If you’re comparing UN internships, check the agency name and your graduation date first. UNICEF offers a monthly stipend and considers graduates within the past two years. UNDP offers stipends under its own rules and requires recent graduates to start within one year of graduation. The UN Secretariat’s applicant guide describes its internships as unpaid.
This guide helps students and recent graduates compare those rules, find the right application page and work out whether they could afford an offer. The terms in each vacancy and written offer matter, especially if you would have to move.
UN internship eligibility and stipends at a glance
| Programme | Study or graduation requirements | Pay and typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| UNICEF | Age 18 or older. Current undergraduate, graduate or doctoral student, or graduate within the past two years. | Monthly stipend. Usually 6–26 weeks. A contribution toward travel and visa costs depends on available funding. |
| UNDP | Final-year undergraduate by the start date, graduate student, or recent graduate who can start within one year of graduation. | Stipend varies by country and work arrangement. External sponsorship can affect payment. Usually 3–6 months. |
| UN Secretariat | Check the Secretariat’s applicant guidance and the individual vacancy. | The applicant guide describes internships as unpaid. Confirm the conditions of the vacancy. |
Check the current programme rules and search for a specific vacancy before planning around a deadline. UNICEF internship programme · UNDP careers FAQs · UN Careers applicant guide (PDF)
Who can apply for a UNICEF internship?
Start with the age and study requirements in the table, then check the language of the hiring office. UNICEF requires proficiency in English, French or Spanish and may also require fluency in the office’s working language. It restricts applications from people with immediate relatives working at UNICEF or other relatives in their reporting line. Academic performance and motivation matter, and relevant experience can strengthen an application.
Assignments can be full-time or part-time, and some are remote. UNICEF’s FAQ says interns receive a living-expenses stipend from UNICEF or a partner institution. If you need visa documents, UNICEF can provide supporting paperwork where necessary. Ask the hiring office what support is confirmed for your assignment before booking travel. UNICEF internship FAQs
Who can apply for a UNDP internship?
For recent graduates, the date to compare with your graduation date is the internship’s start date. If you’re still studying, UNDP also considers master’s and doctoral students, as well as undergraduates who will be in their final academic year by the start. Prior work experience is generally unnecessary. Check the languages listed in the posting and use your application to show how your skills relate to the assignment.
UNDP advertises remote and in-person placements. Its FAQ describes longer placements of up to nine months for academic credit and up to 12 months for certain national service or postgraduate traineeship assignments. Confirm the schedule and sponsorship terms with the hiring office. UNDP expects interns to arrange adequate medical insurance, including for remote placements. UNDP internship rules
Hypothetical example. If you graduated 15 months ago and have no current enrolment, you could still meet UNICEF’s graduation window. You would already be past UNDP’s one-year limit for starting as a recent graduate. Check the other eligibility criteria before preparing the application.
How to apply for UN internships
- Find the vacancy through the agency. Start from the official careers page and save the listing and reference number. UNICEF Careers · UNDP Careers · UN Careers
- Check the cutoff and start date. Record the closing date, time zone, study status, required languages and working hours. Check whether the placement is remote or based at a specific office.
- Match your experience to the duties. Pick two tasks from the vacancy. For each one, choose a project, course or job that shows a relevant skill.
- Follow the listing’s submission instructions. Complete the profile and send the requested CV, cover letter or other documents. Some offices publish their own procedures, so use the route named in the vacancy. Save the submission confirmation.
- Prepare one example for a possible interview. Be ready to explain the problem, what you did and what the team could use afterward.
If you’re still building a shortlist, keep the vacancy link and eligibility decision together so you can revisit them easily. Find international opportunities
Show the hiring team how you would contribute
Pick a task you have actually done. If the vacancy asks for research support, a concrete example of checking survey data tells the reader more than “excellent analytical skills.” A class project or volunteering assignment can give you a specific example even if you have never held a formal job.
Hypothetical cover letter example
In a community health course, I checked survey responses for duplicate entries and grouped the remaining answers by theme. I helped write a short summary our project team used to plan its next interviews. I’d bring that same care to checking data and preparing research briefs for this placement.
Use a real example from your own work, and include numbers only if you can back them up. If the vacancy asks for a reference, give your referee the posting and deadline. Recommendation request email guide
Does an internship stipend cover your costs?
Ask the hiring office for the monthly amount, currency and expected first payment date. Estimate the recurring costs and the cash you would need before the first payment. A manageable monthly gap can still leave you short when the rent deposit and airfare are due.
| Cost | What to check |
|---|---|
| Monthly expenses | Rent, utilities, food, local travel and insurance. Compare the total against the confirmed stipend. |
| Costs before you start | Flights, visa fees, rent deposit and the first month’s living costs. Confirm whether any support is paid upfront or reimbursed later. |
| Remote placement | Hours, time zone, equipment and internet costs. Ask which stipend terms apply to your location and schedule. |
Hypothetical budget in USD. If you expect to spend $1,100 each month and receive an $800 monthly stipend, budget for a $300 monthly gap. If flights and the housing deposit add $700 upfront, track that separately and check how much cash you need before the first stipend arrives. Use the amounts in your own offer to redo the calculation.
How to spot a fake UN internship offer
If a recruiter asks you to pay a processing or placement fee, check the vacancy through the agency’s official website before responding. UNDP says it charges no recruitment fees. Keep that separate from personal expenses such as a visa fee you pay to the appropriate authority. UNDP recruitment fraud notice
Compare the vacancy number, duty station and deadline. Verify the sender through an independently located agency contact before sharing identity documents. Opportunity verification checklist
Frequently asked questions about UN internships
Can I apply before my final undergraduate year?
UNICEF considers eligible undergraduates who are still enrolled. For UNDP’s undergraduate route, check whether you will be in your final academic year by the start date. Individual vacancies can specify which degrees and subjects they accept.
Can I do a UN internship remotely?
Both UNICEF and UNDP describe remote placements. Check the vacancy for its location and schedule before applying. Ask about time zone expectations, equipment and stipend terms if the advertisement leaves those details open.
Does an internship lead to a UN staff job?
A staff job requires its own recruitment process. UNDP also says that internships do not count toward its minimum years of relevant work experience for staff jobs. Check the requirements of any role you apply for after the placement. UNDP careers FAQs
Final checklist before you apply
- Save the official vacancy, reference number and deadline with its time zone.
- Compare your study status and graduation date with the vacancy’s requirements.
- Check the language, duty station, start date and schedule.
- Tailor your CV or letter to the duties and prepare the required documents.
- Confirm any relocation costs and financial support before accepting an offer.
Start with one vacancy you qualify for and can afford. Give yourself enough time to show how your experience fits the work, then save a copy of what you submit.
Official sources and review date
Programme information reviewed on 7 November 2026. Check the official vacancy and offer for the conditions that apply to a specific placement.
- UNICEF internship programme and internship FAQs
- UNDP People Programmes and careers FAQs
- UN Careers applicant guide (PDF)
