The European Space Agency (ESA) is recruiting an intern for the New Initiatives and Commercialisation Division of its Legal Services Department at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands. Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy: the internship offers legal support on the commercialisation of space activities, new services and business models, and the contractual and cooperation frameworks behind ESA programmes.
ESA Legal Services Internship: Key Facts
🆔 Job Requisition ID: 20968
🎓 Type of appointment: Intern
💼 Directorate: Strategy, Legal and External Matters
🏙️ Workplace: Noordwijk, NL
📍 Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
🌐 Publication method: external only
🏷️ Vacancy title as published: Intern in the Legal Services Department - New Initiatives and Commercialisation Division
⏳ Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
About ESA and Its Mission
The European Space Agency is an international organisation and the European gateway to space. Together with its Member States, the Agency expands the boundaries of discovery and exploration and provides space applications for the benefit of citizens on Earth.
Your Team: The Legal Services Department
The Legal Services Department provides the full range of legal services across ESA's programmes and legal disciplines, such as public international law, European law and the national law of ESA's Member States.
The Department provides authoritative legal advice to the Director General, the Directorates, but also to Council and other organs of the Agency, to achieve the objectives set up in the ESA Convention. As such, it participates in the decision-making among Member States, formulating legal opinions and bringing new ideas to formalise space policies and programmes in Europe.
You will be part of a team of highly motivated, skilled lawyers working in an inspirational, interdisciplinary and multicultural environment.
Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website and the ESA Legal Services Department page, both linked at the end of this post.
The Internship Topic: Legal Support to New Initiatives, Commercialisation and Programmes
You will support the Division of New Initiatives and Commercialisation in addressing legal matters arising in the preparation and implementation of ESA programmes and activities. Topics may include:
🛰️ Legal questions linked to the commercialisation of space activities and the development of new services and business models, and innovative forms of cooperation with industry
📑 Programme-related matters, including the preparation and implementation of contractual and cooperation frameworks
🏗️ Issues relating to procurement, funding, intellectual property, data, liability, governance and the allocation of risks and responsibilities
📘 Interpretation and application of the Agency's internal rules, policies and legal instruments
🔍 Legal research, analysis and drafting in support of the Division's advisory work
Through these activities, you will gain practical knowledge of institutional law and strengthen your legal research, analytical and drafting skills.
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What You Will Do During the Internship
As an intern, you will have the following tasks:
📚 Carry out legal research and analysis on public international law, including ESA's legal framework and European Union law, and the relevant national laws of the jurisdictions in which the Agency operates
✍️ Prepare and contribute to the drafting, review and processing of a variety of legal instruments (agreements, memoranda, etc.) and other documents
📡 Monitor and review developments in international law, including the evolution of legal doctrine and its practical application in international organisations
🤝 Contribute to the Department's daily operations by supporting the work of legal officers
Behavioural Competencies
ESA assesses candidates against its Core Behavioural Competencies. The vacancy lists these six:
🎯 Result Orientation
⚙️ Operational Efficiency
🤝 Fostering Cooperation
📞 Relationship Management
♻️ Continuous Improvement
🧠 Forward Thinking
For more information, the vacancy refers to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.
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. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.
Language and Additional Requirements
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.
Knowledge and background in public international law, including European Union law, and the relevant national laws of the jurisdictions in which the Agency operates, demonstrated through both study and experience, is an asset.
Which Nationalities Can Apply?
Please note that 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).
Duration, Start Date and Application Limit
According to ESA's announcement for the 2027 student internships, an internship lasts 3 to 6 months and starts from February 2027 onwards. The exact start date is agreed with the ESA tutor.
A candidate can apply for up to two ESA internship opportunities.
Selection Tests
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
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.
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. The contact email for this is listed at the end of this post.
Important Information
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. The vacancy does not state an allowance for this internship.
Find more opportunities like this in our internship and traineeship listings on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the ESA Legal Services internship take place?
The internship is based at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands, within the New Initiatives and Commercialisation Division of the Legal Services Department. The directorate is Strategy, Legal and External Matters.
What is the internship about?
It is about legal support to new initiatives, commercialisation and programmes. You would help the Division address legal matters arising in the preparation and implementation of ESA programmes and activities, including commercialisation of space activities, new services and business models, and cooperation with industry.
What topics might I work on?
The vacancy mentions commercialisation and new business models, contractual and cooperation frameworks, procurement, funding, intellectual property, data, liability, governance, the allocation of risks and responsibilities, the Agency's internal rules and policies, and legal research and drafting for the Division's advisory work.
What will my tasks be?
You would carry out legal research and analysis on public international law, ESA's legal framework, European Union law and relevant national laws. You would also help draft, review and process legal instruments such as agreements and memoranda, monitor developments in international law, and support the work of legal officers in the Department's daily operations.
What will I gain from the internship?
According to the vacancy, you will gain practical knowledge of institutional law and strengthen your legal research, analytical and drafting skills.
Who is eligible to apply?
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year at Master's level, and you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship. You must also be a national of one of the States listed in the vacancy.
Which languages do I need?
The working languages of ESA are English and French, and a good knowledge of one of them is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
Do I need a background in international or European law?
Knowledge and background in public international law, including European Union law, and the relevant national laws of the jurisdictions in which the Agency operates, demonstrated through both study and experience, is an asset. During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.
How long is the internship and when does it start?
According to ESA's 2027 student internships announcement, internships last 3 to 6 months and begin from February 2027 onwards. The exact start date is agreed with the ESA tutor.
How many ESA internships can I apply for?
A candidate can apply for up to two ESA internship opportunities, according to ESA's announcement for the 2027 student internships.
What happens after I apply?
The Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.
Does the vacancy mention a stipend?
The vacancy does not state an allowance for this internship. ESA notes that the information on its careers website regarding internship conditions is correct at the time of publication but is not intended to be exhaustive.
What is the application deadline?
Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026
Links
🔗 Apply now (ESA vacancy 20968): https://jobs.esa.int/job/Noordwijk-Intern-in-the-Legal-Services-Department-New-Initiatives-and-Commercialisation-Division/1452865033/
📰 ESA Student Internships 2027: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Student_Internships_2027_are_now_open
⚖️ ESA Legal Services Department: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Law_at_ESA/ESA_Legal_Services_Department
🌌 ESA website: https://www.esa.int
📧 Contact for disability support: ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int
