UN Internships: How to Find Them and How to Apply

A United Nations internship is one of the most recognisable lines you can put on a CV, and one of the least understood opportunities among the students and young professionals we speak to. This article explains how the system actually works so you can decide whether to pursue one and, if so, how to do it well.

The UN is not one employer

"The UN" is a family of organisations, each with its own internship programme, eligibility rules and application portal. The main groups are:

• The UN Secretariat (headquarters in New York, offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna, Addis Ababa and elsewhere). Internships are advertised on the UN Careers portal.
• Funds and programmes such as UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, WFP and UN Women, each with its own careers site.
• Specialised agencies such as WHO, UNESCO, ILO, FAO and UNHCR, also with independent programmes.

Searching only the UN Careers portal means missing most of the opportunities.

Who is eligible

Rules differ by organisation, but the common pattern is:

• You are enrolled in a master's or PhD programme, in the final year of a bachelor's degree, or within one year of graduating.
• You are fluent in English or French; other UN languages are an advantage.
• You can commit to the internship period, typically two to six months, full-time.

Some agencies accept applicants who graduated more than a year ago, so check each programme.

The funding question

Historically most UN Secretariat internships were unpaid. That has been changing, and a growing number of agencies now offer a stipend. Even so, you should assume you will need to fund some or all of your travel, accommodation and living costs in an expensive city, and plan accordingly. Ask about stipends, and look for external funding: some universities, foundations and governments offer internship grants.

This is also why remote internships, which several agencies now advertise, are worth considering.

Where to look

• The UN Careers portal, filtered by job type "Internship".
• Each agency's own careers page (UNDP, UNICEF, WHO and others).
• The UN regional offices closest to you, such as the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa and the UN Office at Nairobi, which often recruit regionally.
• Country offices: many post internships locally.

Set alerts. Postings can close within two weeks.

What a competitive application looks like

Match the terms of reference. Every internship posting lists specific duties. Your cover letter should address them directly, with evidence.

Show relevant work, however small. A student research project on public health, volunteer work with a community organisation, a policy brief you wrote for a course: all of it counts if it maps to the posting.

Explain your interest in that agency. Selectors know the difference between someone who wants "a UN internship" and someone who wants to work on WFP's school feeding programme in West Africa.

Get the basics right. Complete the personal history profile fully, keep to the word limits, use a professional email, and proofread.

Prepare for a short interview. Many agencies interview by video. Expect questions on motivation, availability and how you handle working across cultures.

Timing

Apply early in your programme, not in your final semester, so that eligibility is not an issue and you have time to arrange funding and visas. If the internship is abroad, remember that visa processing for some destinations takes months.

How we help

International internships fall under our Professional Development service. We help you identify suitable postings, prepare applications, and, once you are selected, handle the travel, visa and accommodation logistics. Book a free exploratory chat if you are planning to apply.