🇮🇹 Systems & Networks Trainee 🖥️ European University Institute (EUI) Internship in Florence, Italy 🌐 (€1,540/month)

The European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy, is recruiting a Systems & Networks Trainee for its ICT Service. It is a paid, full-time traineeship of 12 months with a maintenance grant of €1,540 per month, open to graduates from EU Member States and candidate countries, as well as Ukrainian nationals. Applications close on 2 November 2026 at 23:59 CET, and starting dates fall between February and April 2027. At Youth Works Hub, we read the traineeships page and the vacancy notice TR.ICT.6.2026 from start to finish, and every detail is set out below.

Meet the European University Institute

The EUI describes itself as the leading institute in Europe dedicated to social sciences and humanities. Founded in 1972 and located in Florence, it is a treaty-based post-graduate institution dedicated to advanced research and training with a unique European focus. The three pillars of its activities are:

🎓 The training of early-stage researchers through excellent research

📊 Policy-relevant research

🏛️ The training of current and future policymakers

The EUI is committed to global engagement, diversity, inclusiveness and improved accountability, and it connects scholars and policymakers worldwide. It is an international research organisation for doctorate and post-doctorate studies with a worldwide academic reputation, and it is home to the Historical Archives of the European Union.

The ICT Service Behind the Institute

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Service provides the digital infrastructure and essential technology services that enable the EUI's academic and administrative activities. Its work includes:

📡 Secure, reliable and high-performance data, visual and voice communication across the EUI community and with external partners

🧩 Support for both centralised and decentralised applications

🔑 Identity and access management services

🧑‍💻 User support functions and a central Helpdesk

🎬 Learning technologies, audiovisual environments, enterprise systems, integrations and campus-wide networks

🛡️ The security, integrity and resilience of the Institute's systems and digital assets

📋 Robust business processes, management information systems and IT governance

One ICT Call, Three Trainee Profiles

Vacancy notice TR.ICT.6.2026 invites motivated trainees to join the ICT Service's teams across three profiles: Systems & Networks Trainee, Administrative Systems Trainee, and Web, Digital & Learning Trainee. This article covers only the Systems & Networks Trainee profile.

What Does the Systems & Networks Team Do?

The Systems & Networks Team is responsible for planning, delivering and maintaining the EUI's core IT technology services, including its hybrid infrastructure that combines on-site and cloud-based systems. As a trainee, you will support the team in managing daily IT operations, provide user support, assist with operational activities, contribute to ongoing technology projects and support documentation activities related to Systems & Networks.

Your Tasks as a Systems & Networks Trainee

Under the supervision of the Head of Sector for Systems & Networks, you will be assigned specific duties in line with the objectives of the traineeship, including:

📧 Assisting team members with the corporate email services' daily activities

🪪 Assisting with the screening, registration and tracking of user account requests

☎️ Handling the allocation of workspaces and telephones through online request application systems

🗂️ Supporting the review and publication of internal procedures, following established templates

📬 Monitoring the service mailbox and ensuring correct assignment and follow-up of requests

📞 Assisting the Telephone Officer in daily activities, providing support service to the EUI community under supervision

🧑‍🏫 Providing administrative support to digital skills and training initiatives

🏗️ Assisting the Head of Sector in project management activities related to IT infrastructure and networks and Digital enablement projects

What You Will Learn in the ICT Service

🖧 Hands-on experience in the day-to-day operation of a hybrid IT infrastructure

🔌 A practical understanding of systems and network services in an academic environment

🔧 Foundational skills in IT service support, documentation and project coordination, transferable to future roles in professional IT operations

Why the EUI Says a Traineeship Is Worth It

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 EUI's units

🌐 Contribute to exciting projects within a diverse, multicultural, multilingual and multinational environment

The EUI also points to the cultural, social and recreational facilities of Florence, which it calls one of the most vibrant cities in the world.

Required Qualifications for the Role

🏫 A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, for example Computer Engineering, Programming, Multimedia Engineering, Information Technology or a related discipline

🇬🇧 Proven knowledge of English, both written and spoken (CEFR B2 or above), with an interest in producing clear, user-friendly documentation and internal web content

⏱️ Time management and organisational skills, with a proven ability to meet deadlines and handle multiple tasks and projects

Skills That Give You an Advantage

📜 IT certifications relevant to the team's mission and tasks

🔄 Knowledge of project support: the project life cycle, gathering user requirements and testing

💻 Knowledge of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, particularly collaboration tools such as Teams, SharePoint and Outlook

Competencies Assessed at Interview

Candidates invited for an interview may also be assessed on the following competencies.

Shared by all EUI staff:

⚖️ Ethics and integrity

🫂 Working in a multicultural environment

📌 Accountability

🏅 Delivering quality and results

Related to the ICT Service:

🚀 Initiative and proactivity

🌱 Resilience

🔀 Multitasking

💬 Interpersonal skills

🦎 Adaptability

🎨 Creativity and innovation

Specific to the posts:

⚡ Proactivity

🤝 Working with others

🛰️ Technological awareness

🎯 Delivering quality and results

Who Can Apply? Nationality Conditions

🗺️ Nationals of the Member States of the European Union and 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

🔒 Under exceptional circumstances, specific traineeships can be made available solely to nationals of specific States, including EU and non-EU States

The vacancy notice is clear that applicants who do not meet the conditions should not apply and may not receive any response if they do.

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Degree and Graduation Rules

🏁 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 your 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 application deadline.

📚 The three-year rule does not apply if you are enrolled in further university studies when you apply.

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 to perform the duties.

🔤 The vacancy notice asks for a good knowledge of one of the EUI's official languages and a satisfactory knowledge of another language, taking into account that English, French and Italian are the main working languages at the Institute.

Paid or Unpaid: How EUI Traineeships Work

The EUI offers two types of traineeships in general:

💶 Paid traineeship: one-year maximum duration; in justified cases, shorter traineeships may be granted, with a minimum of 3 months

📗 Unpaid traineeship: a maximum of 3 months, for candidates currently enrolled in a recognised university degree programme, subject to an inter-institutional agreement between the candidate's home university or organisation and the EUI; these trainees may receive a grant from their home institution as defined in that agreement

The Systems & Networks Trainee call is a remunerated traineeship of 12 months. If you are comparing it with other placements, our guide on how funded traineeships abroad really work explains the difference between paid and unpaid options.

Grant, Schedule and Start Dates

🏦 Maintenance grant: €1,540 per month (as of 1 January 2026)

✈️ Travel: trainees recruited from outside Florence are reimbursed for travel expenses incurred at the beginning and end of the traineeship

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

🗓️ Duration: 12 months

🚦 Starting dates: February to April 2027, based on needs and available positions; EUI traineeships start on the 1st day of February, April, June, September or November

Perks Beyond the Monthly Grant

🍽️ A discounted price for 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

🛠️ The opportunity to apply academic knowledge in a practical work environment, particularly in relevant areas of expertise

🌟 Experience in an international institution and research university, as part of a vibrant and dynamic multicultural community

✨ Development of creativity and innovation skills

📆 Improvement of organisational and time management skills

🗨️ Enhancement of language skills, interpersonal communication and intercultural teamwork abilities

Health Insurance and Accident Cover

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

🦺 Trainees are, by default, covered against the risk of accident by the collective policy the Institute has taken out with Cigna Life Insurance Company NV/Cigna International Health Services BVBA (Policy Nr. 910.K88).

Part-Time Rules for Non-EU/EEA Trainees

The EUI provides this notice for information purposes only; it does not replace the relevant Italian legislation.

⌛ 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

💳 This corresponds to a EUI grant of €770 per month (as from 1 January 2026)

🛂 Trainees must comply with Italian residence and visa obligations and must hold all the documentation by the date the traineeship begins (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

Applying Through the Online Form

📲 Fill in the online application form for the ICT Service call and upload the documents as requested. Only applications submitted through the online form are accepted.

📩 This is an automated procedure: your application counts as successfully submitted once you receive an automatic email confirmation.

🧯 If you have difficulties sending your application, write to the traineeships email address listed below, or contact the EUI Helpdesk for technical problems with the form.

🔁 Interested candidates can also send a spontaneous application through the EUI's separate general form.

After You Submit: Interviews and Replies

🎙️ Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.

🔕 Only candidates invited for an interview will receive information from the EUI on the selection status.

🕒 If you have not heard from the EUI 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.

Equal Treatment, Rules and Personal Data

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.

All rules governing the traineeship refer to President's Decision no. 16/2023 and President's Decision no. 67/2025. Personal data is processed under the EUI's Data Protection Policy (President's Decision no. 10/2019) and the Privacy Statement for Trainees Selection and Recruitment Procedures.

Find more traineeships like this one in the Internship category on Youth Works Hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the EUI Systems & Networks traineeship paid?

Yes. It is a remunerated traineeship with a maintenance grant of €1,540 per month (as of 1 January 2026). Trainees recruited from outside Florence are also reimbursed for travel expenses at the beginning and end of the traineeship.

When is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2 November 2026 at 23:59 CET. Only applications sent through the online application form are accepted.

When does the traineeship start and how long does it last?

Starting dates fall between February and April 2027, based on needs and available positions. The traineeship lasts 12 months, full time, Monday to Friday, 8 hours per day.

What degree do I need?

You need a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as Computer Engineering, Programming, Multimedia Engineering or Information Technology. Your last diploma must be no more than three years old at the deadline, unless you are enrolled in further university studies.

What will I actually do in the Systems & Networks team?

You will support daily IT operations, corporate email services, user account requests, workspace and telephone allocation, the service mailbox and the Telephone Officer. You will also help with internal procedures, digital skills initiatives and infrastructure project management.

Is Microsoft 365 knowledge required?

No, it is listed as an advantage. Knowledge of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, particularly Teams, SharePoint and Outlook, IT certifications and project support experience all strengthen an application.

Who is eligible to 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 nationals of other countries may be accepted on the basis of a specific agreement and according to available resources.

What do non-EU/EEA trainees receive?

Under current Italian legislation, non-EU/EEA trainees are eligible for a part-time traineeship of 20 hours per week, with a EUI grant of €770 per month (as from 1 January 2026). They must hold all residence and visa documents by the start date.

Which languages do I need?

You need English at CEFR B2 or above and a satisfactory knowledge of another language. English, French and Italian are the main working languages at the EUI.

How will I know if I have been selected?

Shortlisted candidates are invited for an interview, and only they receive information on the selection status. If you hear nothing within 3 months, you can assume your application was not successful on that occasion.