UNESCO Internship Job 2026: Human Resources Internship – Global Internship Opportunities

Overview

The Human Resources Internship offers students and recent graduates the opportunity to join a candidate pool for internships within the Bureau of Human Resources Management. Placements may take place at UNESCO Headquarters, field offices, and institutes. This is a general internship notice rather than a single specific placement, meaning applications enter a candidate pool for hiring managers to consider when suitable assignments arise.

Assignments last between one and six months, providing exposure to human resources functions within an international organization. Areas of work may cover human resources initiatives, communications, data analytics, statistics, IT support, shared services, staffing and recruitment, HR staff services, HR policy, performance leadership, learning, and partnerships development.

Who can apply

Applicants must be at least 20 years old and must meet specific academic conditions. Candidates must be in the third or final year of a bachelor's degree, currently enrolled in a second university degree, master's or PhD programme, or have completed a bachelor's, master's or PhD degree no more than 12 months before the internship agreement is issued. Technical or vocational applicants must be in the final year of a specialized programme or have graduated within the previous 12 months.

Candidates must have excellent written and spoken English or French, with knowledge of the other language considered an advantage and potentially required for some headquarters assignments. Applicants should also possess computer skills, clear communication abilities, and the capacity to work well with colleagues from different backgrounds.

Requirements

Applicants must submit their applications through the official UNESCO careers portal in either English or French. The application requires details on skills, competencies, experience, and interests, alongside valid contact details maintained for six months. Candidates must provide identification, proof of enrolment, and an academic transcript or diploma, including unofficial translations for any documents issued in languages other than English or French.

Selected participants are responsible for arranging their own travel, visas, and comprehensive health insurance valid in the duty station country, as the organization provides only limited workplace insurance covering incidents directly attributable to the internship.

What you get

Interns gain international exposure to human resources functions and have the opportunity to develop research, data analysis, writing, presentation, project coordination, and communication skills. Main responsibilities may include preparing documents and presentations, collecting and analyzing data, conducting research, producing communication materials, and supporting projects, meetings, briefings, information sessions, and workshops.

Interns receive 2.5 days of leave monthly, plus one working day for each complete month. The internship is unpaid, and the organization provides no financial or other remuneration.

Key dates

The application deadline is 31 December 2026. Applications remain in the candidate pool for six months, and selected candidates are contacted directly by hiring managers.