WIPO Internships 2026: Paid Opportunities with CHF 1,645–2,170 Monthly Stipend

Overview

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a United Nations specialised agency for intellectual property, innovation and creativity, runs an internship programme for students and recent graduates. Most positions are at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and all are in person, since WIPO does not offer remote internships. Internships last from two to twelve months and span areas such as intellectual property law, economics, international relations, information technology, statistics, communications, marketing, administration, finance, research, project management and technical cooperation.

What you get

Interns in Geneva receive a monthly stipend of CHF 1,645 in Category I or CHF 2,170 in Category II, meant to contribute to accommodation, food and local transport rather than act as a salary. Eligible nationals of developing, least developed or transition countries who live in their home country when recruited may receive up to CHF 1,500 toward economy round-trip travel. WIPO may help with Swiss visa formalities, and interns have medical and professional accident insurance, annual leave and official holidays, and access to learning and development.

Who can apply

Category I, for stays of 2 to 6 months, suits undergraduates in their third or fourth year, students who must complete an internship for their degree, those with a bachelor's degree from the past two years, and first-master's students who have not finished coursework and thesis. Category II, for 2 to 12 months, suits students on an advanced degree who have finished coursework but not the thesis, or who earned an advanced degree in the past two years. Professional written and spoken English and/or French is required, and some posts need other languages.

How to apply

Applicants check the current Internship Roster, create a profile in WIPO's online recruitment system, state their preferred work area and submit a detailed profile, a job questionnaire and a letter of motivation. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and shortlisted candidates may be invited to an online interview or test.

Key dates

There is no single deadline. A new roster is advertised each year with its own closing date.