Traineeships in the EU institutions, bodies and agencies

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) operates a traineeship programme aimed at university graduates covering the areas of medicine regulation, life sciences, healthcare, chemistry, information technology, pharmaceutical law, human resources, finance, communications, public relations and library and information science. The programme gives trainees an insight into EMA and its role within the EU and the European medicines regulatory network and provides valuable professional training.

What EMA offers:

• A ten-month traineeship at the Agency’s premises in Amsterdam (1 October - 31 July)
• A full-time traineeship (40 hours a week) or a part-time traineeship (80% or 50% combined with Erasmus+ or similar programme or a PhD)
• A monthly stipend of €1,858.31 for a full-time traineeship (reduced accordingly for 80% or 50%) and a travel contribution upon joining and leaving the Agency
• A mentor responsible for establishing individual learning goals, supervising the trainee and monitoring their progress on a regular basis
• Guidance on career and development
• A development programme including learning about the Agency’s mission and activities, attending regular workshops, participating in meetings and access to Agency-wide competency development opportunities

Who can apply: 

• Nationals of an EU or EEA member state 

• Have a thorough knowledge of English (at least level C1) and a good knowledge of another official EU language (at least B2), as per the Common European Framework for Languages.

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.

Eurofound’s post-graduate traineeship programme is addressed to recent university graduates, without excluding those who – in the framework of lifelong learning – have recently obtained their university qualification and are at the beginning of a new professional career.

9 trainee profiles are offered in 2024 – 7 for placement in Research:

Working life: Industrial relations; Working conditions and sustainable work;

Employment: European Restructuring Monitor databases; Change (anticipating & managing impact);

Social policies: Social cohesion & convergence; Living conditions & quality of life;

Research: Surveys;

as well as 2 profiles in the Information & Communication unit: Digital production and the

Human Resources team.

Applications are valid until end of 2024. Shortlisted candidates may be contacted for online interviews, throughout the year, according to business needs.

Duration

6-month traineeships are offered and can be extended up to a maximum of 12 months.

Grants

In the 2024 programme, Trainees are paid a monthly grant of approximately €1,922.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for a graduate traineeship, you must:

• Be a national of a Member State of the EU.
• have a very good knowledge of at least two EU languages, of which one should be English - the working language of Eurofound.
• Have recently obtained a university degree.

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.

Traineeships are not offered to applicants who have already been a trainee or an employee in a European institution or body, for more than six weeks.

The European Institute for Gender Equality announces traineeship opportunities lasting six months for graduates who are either nationals of an EU Member State or an EFTA country or an IPA qualifying country. The traineeships are based at the Agency's premises in Vilnius, Lithuania.

EIGE is a decentralised agency of the European Union (EU) entrusted with specific objectives envisaged to contribute to, and strengthen, the promotion of gender equality.

It collects and analyses comparable and reliable information at EU level and develops appropriate methodological tools for the integration of gender equality into all EU policies.

The traineeships aim principally to:

• provide on the job training experience in key areas of the EIGE's work;
• extend and apply knowledge acquired in the course of studies or working life;
• provide practical working knowledge of EU agencies and institutions;
• enable trainees to acquire work experience in an EU agency context.

The Agency is an equal opportunity employer and accepts applications without distinction on any grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language religion or belief, political (or any other) opinion, gender identity, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Traineeship description

Reporting to a supervisor, the trainee provides assistance and support to ensure the smooth functioning of a particular area of work.  The trainee is provided with relevant work experience in the context of an EU agency as part of one of the following teams.

Gender Mainstreaming

The selected trainee can expect to carry out duties from the following:

• Contribute to research, data analysis and drafting reports on various aspects of gender equality and gender mainstreaming in EU priority areas, e.g. European green deal or Institutional mechanisms for gender equality;
• Contribute to the development of evidence-based practical tools to mainstream gender in selected EU priority areas or policy processes, e.g. European green deal or pay transparency, and provision of technical assistance to EU institutions and the Member States;
• Contribute to the design and implementation of assigned statistical activities and projects, including statistical data collections, development of gender indicators and gender analysis, in the context of the Gender Statistics Database;
• Support in the maintenance, alignment and update of the Gender Statistics Database and / or the Gender Mainstreaming Platform by assisting in the development of methodological, technical, and quality reports;
• Contribute to dissemination activities by supporting the production of content, such as social media, website, fact sheets, infographics, data talks and presentations;
• Support in managing relations with stakeholders, including the organisation of thematic meetings, and with project management and procurement procedures.

There are 4 graduate traineeship opportunities in fields such as Translation, Advanced Language Solutions and Human Resources.

Who can apply: University graduates who are nationals of a Member State of the EU

Duration: 6-12 months

Paid: Yes. Around 1.500€ per month

Starting Dates: May – June

Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking is looking for candidates to join the Project Management Unit as trainee (6-month). The start date of the traineeship will be 1st March 2024.

Clean Aviation JU is located in Brussels and this position requires presence in the office.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be national of one of the Member States of the EU and enjoy full rights as citizens.
• Have a level of post-secondary education attested by a diploma.
• Have a very good command of written and spoken English.
• Demonstrate a good knowledge of Windows tools such as Word, Power Point, Excel, web based systems.

Candidates must provide copies of the diplomas or other relevant certificates.

The EIT is now launching a call for application for its traineeship programme for a period of six months for an intake at the beginning of 2024. The trainee will support the daily operations of the Directorate & Administration as well as the Innovation, Education & Communication and the Knowledge and Innovation Communities Departments.

The place of employment will be Budapest, Hungary, where the EIT Headquarters are located. For the case of the Communication & Engagement Unit, there is a possibility for one of the trainees to be assigned to work from the EIT Liaison Office in Brussels, Belgium.

The purpose of the programme is to provide trainees with an understanding of the Centre and its role within the activities of the European Union while also providing an opportunity to acquire practical knowledge and professional experience.

Who can apply: Nationals of a Member State of the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, who have completed their studies and been awarded a full university degree

Duration: 5-9 months

Paid: Yes. Around 1,900 € per month

Starting Dates: Between February and April 2025

The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union offers 4-6 paid traineeship a year in different domains reserved for trainees with a disability.

Who can apply: These traineeships are reserved for graduates and third, fourth or fifth year university students of EU nationality with a recognized disability. 

Duration: 5 months

Paid: Yes. €2 065.32 net per month, reimbursement of travel allowance and GSC restaurant reduction card. Upon presentation of proper justification, trainees with disabilities may receive a supplementary amount up to half of the traineeship grant.

Starting Dates:

• 16 February (application period around August / September - check at that moment for final dates).
• 1 September (application period around February/March - check at that moment for final dates).

Discover the testimonies of trainees who have participated in this action programme.