The European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy, is looking for a Research and/or Institutional Communications Trainee to join its Communications Service for a paid, full-time traineeship of 12 months, with a monthly grant of €1,540. The call (TR.SCOM.1.2025) is an open call with no specific deadline, so applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the traineeships page and the full vacancy notice to bring every detail together in one place.
What Is the European University Institute?
The European University Institute was founded in 1972 and is located in Florence, Italy, at the Badia Fiesolana in San Domenico di Fiesole. It is a treaty-based post-graduate institution for advanced research and training in the social sciences and humanities, described as the leading institute in Europe in this field, with a worldwide academic reputation. Its work rests on three pillars:
🎓 Training early-stage researchers
📊 Policy-relevant research
🏛️ Training current and future policymakers
The EUI is a unique international research organisation for doctorate and post-doctorate studies and research, and it also hosts the Historical Archives of the European Union at Villa Salviati.
What Does the EUI Communications Service Do?
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
One Call, Five Communications Profiles
Vacancy notice TR.SCOM.1.2025 is an open call to draw up a reserve list of trainees for five profiles within the Communications Service:
🎉 Events
🎨 Graphic Design
📈 Marketing
🎬 Multimedia
🔬 Research and/or Institutional Communications
This post covers only the Research and/or Institutional Communications profile. Each profile is a separate traineeship within the same call.
Research Communications or Institutional Communications: What Is the Difference?
The trainee works under the Research Communications Head of Sector or the Institutional Communications & Press Head of Sector.
🔎 Research Communications Trainee: helps increase the coverage of EUI research by translating complex findings for non-experts, in words and images.
🏛️ Institutional Communications Trainee: supports flagship initiatives, as well as content production and dissemination via the website, social media, mailings and newsletters.
Your Main Tasks as a Communications Trainee
✍️ Produce content for all channels: web news, video storytelling, social media, newsletters and the thought leadership platform.
🤝 Collaborate with marketing, graphic design and videomaking colleagues and with the EUI community.
📝 Proof-read and curate texts, including website news and mailings.
🎥 Support video production, including the revision of subtitles and scripts.
🗞️ Monitor press clippings and support media relations.
📇 Update contact lists, including press contacts.
🔐 Support the implementation of the data protection policy and compliance with EUI rules.
What the EUI Expects From the Research and Institutional Communications Trainee
🎓 A degree in Communications, Journalism or a related field.
🎙️ Proven experience with or knowledge of interviewing, writing and editing.
📱 Experience with or knowledge of social media content production and outreach (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube).
🗣️ 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.
💻 Web editing experience using a CMS.
📷 Skills in photography, video and podcast editing/production.
🇪🇺 A personal interest in European issues and affairs, research or science communications.
The Attitude the Communications Service Is Looking For
Across all five profiles, the Communications Service looks for candidates with:
😊 A positive "can-do" attitude
💡 Creative ideas
📚 Willingness to learn
🖥️ Technological awareness
👥 The ability to work in a team
Competencies Assessed for This Traineeship
Competencies related to the 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 for all EUI staff (may be assessed at interview):
⚖️ Ethics and integrity
🌐 Working in a multicultural environment
📌 Accountability
🏅 Delivering quality and results
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Who Can Apply: Nationality Rules
The traineeship is open to:
🇪🇺 Nationals of the Member States of the European Union.
🤝 Nationals of candidate countries benefiting from a pre-accession strategy.
🇺🇦 Ukrainian nationals, who are also eligible under 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. Applicants who do not meet the conditions should not apply and may not receive any response.
Education and Graduation Rules for the 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.
📅 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.
Language Requirements
The 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 for 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. For this profile, proven English at B2 or above is a requirement.
Grant, Travel and Insurance
💶 Monthly grant: €1,540 per month (as from 1 January 2026) for the paid traineeship.
🚆 Travel: 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.
🏥 Health insurance: obligatory, and it can be obtained upon request through the Institute.
🛡️ Accident cover: trainees are covered by default against the risk of accident by the Institute's collective policy with Cigna Life Insurance Company NV/Cigna International Health Services BVBA (Policy Nr. 910.K88).
Rules for Non-EU/EEA Trainees in Italy
The EUI provides the following notice for information purposes only; it does not replace the relevant Italian legislation. Under current Italian law (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).
🛂 Trainees must comply with Italian regulations on residence and visa obligations.
📄 All documentation must be in hand by the start date of the traineeship (Article 6(3) of President's Decision no. 16/2023).
⚖️ Exceptions might be possible for international protection seekers (D.Lgs. 142/2015).
☎️ The EUI strongly recommends contacting the Italian authorities for any information on these requirements.
Duration, Working Hours and Start Dates
⏳ Duration: 12 months (paid traineeships have a one-year maximum; in justified cases shorter traineeships may be granted, with a minimum of 3 months).
🕗 Schedule: full time, Monday to Friday, 8 hours per day.
🚀 Start date: various, depending on the availability of funding.
🗓️ EUI intake 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 traineeship: a paid traineeship of up to one year and an unpaid traineeship of a maximum of 3 months. This Communications Service call is the paid one. For reference, unpaid traineeships are for candidates currently enrolled in a recognised university degree programme, are subject to an inter-institutional agreement between the candidate's home university/organisation and the EUI, and the trainee may receive a grant from the home institution under that agreement. If you are weighing different types of placement, our guide on how funded traineeships really work explains the difference between a host grant and other funding.
Life and Learning as an EUI Trainee
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.
👀 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 units.
🧩 Contribute to projects within a diverse, multicultural, multilingual and multinational environment.
The vacancy notice also lists these benefits:
🍽️ A 40% discount on one lunch per day at the EUI canteen.
📚 Access to EUI facilities: the Library, 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, building creativity, organisational, language and intercultural teamwork skills.
Trainees also enjoy the cultural, social and recreational life of Florence, one of the most vibrant cities in the world.
Equal Opportunities at the EUI
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 for this call.
📎 Upload your CV and cover letter as requested.
📩 The procedure is automated: your application counts as successfully submitted once you receive an automatic email confirmation.
🛠️ For technical difficulties with the online form, contact the EUI Helpdesk or the traineeships team (contacts in the Links section).
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 has not been successful on that occasion, but you are welcome to apply for any other future vacancy.
Your Data in the Selection Process
Personal data is processed in line with the EUI's Data Protection Policy (President's Decision no. 10/2019) and the specific modalities set out in the Privacy Statement for Trainees Selection and Recruitment Procedures.
Find more opportunities like this in our internship and traineeship listings on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the EUI Research and/or Institutional Communications traineeship paid?
Yes. It is a paid traineeship with a grant of €1,540 per month as from 1 January 2026. Trainees recruited from outside Florence also have their travel costs at the start and end of the traineeship reimbursed.
How long does the traineeship last?
The traineeship lasts 12 months on a full-time basis, Monday to Friday, 8 hours per day. The start date varies depending on the availability of funding.
Is there a deadline for this call?
No. TR.SCOM.1.2025 is an open call for traineeship with no specific deadline, used to build a reserve list of trainees. You can apply at any time while the call is open.
Which nationalities can apply?
Nationals of EU Member States and of candidate countries benefiting from a pre-accession strategy can apply, and Ukrainian nationals are also eligible. A limited number of other nationals may be accepted on the basis of a specific agreement and available resources.
What degree do I need?
You need a degree in Communications, Journalism or a related field, and you must have completed the first cycle of university studies by the closing date. Your last diploma must be no older than three years, unless you are enrolled in further university studies when you apply.
What happens if I am a non-EU/EEA national?
Under current Italian legislation, non-EU/EEA trainees are eligible for a part-time traineeship of 20 hours per week, with a grant of €770 per month. They must comply with Italian residence and visa rules and have all documents ready by the start date.
What is the difference between Research Communications and Institutional Communications?
Research Communications focuses on increasing coverage of EUI research by explaining complex findings to non-experts in words and images. Institutional Communications supports flagship initiatives and content production and dissemination through the website, social media, mailings and newsletters.
Which documents do I need to submit?
You submit your CV and a cover letter through the online application form. Your application is complete once you receive the automatic confirmation email.
Is health insurance included?
Health insurance is obligatory and can be obtained upon request through the Institute. Trainees are also covered against the risk of accident by the EUI's collective policy by default.
Deadline
⏳ As soon as possible!
Links
📝 Online application form: https://apps.eui.eu/Vacancies/ApplicationSubmission/Index/1909
📄 Vacancy notice TR.SCOM.1.2025 (PDF): https://www.eui.eu/Documents/ServicesAdmin/PersonnelService/Administrative-Positions/2025/V.TR.SCOM.1.2025.pdf
🌐 EUI traineeships page: https://www.eui.eu/About/JobOpportunities/Traineeships
📧 Communications Service: communications.service@eui.eu
📮 Traineeships team (technical difficulties): Traineeships@EUI.eu
🛠️ EUI Helpdesk: http://www.eui.eu/helpdesk
📑 President's Decision no. 16/2023 (traineeship rules): https://www.eui.eu/Documents/AboutEUI/JobOpportunities/PD-16-2023.pdf
🇺🇦 President's Decision no. 67/2025 (Ukrainian nationals): https://www.eui.eu/Documents/AboutEUI/JobOpportunities/PD-67-2025.pdf
🎓 Annex on minimum national qualifications (PDF): https://www.eui.eu/Documents/AboutEUI/JobOpportunities/PD-39-2013-Annex.pdf
⚖️ Equality, diversity and inclusiveness at the EUI: https://www.eui.eu/en/public/about/equality-diversity-and-inclusiveness-at-the-eui
🔐 Data Protection Policy (President's Decision no. 10/2019): http://www.eui.eu/Documents/AboutEUI/Organization/PresidentDecisionOnPrivacy.pdf
🔏 Privacy Statement for Trainees Selection and Recruitment Procedures: https://www.eui.eu/Documents/AboutEUI/SG3-PS-Trainees-Selection-and-Recruitment-Procedures.pdf
