The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has invited graduate students and recent postgraduates to apply for its 2025 Internship Programme.
The UNESCO initiative offers participants the opportunity to gain practical exposure to UNESCO’s work in education, science, culture, and communication, while enhancing their academic and professional understanding of global policy and development.
According to UNESCO, the programme provides hands-on assignments across various departments and encourages students to develop new skills aligned with the organisation’s mission.
“The Internship Programme enables opportunities for students to learn about UNESCO’s mandate and programmes. The students can also enhance their academic and technical knowledge through practical assignments,” it said.
ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS
To apply for the UNESCO internship, candidates must be at least 20 years old and currently enroled in a graduate programme such as a master’s degree, PhD, or equivalent.
Those who have recently completed a postgraduate degree within the past 12 months are also eligible. However, “Candidates who have completed their full-time bachelor’s degree but are not enroled in a graduate programme are not eligible to apply,” UNESCO clarified.
Applicants are required to have an excellent command of English or French, with working knowledge of the other language considered an asset. Proficiency in both languages may be required for certain assistantship or secretarial roles at UNESCO’s headquarters.
Candidates must also demonstrate computer literacy, teamwork ability, and strong communication skills. Before applying, applicants should ensure their contact details remain valid for six months and must use either English or French in their applications.
INTERNSHIP DETAILS AND SELECTION
The UNESCO internship duration ranges from a minimum of one month to a maximum of six months. Participants are responsible for securing their visas and covering travel and living expenses.
UNESCO emphasised that “UNESCO does not remunerate interns. There is no compensation, financial or otherwise, for internship assignments.”
Even qualified candidates are not guaranteed placement, as applications will remain on UNESCO’s portal for six months and will be reviewed by hiring managers worldwide.
“If you do not receive any update within six months, it means that your application has not been successful,” the organisation added.
DEPARTMENTS AND DEADLINE
UNESCO internship placements are offered in multiple sectors, including the Office of the Director-General, Education, Culture, Natural Science, Communication and Information, Bureau of Human Resource Management, Digital Business Solutions, and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, among others.
The last date to apply for the UNESCO Internship Programme is December 31, 2025.
