United Nations University Junior Fellows Internship 2027 in Japan

Overview

The United Nations University Junior Fellows Internship 2027 provides graduate students and young professionals with practical experience inside the United Nations system. Hosted by the Office of the Rector at United Nations University headquarters in Tokyo, the programme allows participants to engage in institutional research, policy development, communications, event coordination, and administrative tasks. The internship is full-time, following standard working hours from Monday through Friday, and begins with a one-week orientation.

Who can apply

Candidates must be aged 32 or younger at the time of application and have no more than five years of work experience in a related field. Applicants must either be currently pursuing postgraduate studies or have completed a master's or doctoral degree within two years of applying. Native or fluent written and spoken English is required, alongside strong research, writing, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Both applicants based in Japan and those from overseas are eligible for consideration.

What you get

Selected participants gain approximately six months of professional experience in an international organization, complete with a one-week orientation programme. Interns receive a monthly stipend intended to partially subsidize basic living expenses, though the exact amount depends on the applicable duty station rate and is not specified as a fixed figure. Additional benefits include access to university library and gym facilities subject to availability, opportunities to assist with international events, and professional development across research, communication, analysis, and coordination.

Requirements

Applicants must submit an online application that includes answers to programme-specific questions. Required documents consist of an English curriculum vitae of no more than two single-sided pages and an English cover letter of up to one page outlining motivation, career goals, and potential contributions. Candidates must also complete and upload specific application and funding forms, provide English-language certification if necessary, and arrange for two recommendation letters to be sent directly to the portal by referees using official institutional, academic, or corporate email addresses, with at least one referee being a familiar professor.

Key dates

The application deadline is 1 November 2026, before 23:59 Japan Standard Time. The Spring 2027 internship term runs from 1 March to 27 August 2027.