
Traineeships in the EU institutions, bodies and agencies

Become an ‘EU trainee’!
A traineeship programme with the EU institutions, bodies and agencies will offer you:
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a unique chance to get a taste of what an EU career is all about
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an opportunity to enhance your professional skills
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a great opportunity for personal growth
‘EU traineeships’ are available in a wide range of fields such as:
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human resources
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communication
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information and communication technologies
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competition law
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environmental policy
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external relations
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development policy
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and many more!
Most traineeships usually last 5/6 months (some could be shorter/longer). ‘EU traineeships’ are paid (payment varies according to the host organisation).
In the drop-down menu below, you can search available traineeship opportunities by selecting different EU institutions, bodies and agencies.
Good luck!
Please note that the information available on this page is not exhaustive. Each EU institution, body and agency is responsible for managing their own traineeship selection and recruitment procedures.
Traineeships - ACER
The Traineeship Programme is mainly targeted to young university graduates, without excluding those who, in the framework of lifelong learning, have recently obtained a university degree and are at the beginning of a new professional career.
Who can apply:
- Nationals of a Member State of the European Union who are 18 years of age or older.
- Applicants must have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma (awarded in EU Member States or that are subject to the equivalence certificates issued by Member States’ Authorities), when the normal period of university education is three years or more.
- Applicants must not have already benefited or benefit from any kind of traineeship within a European Union institution or body or Have had or have any kind of employment within a European Union institution or body.
Duration: 6 months
Paid: Yes. 600€ (Monthly Grant) and 350€ (Accommodation Allowance).
Starting Dates: 1st September or 1st March.
More information: https://www.acer.europa.eu/en/The_agency/Working_at_ACER/Pages/Currrent-vacanci…Traineeships - SatCen
Do you want to:
- Get practical, first-hand training and work experience in an EU security and defence Agency?
- Join a multi-national team of first-class experts with diverse backgrounds (civil, military and intelligence)?
- Work in an intellectually stimulating environment offering an attractive financial benefits package?
And all of that, in a unique location (Torrejón de Ardoz airbase) just 20 minutes outside one of the coolest cities in Europe: Madrid!
What traineeships do we offer?
We are looking for profiles that range from:
- Geospatial Science/GEOINT/IMINT profiles.
- Open- Source Information Analysts and Quality Assurance specialists.
- IT profiles (Cybersecurity, AI/Machine Learning).
- Legal, Human Resources, Communications and Finance.
Length:
Traineeships are offered for an initial period of 6 months, with the possibility of extension for another 6 months (max. 12 months).
Financial deal:
Traineeships encompass full-time work experience at SatCen (40 hours a week), and trainees receive a monthly stipend of €1,200 plus a transport allowance of €206.89.
Requirements:
Our traineeships are compatible with previous traineeships in other EU Institutions/Agencies: even if you have already been a trainee in the past, you can still apply!
Other than that, candidates must:
- Be nationals of the Member States of the European Union.
- Have recently graduated from university or be in the last year of their studies.
- Have a very good knowledge of at least two EU languages, one of which should be English (minimum level of B2), the working language of the SatCen.
Key dates:
As a general rule, traineeships are organised via 2 yearly intakes:
- In spring: from 1 April until 30 September. (approx. publication period: October to November).
- In autumn: from 1 October until 31 March. (approx. publication period: April to May).
Please, note that the actual timeframes are clearly indicated in each vacancy notice, and may vary according to the needs of the Centre.
European Committee of the Regions: Cicero Traineeships
Spring Session: 16 February to 15 July - Application period: 1 July to 30 September (noon/12:00, Brussels time) of the previous year
Autumn Session: 16 September to 15 February - Application period: 3 January to 31 March (noon/12:00, Brussels time) of the same year
As a CoR trainee, you will be witnessing first-hand the dynamics of a multilingual and multinational institution. Within a small group of trainees, you will not only be able to work across a wide range of EU policy aspects, but you will also have the unique possibility to create an event by yourself!
Thanks to the unique YFactor scheme, trainees are invited to carry out project work addressing issues that are relevant for European regions and cities. Whether you decide to work on a conference, a podcast, or an eBook – as a CoR trainee your creativity will be challenged and encouraged!
Who can apply: EU citizens.
Citizens from third countries (including the UK) can also apply, and may be selected in exceptional cases, notably if their candidature is of particular interest to the CoR and if they comply with the requirements under national immigration law for residing and working legally in Belgium.
University graduates who have obtained a full undergraduate academic degree, or have completed at least the third year of higher education (university or equivalent), by the closing date for applications.
Candidates with excellent knowledge of one of the EU's official languages and satisfactory knowledge of French or English.
Duration: 5 months
Paid: Yes. Around 1,400 € per month
Starting Dates: 16 February and 16 September
More information: https://cor.europa.eu/en/about/work-us/traineeshipsEuropean Committee of the Regions: Study visits
Students looking to finalise their work project, or who are curious about how local and regional authorities contribute to EU legislation in fields such as Citizenship, Cohesion, Climate Change, Public Procurement and Security are welcome to apply for a short-term study visit. Study visits are an excellent opportunity to discover the geographical dimension of EU policies. Moreover, they provide the occasion to reinforce academic preparation with first-hand experience with the work of an EU consultative body.
Study visits are traineeships not remunerated by the CoR. In order to be accepted for a study visit, applicants must either:
- provide proof of funding from another body, such as a university, a public / private body or NGO, in the form of a scholarship, grant, etc.
- or provide proof that the study visit is an integral part of their education (for example, if the study visit is required as part of thesis research or to complete the course of studies).
Who can apply: EU citizens.
Citizens from third countries (including the UK) may apply and may be selected in exceptional cases, notably if their candidature is of particular interest to the CoR and if they comply with requirements under national immigration law for residing and working legally in Belgium.
The applicant has to hold at least a Bachelor's degree (or have completed half of a Bachelor's degree deemed relevant to the CoR's work).
Candidates with excellent knowledge of one of the EU's official languages and satisfactory knowledge of French or English.
Duration: 1 to 4 months (it may be extended to 6 months depending on the resources available)
Starting Dates: at any time, upon agreement
More information: https://cor.europa.eu/en/about/work-us/traineeshipsEuropean Committee of the Regions: Study visits for government officials
The scheme is open to staff or trainees from a national, regional or local public authority of an EU Member State and may give both the CoR and the official's employing institution the opportunity to enhance collaboration and networking opportunities. Moreover, officials participating in this type of exchange scheme may have the opportunity to gain insights into the work of the CoR while at the same time developing their skills, competencies and knowledge.
Who can apply: Staff from a national, regional or local public authority of an EU member state.
Citizens from third countries (including the UK) may apply and may be selected in exceptional cases, notably if their candidature is of particular interest to the CoR and if they comply with requirements under national immigration law for residing and working legally in Belgium.
The applicant has to hold at least a Bachelor's degree (or have completed half the cycle of a Bachelor's degree deemed relevant to the CoR's work) and work in a position at a level and with content corresponding to the duties performed by EU staff within the CoR.
Excellent knowledge of French or English.
Duration: 2 to 6 months (can be extended to 12 months)
Paid: Remuneration is provided by the sending institution.
Starting Dates: at any time, upon agreement
More information: https://cor.europa.eu/en/about/work-us/traineeshipsTraineeships - EDA
EDA annually runs a Traineeship Programme aimed at recent university graduates who want to transition to the world of work in an organisation at the heart of defence cooperation in Europe.
An EDA traineeship will give you:
- a unique insight into the policies and processes for the development of European defence capabilities
- an opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired during your studies
- exposure to a multicultural and dynamic professional environment
What they look for
To be considered eligible, applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements by the deadline for submission of applications:
- Nationality: be a national of a Member States participating in the Agency;
- Educational qualifications: have completed at least the first (minimum three-year) cycle of a higher education course (university education) and obtained a full degree or its equivalent by the closing date for applications;
- Languages: applicants must have a very good knowledge of at least two participating Member States languages of which one must be English as it is EDA’s main working language. The knowledge of additional participating Member States languages is an asset;
- Background related to the EDA’s operational activities: educational background in a field relevant to the activities of the Directorate/Unit the trainee applies for and is allocated to;
- Personnel Security Clearance Certificate (PSCC). For more info, see the FAQs
Traineeships are open to applicants who have not previously undertaken a paid or unpaid traineeship or any kind of employment in another European institution or a body and which lasted for more than six weeks.
Duration: 1 year
Monthly allowance: 1.476,34 EUR
Additional “lunch” allowance: 100 EUR/month
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): Traineeships
ECHA is looking for newly qualified graduates who are willing to contribute to the everyday work of the Agency.
There are up to 20 graduate traineeship opportunities per year in scientific fields such as chemistry, toxicology, biology, environmental science, and technologies, as well as in administrative fields such as law, communications, finance, human resources, and ICT. The traineeships usually start in the beginning of March or September.
The trainee scheme is designed for:
- Recent university graduates and holders of a technical or professional qualification of an equivalent level in fields relevant to applicable chemicals legislation or other fields relevant to the administration tasks of an EU institution
- Public or private sector employees engaged in graduate-level work in fields relevant to applicable chemicals legislation.
Duration
Traineeships last six months and may not be extended beyond this period.
Grants
The graduate trainee scheme offers a grant of approximately €1632.
Trainees who continue to receive remuneration from their employer, or any other grant or allowance will only be entitled to a grant from ECHA if the amount they receive is less than the one indicated above. In this case, trainees will receive an amount equal to the difference between their income and the level of ECHA's grant.
Trainees in employment must provide a declaration of remuneration, expenses and allowances signed by their employer.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for a graduate traineeship, you must:
- Be a national of a Member State of the EU or a national of the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein). Nationals of candidate countries benefiting from a pre-accession strategy can also be accepted according to the availability of budgetary resources and the ECHAs capacity to host them. A limited number of nationals of non-Member States may also be accepted.
- Be able to communicate in English as this is the working language of ECHA.
- Have obtained a university degree or equivalent or you are engaged in graduate-level work in fields relevant ECHA.
You will be invited for a telephone interview if you are selected.
Trainees do not benefit from sickness insurance. Before the start of your traineeship, you must prove you are covered by a sickness and accident insurance valid in Finland.
Traineeships are not offered to applicants who have already been a trainee in a European institution or body, employed by a European institution or body, or worked for ECHA as an interim staff member, researcher or in house expert for more than eight weeks.
More information: https://jobs.echa.europa.eu/psp/pshrrcr/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB…CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR TRAINEES - EBA
The EBA is an independent European Union Authority established on 1 January 2011 by Regulation (EU) No. 1093/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 20102.
The EBA is offer you a unique hands-on experience into the heart of a European Union Agency whose mission is key in safeguarding the integrity and robustness of the banking sector to support financial stability in the EU.
Duration: 6 months with possible further extension up to 18 months.
Paid: 2023.18 EUR/month
Traineeship regime Work life balance with teleworking options.
More information: Vacancy Notice
Traineeships - EFSA
Are you a dynamic and proactive young professional looking for an enriching experience in a truly international working environment? Are you curious to explore a career path within an European Agency and contribute to protecting human life and health, taking account of animal health and welfare, plant health and the environment?
Then look no further and apply for a 12 month-traineeship at European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)!
EFSA Traineeship Programme offers you a unique opportunity to join a team of professionals from all over the world working together in an international and multicultural environment on Science, Safe Food and Sustainability projects at the heart of European Food Safety activities.
We are looking forward to welcoming motivated young talents from different academic and professional backgrounds (scientists, communication and legal professionals, IT experts, etc.).
From scientists to communication specialists and the colleagues supporting our daily work, everyone at EFSA has a role to play in achieving our mission to keep food safe in the EU.
EFSA Traineeship programme lasts for up to 12 months and offers you:
- A unique professional experience as part of a team of scientists and business professionals from all over the world, working together on inspiring projects and various tasks in an international, multicultural, and friendly environment;
- An opportunity to get a taste of what an EU career is all about for an extended period (12 months) and experience that can act as a springboard for a number of career paths;
- Exposure to different areas and networks in EFSA, while developing personal and professional competencies;
- A mentoring/advising relationship: as a trainee you will have an adviser who will be your main point of contact and will be responsible for the overall coordination of your traineeship;
- A modern working environment with flexible working arrangements to help balance professional and personal lives: besides working in EFSA’s modern headquarter located in the heart of Parma, as an EFSA trainee you are also offered the possibility to telework up to 60% per week from the distance reachable to Parma within approximately 3 hours. Such conditions will allow you to enjoy working not only from home, but also from the Dolomite Mountains or the Ligurian Sea coast, etc.;
- A monthly grant of €1,463.
EBA - Traineeships - Conduct, Payments and Consumers (COPAC) Unit
The EBA is looking for trainees for the Conduct, Payments and Consumers (COPAC) Unit. The mission of the COPAC Unit is to protect consumers against harm arising from the misconduct of firms, to make retail payments more secure, competitive, innovative and convenient, and to prevent bank runs by strengthening depositors when their bank fails.