EU Blue Book Traineeship: Types, Eligibility and How Selection Works

The Blue Book Traineeship programme is a 5-month paid traineeship that the European Commission offers twice a year. There are administrative traineeships for university graduates and for Vocational Education and Training graduates, and a translation traineeship. The Blue Book traineeship offers hands-on experience in EU policymaking and administration, professional skills development, and intercultural awareness and personal growth. The programme has 2 sessions a year, with about 1 000 traineeship positions available per session. Our guide on paid internships abroad compares the Blue Book Traineeship with the other paid routes.

Last updated: November 2026.

What types of Blue Book traineeship are there?

The European Commission proposes three types of traineeships: ADMIN UG, ADMIN VET and TRA.

🗂️ Administrative traineeship for university graduates (ADMIN UG): a traineeship providing hands-on experience in managing office operations, supporting organizational functions, and performing various administrative tasks.

🛠️ Administrative traineeship for Vocational Education and Training graduates (ADMIN VET): a traineeship providing hands-on experience through practical, work-based learning, enabling trainees to apply vocational skills and knowledge in a professional environment related to their field of training. The VET traineeship is a new opportunity for vocational education and training graduates.

📝 Translation traineeship (TRA): a traineeship providing hands-on experience in translating documents into the trainee's native language from at least two official EU languages.

Scientific traineeships are also available at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC). Our guide on what separates a traineeship from a fellowship explains the words you will see in the offers.

Who can apply for the administrative traineeship for university graduates?

You can apply for the Administrative traineeship for university graduates (ADMIN UG) if you meet all the following conditions.

🎓 Degree: you must have completed and obtained a full higher-education degree, corresponding to an EQF (European Qualifications Framework) level 6 or higher, of at least 180 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits, or equivalent to at least a completed higher-education cycle. A "cycle" is the level of study as defined by the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). The university degree or equivalent qualification must cover a minimum period of three academic years.

📅 Degree completed in time: the degree must be fully completed and the diploma obtained at the time of application, so applicants who finish their studies after the deadline of application but before the start of the session are not yet eligible.

📄 Proof of the degree: applicants must hold either a diploma or official academic transcripts confirming completion of the cycle.

🌍 Degree from outside the EU: degrees obtained outside the European Union are accepted if they correspond to a completed three-year higher-education cycle. Applicants whose degree does not award ECTS credits are eligible only if they can demonstrate completion of a standard three-year higher-education programme, and a minimum of 180 ECTS must nevertheless be indicated in the application.

🗣️ Languages for EU nationals: applicants must demonstrate a very good knowledge of two official EU languages: the first one must be either English, French or German at C1 or C2 level (or mother tongue), and the second one must be another official EU language at B2 level at least (or mother tongue). The language levels come from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

🗣️ Languages for non-EU nationals: applicants must demonstrate a very good knowledge of either English, French or German at C1 or C2 level at least (or mother tongue).

🛂 Passport: applicants must hold a valid passport or national identity card corresponding to the nationality declared in the application.

🎂 Age: 18 years or older on the starting date of the traineeship.

⛔ No earlier EU experience: you are excluded if you have any prior or ongoing professional experience in any European Institution, body or agency, longer than 6 weeks (42 calendar days). Any such experience counts regardless of formal or informal, paid or unpaid status, full-time or part-time work, and accumulated continuous or non-continuous periods. The rule covers activities carried out within EU institutions, bodies or agencies, EU representations or delegations, Cabinets of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and Offices of Advocates General at the Court of Justice of the EU.

Our guide on Erasmus+ and ESC after graduating covers other routes for graduates.

Can non-EU citizens apply for the Blue Book Traineeship?

Yes, for a limited number of places: non-EU applicants must be nationals of a candidate country benefiting from a pre-accession strategy, and only in specific Directorates-General or Services. The European Commission is organised into policy departments, known as Directorates-General (DGs), which are responsible for different policy areas, and service departments deal with particular administrative issues. The Blue Book Traineeship programme is open to all eligible candidates from the Member States of the European Union. Nationals of non-EU countries are grouped under a single quota. Certain Directorates General, Services or Agencies may not recruit nationals from non-EU countries. Non-EU nationals applying for ADMIN UG must demonstrate a very good knowledge of either English, French or German at C1 or C2 level at least (or mother tongue). Our guide on paid internships abroad lists other paid routes.

Where do Blue Book trainees work?

Most Blue Book trainees are placed in the Commission departments, its executive agencies and Commissioners' Cabinets. Places are also allocated to other services and decentralised agencies such as the European External Action Service (EEAS) and FRONTEX. Trainees work all over the European Commission, its services and agencies, mostly in Brussels, but also in Luxembourg and elsewhere across the European Union. The nature of your work will depend on the service you are assigned to. Our guide on the European Parliament Schuman Traineeship covers the paid traineeship at the European Parliament.

Is the Blue Book Traineeship paid?

Yes: the Blue Book Traineeship is a 5-month paid traineeship. The living allowance consists of a monthly grant, which is adjusted according to the trainee's place of assignment during the traineeship. In addition to the monthly grant, trainees may also be entitled to a travel allowance and a meal and public transport allowance, depending on their circumstances. The exact amount depends on the location of the assignment and the allowances for which the trainee is eligible. Our guide on paid internships abroad puts this grant next to the other funded options.

How do you apply and how are trainees selected?

You apply with your EU Login, and the Blue Book Traineeship then has a pre-selection phase and a selection phase.

💻 Online application: you create your EU Login, complete the application form and upload all required documents. All supporting documents must be uploaded as one single PDF file. Documents must prove education, language knowledge, identity and any experience or skills declared. Everything you declare must be supported by documents. After submission, no additional documents or corrections will be accepted.

🧾 One application: you can submit only one application per session and per traineeship type. If you apply for more than one traineeship type in the same session, all applications will be rejected.

📊 Pre-selection: applications are assessed on these criteria, in this order of relevance: education, language knowledge, work experience if any, international profile if any, and rare field of studies if any. National guiding rates are applied to EU candidates to ensure a balanced geographical representation. Your declarations are verified against your documents by three independent verifiers, the preselection committee. The process usually takes 4-8 weeks after the deadline.

📚 Virtual Blue Book: candidates who pass eligibility checks are included in the Virtual Blue Book. Pre-selection does not guarantee a traineeship placement. Candidates in the Virtual Blue Book can apply for up to three traineeship positions. There are around three times as many candidates as there are available places. Recruiting services may contact candidates and may organise interviews.

✅ Offer: if selected, the Traineeships Office issues a placement offer, and your selection becomes final only when the offer appears in your account. If you refuse the placement offer, you get no further offers and no traineeship.

Our guide on fellowship vs internship vs traineeship explains how the three words differ.

What will you gain from the Blue Book Traineeship?

During the Blue Book Traineeship, you will gain practical experience through direct involvement in the work of the European Commission, its agencies or other bodies.

💼 International experience: you will acquire hands-on professional experience in an international environment.

🧠 Key skills: you will develop key skills, including communication, teamwork and organisation.

🎓 Academic knowledge in practice: you will apply your academic knowledge in practice.

🌍 Multicultural setting: you will work in a multicultural and multilingual setting.

📈 Career prospects: you will strengthen your career prospects through recognised professional experience.

Our guide on the UN Junior Professional Officer Programme covers a route into the United Nations.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the Blue Book Traineeship last?

The Blue Book Traineeship is a five-month paid traineeship. Our guide on paid internships abroad compares the Blue Book Traineeship with the other paid routes.

Can I apply with a vocational qualification?

Yes: the Administrative traineeship for Vocational Education and Training graduates (ADMIN VET) is an opportunity for vocational education and training graduates. Our guide on Erasmus+ and ESC after graduating covers other routes for graduates.

Can I apply for the ADMIN UG traineeship if I have worked at an EU institution?

No, if you have any prior or ongoing professional experience in any European Institution, body or agency, longer than 6 weeks (42 calendar days). Any such experience counts regardless of paid or unpaid status. Our guide on the European Parliament Schuman Traineeship covers the paid traineeship at the European Parliament.

Can Erasmus+ fund a Blue Book traineeship?

No: an Erasmus+ traineeship can take place at any organisation located anywhere in the world, with the exception of EU institutions, bodies and agencies. Our guide on paid internships abroad lists other paid routes.

Can I apply again if I am not selected?

Yes: each application is valid for one session only, and you may apply again for a future session. Our guide on the UN Junior Professional Officer Programme covers a route into the United Nations.

Where can you go from here?

Our guide on paid internships abroad shows the other paid routes. Our guide on the Schuman Traineeship covers the European Parliament. The Youth Works Hub pages below cover the next steps.

👉 Internships: youthworkshub.org/?tab=internship