The European Space Agency (ESA) is looking for an intern in the ESA Education Office to work on inspiration and education outreach at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands. The internship is open to university students, lasts 3 to 6 months and starts from February 2027. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy: applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST.
Position Details: Education Office at ESTEC
🏛️ Organisation: European Space Agency (ESA)
🧭 Team: ESA Education Office
🆔 Job requisition ID: 21151
🗂️ Directorate: Resources and Services
📋 Type of appointment: Intern
📍 Workplace: Noordwijk, Netherlands
🏢 Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
📰 Publication method: external only
🔚 Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
Our Team and Mission: Inspiring Children and School Students
The intern position concerns the ESA Education programme, in particular inspiration initiatives for 3- to 18-years-old children and school students. These initiatives include:
🎪 Inspirational events
🌟 Role modelling
🧭 Career awareness initiatives
🔭 Access to space experts for youth and their families, so that they are attracted to space and STEM
The aim is for young people and their families to understand the importance of space and STEM for society and economy. In doing so, the programme addresses diversity and promotes sustainability for a better future.
Outreach for the Whole Education Programme
The intern position also involves communication and promotion activities of the ESA Education programme at large, for all target groups from early childhood to PhD levels. Such activities include:
🌐 Web and social media communication
🎥 Video production
🎁 Goodie production
🎟️ Event organisation
Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website, which is listed in the Links section below.
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Field of Activity: What You Will Do Within the Education Office
Within the Education Office, you will build experience in inspiration activities for school-level children and families, and in outreach activities for the education programme, such as:
🛠️ Supporting the creation and organisation of inspirational events and informal education resources
🖌️ User Experience/Interface (UX/UI) and Publications: web front-end towards user experience optimisation, writing and publishing of articles, social media posts and video scripts
📚 Other school level STEM education related tasks
Five Learning Areas
The vacancy names five learning areas for the internship:
🖥️ Web User experience (UX/UI)
🔬 Informal STEM Education
📱 Social media
📣 Communication
🗓️ Event organisation
Six Behavioural Competencies for the Role
The vacancy lists six ESA behavioural competencies. For more information, it refers to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.
🏁 Result Orientation
⚙️ Operational Efficiency
🫂 Fostering Cooperation
💬 Relationship Management
🔄 Continuous Improvement
🔮 Forward Thinking
Education: Student Status Required
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a 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.
Working Languages: English and French
The working languages of the Agency are English and French, and a good knowledge of one of them is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
Major Assets: Knowledge and Experience
Knowledge of and/or experience in any of the following areas is a major asset:
🧪 STEM subject knowledge
🗨️ Communication, science communication
🧩 Content management systems and social media
✂️ Basic video editing
🎤 Event organisation
🗣️ Knowledge and background in both English and French is an asset
Interview: Your Motivation Will Be Explored
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.
Nationality Rules for This Internship
ESA considers applications only from nationals of one of these 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).
Duration and Start Date
According to ESA's announcement of its 2027 student internships, an internship lasts 3 to 6 months and starts from February 2027. The exact start date is determined with the ESA tutor.
Limit: Two Vacancies Per Candidate
ESA's announcement states that a candidate can apply for a maximum of 2 internship vacancies. Choose the offers that fit your studies best.
Selection Tests
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.
Equal Opportunities and Support for Applicants with Disabilities
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. It welcomes applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.
ESA values diversity and welcomes people with disabilities. Whenever possible, it 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 you can discuss this by email with the ESA internships team (the address is listed in the Links section below).
Pay, Conditions and Disclaimer
The vacancy page does not state an allowance for this internship. ESA also notes that the information on its careers website about internship conditions is correct at the time of publication, is not exhaustive and may not address all questions you have. To see how internships abroad are funded in general, read our guide to paid internships abroad for students.
Find more opportunities like this in our internship and traineeship listings on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the ESA Education Office internship take place?
The internship takes place at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands. The role belongs to the ESA Education Office in the Resources and Services Directorate.
What will an Inspiration and Education Outreach intern do?
You support the creation and organisation of inspirational events and informal education resources. You also work on UX/UI and publications, including web front-end towards user experience optimisation and the writing and publishing of articles, social media posts and video scripts, plus other school level STEM education related tasks.
Who are the inspiration initiatives for?
They are aimed at 3- to 18-years-old children and school students and their families. They include inspirational events, role modelling, career awareness initiatives and access to space experts.
What does the communication and promotion part involve?
It covers the ESA Education programme at large, for all target groups from early childhood to PhD levels. Examples are web and social media communication, video and goodie production, and event organisation.
How long is the internship and when does it start?
According to ESA's 2027 student internships announcement, the internship lasts 3 to 6 months and starts from February 2027. The exact start date is determined with your ESA tutor.
Who can apply for this internship?
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a Master's level course. You must also be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.
Which nationalities can apply?
ESA considers applications only from nationals of its listed 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 (Cooperating State) and from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta (European Cooperating States) can apply as well.
Which languages do I need?
A good knowledge of English or French is required, as these are the working languages of the Agency. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset, and background in both English and French is an asset.
Which knowledge and experience count as a major asset?
STEM subject knowledge, communication and science communication, content management systems and social media, basic video editing, and event organisation.
Can I apply for more than one ESA internship?
A candidate can apply for a maximum of 2 internship vacancies, according to ESA's announcement.
Is the internship paid?
The vacancy page does not state an allowance. ESA notes that its published information on internship conditions is not exhaustive.
What is the application deadline?
Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST.
Will there be selection tests?
The Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests during the recruitment process, and your motivation for applying will be explored during the interview.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026
Links
🔗 Apply now (official vacancy): https://jobs.esa.int/job/Noordwijk-Intern-in-the-ESA-Education-Office-Inspiration-and-Education-Outreach/1452811333/
📢 ESA Student Internships 2027 announcement: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Student_Internships_2027_are_now_open
🌐 ESA website: https://www.esa.int
📧 ESA internships contact: ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int
