🇮🇹 Audio-visual Archivist Trainee 🎞️ Historical Archives of the European Union (EUI) Internship in Florence, Italy 📸 (€1,540/month)

The European University Institute (EUI) is recruiting an Audio-visual Archivist Trainee for the Historical Archives of the European Union in Florence, Italy. It is a paid, 12-month, full-time traineeship with a grant of €1,540 per month, and applications close on 30 November 2026 for the February intake. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the official vacancy notice (TR.HAEU.2.OPEN) and the EUI traineeship rules so you can see every detail in one place.

What Is the European University Institute?

The EUI presents itself as the leading institute in Europe dedicated to the social sciences and humanities. It is a post-graduate institution for advanced research and training, founded in 1972 and located in Florence, with a worldwide academic reputation and a diverse, multicultural, multilingual and multinational environment.

Every year, the EUI publishes a number of traineeship opportunities for motivated talents from various academic and professional backgrounds. Traineeships may take place in the Library, in the ICT Service, at the Historical Archives of the European Union, in the academic units, or in one of the central administration services, including the office of the EUI Legal Advisor and Data Protection Officer. This call is for the Historical Archives.

The Audio-visual Archivist Trainee Call at a Glance

📌 Position: Audio-visual Archivist Trainee within the Historical Archives of the European Union

🏷️ Vacancy notice: TR.HAEU.2.OPEN

📍 Location: Florence, Italy

💶 Type: Paid (remunerated) traineeship

⏱️ Duration: 12 months

🕘 Working time: Full time, Monday to Friday, 8 hours per day

🚀 Start date: 1 February (February intake)

📬 Deadline: 30 November at 23:59 CET each year, for February's intake

What Is in the Audio-visual Collections?

The trainee works with the audio-visual holdings of the Historical Archives of the European Union, located at Villa Salviati:

📷 More than 80,000 photographs documenting the establishment of the EU, including conferences, meetings, premises, institutional visits, significant actors, and educational and scientific projects

🎙️ More than 8,200 audio recordings, including almost 1,000 interviews with high-ranking EU officials and European personalities

🎬 Thousands of video recordings, such as documentaries, advertisements, films and interviews

🖼️ More than 2,000 posters

What Will You Do as an Audio-visual Archivist Trainee?

Under the supervision of an experienced traineeship supervisor and the relevant Archives staff, the trainee will:

🗂️ Describe photographic and audio-visual archival materials and prepare inventories and other finding aids according to international archival standards and practices

💾 Digitise selected photographic and audio-visual collections and prepare them for long-term preservation

📦 Place photographic and audio-visual material in proper conservation containers

🏛️ Assist with physical and online archival exhibitions by identifying, preparing and describing material

Which Skills and Qualifications Are Required?

🎓 A degree or post-graduate diploma in archives or records management, or photographic studies; candidates currently obtaining these qualifications are also considered

🎧 A strong interest in audio-visual archives

💻 Knowledge of IT tools (MS Office, databases) and archival description standards: ISAD, ISAAR and EAD

🗣️ Excellent communication skills acquired through previous experience

🤝 Demonstrated ability to work in an international team

🔤 Proven knowledge of English, written and spoken (CEFR level B2 or above)

Which Skills Are an Advantage?

🖥️ Knowledge of software for audio-visual management, such as viewers, editors, DAMs or CMSs

📸 Experience and demonstrated skills in DSLR photography

🇪🇺 Good knowledge of a second EU language

Competencies the EUI May Assess at Interview

All EUI staff competencies may be assessed during the interview:

⚖️ Ethics and integrity

🌐 Working in a multicultural environment

🧭 Accountability

🏅 Delivering quality and results

What You Gain From a Traineeship at the EUI

🔭 A general overview of the goals of the EUI, a unique international research organisation for doctorate and post-doctorate studies and research

👀 First-hand experience of the activities of the EUI and its units

🧠 The chance to apply knowledge acquired during your studies or professional occupation

🌱 New professional and personal skills developed through the daily work of the EUI's units

✨ Contributions to exciting projects and activities in a diverse, multicultural, multilingual and multinational environment

The nature of the work depends on the unit you are assigned to; for this call, it is the Historical Archives of the European Union.

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 Requirements for This 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 the EUI's Annex (linked below).

📅 Your last university diploma must have been obtained no longer than three years prior to 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 traineeship 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 performance of 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; English, French and Italian are the main working languages at the Institute.

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How Much Does the Audio-visual Archivist Trainee Earn?

💶 Paid trainees receive a grant of €1,540 per month (as from 1 January 2026).

♿ Trainees with disabilities may receive a supplement of up to 50% of the grant upon proper justification.

Travel, Insurance and Other Benefits

✈️ 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. This does not apply to trainees recruited less than 50 km from the place of employment.

🩺 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).

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

📚 Access to EUI facilities: the Library, Reading Rooms, Language Centre, Cafeterias and Canteens.

🎭 Participation in extracurricular activities, public seminars and workshops.

Important Notice for Non-EU/EEA Trainees

The EUI provides the following 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.

💳 An engagement of 20 hours per week corresponds to an EUI grant of €770 per month (as from 1 January 2026).

🛂 Trainees must comply with Italian regulations on residence and visa obligations and must hold all documentation at the date of the beginning 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 related to these requirements.

Paid and Unpaid Traineeships at the EUI

The EUI offers two types of traineeship. This Audio-visual Archivist Trainee call is the paid type.

🅰️ Paid traineeship: maximum duration of one year. In justified cases, shorter traineeships may be granted, with a minimum duration of 3 months.

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

🗓️ EUI traineeships should start on the 1st day of February, April, June, September and November.

The complete provisions governing traineeships at the EUI are set out in President's Decision no. 16/2023. If you are comparing funded options across Europe, our guide on how paid internships abroad really work explains the difference between paid and unpaid traineeships.

How to Apply

🖊️ Applications are accepted only through the online application form; fill it in and upload the documents as requested.

📎 Upload your CV and a cover letter.

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

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

What Happens After You Apply?

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

⌛ If you have not heard from the EUI within 3 months after applying, you can assume your application has not been successful on that occasion.

🔁 You are welcome to apply for any other future vacancy of interest.

💡 Interested candidates can also submit a spontaneous application for a traineeship through a separate EUI form.

Equality and Data Protection

🙌 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.

🔒 Personal data is processed in accordance with 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 in our internship listings on Youth Works Hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the EUI Audio-visual Archivist Trainee position paid?

Yes. It is a paid (remunerated) traineeship with a grant of €1,540 per month as from 1 January 2026. Non-EU/EEA trainees on a 20-hour part-time arrangement receive €770 per month.

How long does the traineeship last?

The traineeship lasts 12 months on a full-time basis, Monday to Friday, 8 hours per day. It starts with the February intake, on 1 February.

What is the application deadline?

The deadline is 30 November at 23:59 CET each year for February's intake; for this call it is 30 November 2026. The vacancy notice writes the time as CEST.

Which nationalities are eligible?

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 non-Member States may be accepted on the basis of a specific agreement.

What degree do I need?

You need a degree or post-graduate diploma in archives or records management, or photographic studies, and you must have completed the first cycle of university studies by the closing date. Candidates currently obtaining these qualifications are also considered.

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 when you apply.

Which languages do I need?

You need proven English (CEFR B2 or above), written and spoken. A good knowledge of a second EU language is an advantage, and the EUI's main working languages are English, French and Italian.

What documents do I need to submit?

You upload a CV and a cover letter through the EUI online application form. Your application counts as submitted once you receive the automatic confirmation email.

What will I work on?

You will describe photographic and audio-visual materials and prepare inventories and finding aids, digitise selected collections, place material in conservation containers, and assist with physical and online archival exhibitions.

Is health insurance included?

Health insurance is obligatory and can be obtained, upon request, through the Institute. Trainees are covered against accidents by default under the EUI's collective policy.