓 A degree in Graphic Design, Communications, or a related field.

🗂️ Proven knowledge in creating graphic design content, supported by a portfolio.

🖌️ Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects) and Canva.

📷 A good command of photo making and editing.

🗣️ Proven knowledge of English (CEFR level B2 or above).

What Gives You an Advantage

🏫 Previous experience in a higher education and/or international research environment, or within an EU and/or international organisation.

🌐 Knowledge of additional EU languages, including Italian.

🇪🇺 A personal interest in European issues and affairs.

Competencies the Selection Will Look For

Competencies related to the Communications Service:

🚀 Initiative and proactivity

🧱 Resilience

🔀 Multitasking

👥 Interpersonal skills

🔄 Adaptability

💡 Creativity and innovation

Competencies specific to the posts:

💬 Communications skills

🖥️ Technological awareness

🎯 Stakeholders' orientation

📋 Project and task management

Competencies expected of all EUI staff, which may be assessed at interview:

⚖️ Ethics and integrity

🌍 Working in a multicultural environment

📌 Accountability

✅ Delivering quality and results

Who Can Apply? Nationality Rules

🇪🇺 Nationals of the Member States of the European Union.

🤝 Nationals of candidate countries benefiting from a pre-accession strategy.

🇺🇦 Ukrainian nationals are also eligible to apply, in accordance with President's Decision no. 67/2025.

🔢 A limited number of nationals of non-Member States may be accepted on the basis of a specific agreement of the Secretary General and according to available resources.

Degree and Graduation Requirements for a Paid Traineeship

📜 You must have completed the first cycle of university studies and obtained a full degree or its equivalent by the closing date for applications. The minimum national qualifications required by the legislation of the country where the diploma was obtained are listed in an Annex published by the EUI.

⏱️ Your last university diploma must have been obtained no longer than three years before the deadline for applications.

📚 The three-year rule does not apply to candidates who are enrolled in further university studies at the moment of their application.

Applicants who do not meet the conditions should not apply and may not receive any response.

Language Requirements

The EUI traineeships page asks for a good knowledge of English (CEFR B2 or above) and a satisfactory knowledge of another language of the European Union to the extent necessary to perform the duties. The vacancy notice describes this as a good knowledge of one of the EUI's official languages and a satisfactory knowledge of another. English, French and Italian are the main working languages at the Institute.

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How Much Does the EUI Pay Trainees?

💶 The paid traineeship grant is €1,540 per month (as from 1 January 2026).

✈️ A remunerated trainee recruited from outside Florence is entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses actually incurred at the beginning and the end of the traineeship.

If you are comparing different types of placements abroad, our guide to how paid and funded internships abroad really work explains the difference between an employer-paid traineeship and a grant-based one.

Duration, Schedule and Start Date

📅 Duration: 12 months

🕘 Schedule: full time, Monday to Friday, 8 hours per day

🚀 Starting dates: various, depending on the availability of funding

According to the EUI traineeships page, paid traineeships have a maximum duration of one year; in justified cases, shorter traineeships may be granted, provided the minimum duration is 3 months. Traineeships should start on the 1st day of February, April, June, September or November.

Paid and Unpaid Traineeships at the EUI

The EUI offers two types of traineeships: a paid traineeship of one year, or an unpaid traineeship of a maximum length of 3 months. Unpaid traineeships are for candidates currently enrolled in a recognised university degree programme and are subject to an inter-institutional agreement between the candidate's home university or organisation and the EUI; such trainees may receive a grant from their home institution. The Graphic Design call described in this post is a paid traineeship.

Rules for Non-EU/EEA Trainees

Under current Italian legislation (D.Lgs. 286/1998 and DPR 394/1999), non-EU/EEA trainees are eligible for a part-time traineeship of 20 hours per week, which corresponds to a EUI grant of €770 per month (as from 1 January 2026). Non-EU/EEA trainees must comply with Italian residence and visa obligations and must hold all the documentation on the date the traineeship begins (Article 6(3) of President's Decision no. 16/2023). Exceptions may be possible for international protection seekers under D.Lgs. 142/2015. The EUI strongly recommends contacting the Italian authorities for any information related to these requirements.

Health Insurance and Accident Cover

🏥 Health insurance is obligatory and can be obtained, upon request, through the Institute.

🛡️ Trainees are covered by default against the risk of accident under the collective policy the Institute holds with Cigna Life Insurance Company NV/Cigna International Health Services BVBA (Policy Nr. 910.K88).

Life at the EUI: Benefits Beyond the Grant

🍽️ A 40% discount on one lunch per day at the EUI canteen.

📚 Access to EUI facilities, including the Library, the Reading Rooms and the Centre for Academic Literacies and Languages.

🧑‍🏫 Participation in professional training, public seminars, workshops and extracurricular activities, including wellbeing initiatives.

🌐 Experience in an international institution and research university.

🧠 The chance to develop creativity, organisational, language and intercultural teamwork skills.

The EUI also highlights the cultural, social and recreational facilities of Florence, which it describes as one of the most vibrant cities in the world.

What You Gain From an EUI Traineeship

Under the supervision of an experienced traineeship supervisor within an assigned unit and team, trainees:

🔭 Gain a general overview of the goals of the EUI as an international research organisation for doctorate and post-doctorate studies and research.

👀 Get first-hand experience of the activities of the EUI and its units.

🧩 Apply knowledge acquired during their studies or professional occupation.

🌱 Develop new professional and personal skills through the daily work of the EUI's units.

🌍 Contribute to projects and activities within a diverse, multicultural, multilingual and multinational environment.

Equal Opportunities

The traineeship is open to all eligible candidates without discrimination on any grounds, such as sex, gender, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, membership of a national minority, disability, age or sexual orientation.

How to Apply

📝 Applications are accepted only through the EUI online application form; no other channel is accepted.

📎 Upload the requested documents: a CV and a cover letter.

📩 The procedure is automated: your application is considered successfully submitted once you receive an automatic email confirmation.

🛠️ If you have technical difficulties with the online form, you can contact the EUI Helpdesk or the traineeships team.

What Happens After You Apply?

Only candidates who are invited for an interview receive information on their selection status from the EUI. If you have not heard back within 3 months of applying, you can assume your application was not successful on that occasion; you are still welcome to apply for any other future vacancy of interest. Personal data is processed in line with the EUI's Data Protection Policy and the Privacy Statement for Trainees Selection and Recruitment Procedures.

Find more design, communications and institutional placements in our internship and traineeship opportunities on Youth Works Hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the EUI Graphic Design traineeship grant?

The paid traineeship grant is €1,540 per month as from 1 January 2026. Trainees recruited from outside Florence are also entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses at the beginning and end of the traineeship.

Is there a deadline for the EUI Communications Service traineeship?

No. The call TR.SCOM.1.2025 is an open call for traineeship with no specific deadline, used to draw a reserve list of trainees. Applying as soon as possible is the best approach.

How long does the Graphic Design traineeship last?

The traineeship lasts 12 months on a full-time schedule, Monday to Friday, 8 hours per day. Starting dates vary depending on the availability of funding.

Which software skills are required?

Candidates need strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop, Illustrator and After Effects, as well as Canva. A good command of photo making and editing is also required.

Do I need a portfolio to apply?

Yes. The vacancy notice asks for proven knowledge in creating graphic design content, supported by a portfolio.

Who is eligible for the EUI traineeship?

Nationals of EU Member States and of candidate countries benefiting from a pre-accession strategy are eligible, and Ukrainian nationals may also apply. A limited number of nationals of other countries may be accepted on the basis of a specific agreement and according to available resources.

Can I apply if I graduated more than three years ago?

Your last university diploma must have been obtained no longer than three years before the application deadline. This rule does not apply if you are enrolled in further university studies at the moment of your application.

Do I need to speak Italian?

Italian is not mandatory. You need a good knowledge of English (CEFR B2 or above) and a satisfactory knowledge of another EU language, while knowledge of additional EU languages, including Italian, is an advantage.

Can non-EU/EEA nationals do a full-time traineeship?

Under current Italian legislation, non-EU/EEA trainees are eligible for a part-time traineeship of 20 hours per week, corresponding to a grant of €770 per month. They must comply with Italian residence and visa rules before the traineeship starts.

How will I know if my application was successful?

Only candidates invited for an interview are contacted about their selection status. If you hear nothing within 3 months of applying, you can assume the application was not successful on that occasion.