The OSCE Secretariat is accepting applications for an Internship in the Human Dimension, lasting 2 to 6 months, with Vienna as the main location and Prague as an additional location. Applications close on 31 December 2026. You must be 30 or younger on the deadline, hold the nationality of an OSCE participating State or Partner for Co-operation, and be professionally fluent in English. The internship is full-time and carries no salary. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the complete vacancy notice and set out every requirement and condition below.
The OSCE and Its Human Dimension
With 57 participating States in North America, Europe and Asia, the OSCE, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, is the world's largest regional security organization. It works for stability, peace and security for more than a billion people, through political dialogue and practical work. Its activities are organized in three dimensions: politico-military, economic-environmental and human.
The human dimension, also called the third dimension, focuses largely on human rights and democracy. Co-operation in Humanitarian and Other Fields was the official heading of the third focus area of the Helsinki Final Act, and it marked the first recognition that commitments in this field are a legitimate concern of all participating States, not only the internal affairs of individual States. Some of the OSCE's most significant developments took place under the human dimension, including free elections, freedom of the media and the protection of people belonging to national minorities. These were conceived at the Conference on the Human Dimension, held in different European capitals from 1989 to 1991, and led to events such as the Human Dimension Implementation Meetings, the Supplementary Human Dimension Meetings and the Human Dimension Seminars.
What the Internship Covers
The OSCE Secretariat is looking for qualified candidates for internships of 2 to 6 months in the programmatic areas within the Human Dimension. Based on the conviction that lasting security cannot be achieved without respect for human rights and functioning democratic institutions, the OSCE helps its participating States in these fields:
🗳️ Democratization and elections
🧑⚖️ Human rights and the rule of law
📺 Media freedom and development
🏘️ Rights of national minorities
🤝 Tolerance and non-discrimination practices
What the Internship Programme Offers
🏛️ The chance to learn about the day-to-day working environment of the OSCE and the Organization's mandate
🛠️ The opportunity to develop professional skills and gain practical working experience in a multi-national environment
🎓 The chance to meet many professionals and benefit from their knowledge and mentorship
🌱 The opportunity to meet and link up with like-minded young professionals
Tasks and Responsibilities
The notice lists typical day-to-day duties that interns perform in the OSCE's different departments:
📝 Drafting research papers, policy reports, concept papers and other written materials such as briefing papers, memos, talking points, speeches, documents, newsletters and presentations
📊 Assisting in project management and implementation, such as preparing project proposals and budgets and compiling project progress reports for donors
⚖️ Conducting thematic research, assisting with the revision of legal documents and the preparation of legal opinions, assisting with media monitoring, or conducting surveys and financial analyses
📱 Supporting communication events and outreach activities, such as website updates, booklets and leaflets, and audio-visual content for social media
🎙️ Supporting the organization of events, meetings, regional workshops, press conferences, round-tables and other conferences
🗒️ Attending meetings of OSCE decision-making and related bodies, taking minutes, drafting official records and writing reports
🧾 Supporting daily operational work in administrative departments such as human resources, financial services, supply chain, travel management and procurement, and information and communication technology
✈️ Assisting senior managers in preparing for trips, bilateral meetings and country visits by compiling background documents, handling logistics and communicating with internal and external stakeholders
────────────────────────────────────────
🌍 All opportunities in Austria →
────────────────────────────────────────
Important Conditions
📆 OSCE internships are full-time (40-hour week), but flexible part-time arrangements can be approved in special cases
🛂 Internships are offered only to nationals of the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation, and applicants with dual or multiple nationalities must hold at least one such nationality
🗓️ Start dates for selected candidates depend on the needs of the Hiring Offices
🔁 The cumulative duration of internships at the OSCE is limited to 6 months for any individual, regardless of duty station, and further applications from the same person are not considered once that duration has been served
🧭 The internship does not constitute a commitment to future employment with the OSCE
Who Can Apply: Necessary Qualifications
⏳ You should not be older than 30 years on the deadline of this vacancy
🎓 You should have completed two years of full-time post-secondary education, or graduated within two years before the deadline
📚 You should have education in a relevant field, such as international relations, law, human rights, journalism, communications, public administration or similar fields
🗣️ You should be professionally fluent in English, both oral and written, and able to communicate clearly and concisely; interviews will be conducted
💪 You should bring high motivation, open-mindedness and flexibility
🌍 You should be able to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national, cultural and religious backgrounds while maintaining impartiality and objectivity
🔆 You should be aware of the importance of integrating a gender perspective into tasks and activities
💻 You should be able to operate a computer, with familiarity with Microsoft Office applications: Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint, word processing and e-mail
Assets
💼 Previous work experience in a relevant field
🌐 Experience of working in a multilateral or multicultural environment
🧠 Organizational, multi-tasking and analytical skills, research and drafting skills
🈯 A working knowledge of at least one other language from the OSCE region
Which Nationalities Can Apply
Vacancies at the OSCE are open for competition only among nationals of the participating States and the Partners for Co-operation. The participating States are Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, the Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States and Uzbekistan.
The Asian Partners for Co-operation are Afghanistan, Australia, Japan, Qatar, South Korea and Thailand. The Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation are Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia.
Remuneration, Insurance and Visas
In line with other international and multilateral organizations, the OSCE does not provide remuneration to interns, or reimbursement of their travel expenses to and from the duty station. In lieu of remuneration, the receiving office contributes towards the cost of living of international and national interns who are non-residents at the duty station. If a receiving office cannot contribute, it may accept interns who are residents at the duty station.
🩺 Health insurance: if you do not already have health insurance applicable to the duty station, you join the group health insurance scheme at your own expense, while the OSCE covers life and disability insurance
🛂 Visa: some nationals may require a D-visa to work at the OSCE Secretariat, and if you are selected the OSCE will assist you with a support letter
If you are weighing this against other placement types, our guide to fellowships, internships and traineeships explains how they differ.
How to Apply
Apply through the OSCE's online application system, and mention your availability dates in your cover letter. Only candidates selected for the subsequent stages of recruitment are contacted. The OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.
🔄 The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise or re-post the vacancy, cancel the recruitment, or offer an internship with modified terms of reference or a different duration
🤲 The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply
🧐 Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant, including avoiding any action that may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position
Find more internships and traineeships on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the OSCE Human Dimension internship paid?
No. The OSCE does not remunerate interns or reimburse relocation travel. In lieu of remuneration, the receiving office contributes towards the cost of living of interns who are non-residents at the duty station, and if it cannot, it may accept interns who already live there.
How long does the internship last?
It lasts from 2 to 6 months and is full-time, a 40-hour week. Flexible part-time arrangements can be approved in special cases.
Who can apply?
Nationals of the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation. Applicants with dual or multiple nationalities must hold at least one such nationality. Türkiye is a participating State.
What is the age limit?
You should not be older than 30 years on the deadline of the vacancy.
What education do I need?
You should have completed two years of full-time post-secondary education or graduated within two years before the deadline, with education in a relevant field such as international relations, law, human rights, journalism, communications or public administration.
Do I need work experience?
No. Previous work experience in a relevant field is an asset, not a requirement.
Where will I work?
The notice lists the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna, with the OSCE Secretariat in Prague as an additional location.
Can I do more than one OSCE internship?
Only up to a cumulative 6 months. Once you have served that duration, regardless of duty station, further internship applications from you are not considered.
Do I need a visa?
Some nationals may require a D-visa to work at the OSCE Secretariat. If you are selected, the OSCE will assist you with a support letter.
Deadline
⏳ 31 December 2026
Links
🔗 OSCE Secretariat Human Dimension internship vacancy notice and application: https://vacancies.osce.org/jobs/internship-%E2%80%93-human-dimension-4825
📧 Questions or problems applying: internships@osce.org
🌐 OSCE internships page, with a video by former interns and a webinar: https://jobs.osce.org/internships
🏛️ OSCE Secretariat: https://www.osce.org/secretariat
🧩 OSCE fields of work: https://www.osce.org/fields-of-work
🗺️ OSCE participating states: https://www.osce.org/participating-states
📖 OSCE Competency Model: https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model
