The European Space Agency (ESA) is offering an internship in translation and terminology at its headquarters in Paris, France. The intern works with the Language Services and Minute-Writing Division, translating from English into French and building terminology records for the ESA Termbase. Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST. At Youth Works Hub we went through the full vacancy and set out every detail.
The Vacancy at a Glance
The internship sits in the Director General's Services directorate and is based at ESA Headquarters in Paris. These are the formal details of the vacancy:
🆔 Job Requisition ID: 20935
🎓 Type of appointment: Intern
🏛️ Directorate: Director General's Services
📍 Workplace: Paris, FR
🏢 Location: ESA Headquarters, Paris, France
📣 Publication method: External Only
⏳ Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
The Language Services and Minute-Writing Division
The Language Services and Minute-Writing Division is in charge of translating and editing official documents, correspondence and miscellaneous texts relating to the Agency's work, with a particular emphasis on scientific, technical, legal, financial and administrative subjects. It is also in charge of drafting the minutes of the meetings of ESA's different bodies.
Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website, which is listed in the Links section below.
Working Languages of the Team
The main languages from and into which texts are translated are English, French and German.
Tools and Terminology Database
The Division maintains a trilingual terminology database with over 30,000 terms. It uses computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools and neural machine translation to support the translation process.
The Team and Its Three Sections
The Division consists of 24 team members and comprises three sections:
🇬🇧 The English Translation, Editing and Support Section
🇫🇷 The French Translation Section
🇩🇪 The German Translation Section
What You Will Do as an Intern
As an intern, you will support the work of the Language Services by carrying out the following tasks:
🔤 translation from English into French of a wide variety of texts relating to the Agency's activities and processes, with some emphasis on scientific and technical subjects but also including legal, financial and administrative matters
🔎 terminological research and extracting terminology from Agency documents and other reliable sources in French, German and English
🗃️ maintaining and drafting terminology records for the ESA Termbase, the Agency's multilingual terminology database covering most areas of ESA activity
In performing these tasks, you will make use of the tools and resources available to the team.
────────────────────────────────────────
🌍 All opportunities in France →
────────────────────────────────────────
Duration and Start Date
According to ESA's announcement of its 2027 student internships, an ESA internship lasts 3 to 6 months. Internships start from February 2027 onwards, and the exact start date is agreed with the ESA tutor.
Who Can Apply: Education
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of university course at Master's level. You must also be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.
Language Requirements
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. Due to the nature of this position, native proficiency in French and a thorough knowledge of English and German are required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
Translation Experience and CAT Tools
Experience in translation work and knowledge of CAT tools and other language technologies is a pre-requisite.
Which Nationalities Can Apply
Applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).
Behavioural Competencies
Six behavioural competencies are listed. For more information, the vacancy refers candidates to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.
🎯 Result Orientation
⚡ Operational Efficiency
🤝 Fostering Cooperation
🧩 Relationship Management
🔁 Continuous Improvement
🔭 Forward Thinking
Selection: Motivation Interview and Tests
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored. During the recruitment process, the Agency may also request applicants to undergo selection tests.
How Many Vacancies You Can Apply For
ESA's 2027 student internship announcement states that a candidate can apply for a maximum of two vacancies.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness at ESA
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. Applications are welcome from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.
Support for Applicants With Disabilities
At the Agency diversity is valued, and people with disabilities are welcome. Whenever possible, ESA seeks to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process, and its contact address is listed in the Links section below.
A Note on the Published Conditions
The information published on ESA's careers website regarding internship conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.
Applying Through the Official ESA Careers Page
Applications go through ESA's own careers website, and the full vacancy text is published there. You can find more opportunities like this one in the internships section of Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Translation and Terminology internship based?
The internship is based at ESA Headquarters in Paris, France, within the Director General's Services directorate. The workplace is listed as Paris, FR.
What will I do as a Translation and Terminology Intern?
You will translate a wide variety of texts from English into French, with some emphasis on scientific and technical subjects but also covering legal, financial and administrative matters. You will also carry out terminological research and maintain and draft terminology records for the ESA Termbase.
Which languages do I need?
Native proficiency in French and a thorough knowledge of English and German are required. The working languages of the Agency are English and French, and knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
Do I need translation experience?
Yes. Experience in translation work and knowledge of CAT tools and other language technologies is a pre-requisite.
Who can apply in terms of education?
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a Master's level course. You must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the whole duration of the internship.
Which nationalities can apply?
Applications are only considered from nationals of ESA's participating states: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).
How long does the internship last?
According to ESA's 2027 student internship announcement, ESA internships last 3 to 6 months and start from February 2027 onwards. The start date is agreed with the ESA tutor.
How many internship vacancies can I apply for?
A candidate can apply for a maximum of two vacancies, according to ESA's 2027 student internship announcement.
Does the vacancy mention an allowance?
The vacancy page does not state any allowance or stipend. It also does not mention Erasmus+.
What happens after I apply?
The Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests during the recruitment process. During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.
What is the application deadline?
The closing date is 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026 (23:59 CET/CEST)
Links
🔗 Job description and application: https://jobs.esa.int/job/Paris-Intern-in-the-Director-General's-Cabinet-Translation-and-Terminology/1452917633/
🌐 European Space Agency: http://www.esa.int
🛰️ ESA Student Internships 2027 announcement: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Student_Internships_2027_are_now_open
📨 ESA Human Resources (disability support and recruitment assistance): ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int
