UNESCO is accepting applications for its All Sectors/Bureaus Internship, a placement of 1 to 6 months at Headquarters, in a Field Office or in a Category I Institute. Applications close on 31 December 2026 (midnight), and you must be at least 20 years old and a current or recent university student. UNESCO does not remunerate interns. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full vacancy notice and set out every requirement, entitlement and step below.
The Internship at a Glance
📌 Position: Internship, All Sectors/Bureaus
🏛️ Organisation: UNESCO, a United Nations specialized agency
📍 Duty station: Headquarters, Field Offices and Institutes
📝 Type of contract: Internship
⌛ Duration: 1 to 6 months
🎂 Minimum age: 20 years old
🗣️ Languages: English or French
💼 Pay: Not remunerated
Working Inside a United Nations Specialized Agency
An internship with UNESCO gives you experience of the daily working environment of a United Nations specialized agency. You will work in a team from one of the Programme Sectors or Central Services, the support services of the Organization, at Headquarters, in one of the Field Offices or in a Category I Institute.
You will be exposed to a range of colleagues, make a meaningful contribution to the work of the team and the Organization, and have the opportunity to improve an array of technical and professional skills in a multi-cultural environment.
UNESCO Core Values
💙 Commitment to the Organization
🛡️ Integrity
🧭 Respect for Diversity
🎖️ Professionalism
What Interns May Do
Tasks depend on the team you join and its particular needs at the time. Activities vary with the requirements of the assignment, and your supervisor provides the specific Terms of Reference and learning objectives. Interns may:
🔬 Carry out and prepare summaries of research
📄 Contribute to the preparation of documents, including substantive and communication materials
📈 Collect, analyze and present data
🎤 Assist in organizing and communicating about events
👥 Participate in meetings and workshops with internal and external stakeholders
🧩 Contribute to the technical work of the team, Unit or Sector
🔗 Liaise with colleagues in other entities of the United Nations System
🧰 Perform tasks that may be required in specific projects
Learning Objectives and the UNESCO Competency Framework
Assignments are expected to give interns the opportunity to develop skills in a wide range of the areas above and in the Core competencies of the UNESCO Competency Framework:
✅ Accountability
📢 Communication
🤝 Teamwork
💡 Innovation
🎯 Results focus
🗓️ Planning and organizing
📚 Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
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Age and Academic Requirements
You must be at least 20 years old to apply. You must also meet one of these academic conditions:
🎓 Currently enrolled and on the 3rd (third) year or final year of your Bachelor's degree
📘 Currently enrolled in your second university degree, Master's or PhD degree or equivalent
📜 Completed a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree no more than 12 months prior to the issuance of the Internship Agreement, as determined by the completion date on your diploma
Applicants in technical or vocational assignments must be enrolled in a specialized technical or vocational institution and must have reached the last year of their studies, or have recently graduated (within the last 12 months) from their school or institution.
If you are weighing this placement against other programmes, our guide on the difference between a fellowship, an internship and a traineeship sets out what each one involves.
Language, Computer and Team Skills
🔤 An excellent command, written and spoken, of English or French
📗 A working knowledge of the other language is an asset, and may be required for internships in secretarial and assistantship assignments at Headquarters
💻 An excellent knowledge of computer systems and office-related software
🏅 The ability to work well in a team and adapt to an international working environment
💬 Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Benefits and Entitlements
UNESCO does not remunerate interns. There is no compensation, financial or otherwise, for internship assignments.
🌴 Leave: 2.5 days of leave per month, plus an additional leave of 1 working day per complete month of internship
🩹 Workplace insurance: a limited coverage against risk of injury, illness, disability or death incurred during the internship and directly attributable to the execution of the internship
What You Must Arrange Yourself
🛂 Visa: you are responsible for obtaining any necessary visas
✈️ Travel: you must arrange and finance your travel to the location of your internship
🏥 Medical insurance: you must show proof of a comprehensive health insurance valid in the country of your internship and for the entire period of the internship
Documents Required Before You Start
Before the beginning of your internship, you must provide:
🪪 Proof of your identity (ID card or passport)
🏫 Certificate of Enrollment, Transcript of Record, or Diploma if you have just recently graduated
The Internship Agreement
UNESCO does not sign any third-party agreements or contracts, such as conventions de stage, provided by academic or research institutions. The internship arrangement is strictly between UNESCO and the intern, and only the official Internship Agreement issued by UNESCO will be executed and signed by UNESCO representatives.
How the Intern Talent Pool Works
You are applying to become part of the pool of intern candidates, not to a specific internship opening. You can apply to this vacancy notice or to any of the available vacancy notices that match your expertise, domain or interest.
🗂️ Candidates who successfully apply stay in the intern talent pool
🔍 Relevant hiring managers further assess and select candidates
⏳ Your candidature is valid for 6 months
🌏 UNESCO managers around the world can access your application in the internship portal during that period
📞 Selected candidates are contacted directly by the relevant hiring manager
🔕 If you receive no update from UNESCO within six months, your application has not been successful
Before You Apply
⏲️ During the application you will answer questions about your skills, competencies, experience (if any) and interests, and you have only one hour to finish the process
📧 Make sure your contact details will be valid in the next 6 months
🖊️ You can only use English or French when applying
🌐 Provide an unofficial French or English translation of your documents if they are not in these languages
⚖️ Even if you are eligible, there is no guarantee of placement, as UNESCO receives more applications from qualified candidates than it can place
📭 UNESCO does not respond to each and every candidate
Find more internships and traineeships on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the UNESCO internship paid?
No. UNESCO does not remunerate interns, and there is no compensation, financial or otherwise, for internship assignments. Interns do receive leave entitlements and a limited workplace insurance coverage.
How long does a UNESCO internship last?
The minimum duration is one month and the maximum is six months. The vacancy notice lists the duration of contract as 1 to 6 months.
Who is eligible for the UNESCO internship?
You must be at least 20 years old and meet one of the academic conditions: 3rd or final year of a Bachelor's degree, enrolment in a second university degree, Master's or PhD or equivalent, or a degree completed no more than 12 months before the Internship Agreement is issued. The vacancy notice does not state a nationality restriction, and Youth Works Hub lists it as open worldwide.
Where will the internship take place?
You could work at Headquarters, in one of the Field Offices or in a Category I Institute. You will join a team from one of the Programme Sectors or Central Services of the Organization.
Am I applying to a specific internship position?
No, you are applying to become part of the pool of intern candidates. Your application stays in the internship portal for six months, and relevant hiring managers assess and select from the pool.
How will I know if my application was successful?
If you are selected, the relevant hiring manager will contact you directly. If you receive no update from UNESCO within six months, your application has not been successful.
Do I need to speak both English and French?
You need an excellent command, written and spoken, of English or French. A working knowledge of the other language is an asset, and may be required for secretarial and assistantship assignments at Headquarters.
Does UNESCO pay for travel, visas or health insurance?
No. You are responsible for any necessary visas, you must arrange and finance your own travel, and you must show proof of comprehensive health insurance valid for the entire internship. UNESCO only provides a limited workplace insurance coverage.
Will UNESCO sign my university's internship agreement?
No, UNESCO does not sign third-party agreements or contracts provided by academic or research institutions, such as conventions de stage. Only the official Internship Agreement issued by UNESCO is signed by UNESCO representatives.
How long do I have to complete the application?
You have only one hour to finish the process. During it you will be asked about your skills, competencies, experience (if any) and interests, and you can only use English or French.
Deadline
⏳ 31 December 2026
Link
🔗 UNESCO internship vacancy notice and application: https://careers.unesco.org/job/Multiple-INTERNSHIP-All-SectorsBureaus/1331682557/
