8/30/2026
Students often ask how to join the United Nations as a student and whether they need professional experience before applying. The good news is that university students can access several entry points into the UN system, particularly through internships, volunteer opportunities, academic programmes and some early-career initiatives.
One of the most common ways for students to gain direct experience is through a United Nations internship. The UN states that internships can provide students and recent graduates with practical experience in international affairs, policy, research, communications and other areas of UN work.
Yes. Students can apply for eligible UN internships and, depending on their skills and circumstances, volunteer opportunities. However, students should understand the difference between becoming a UN staff member and participating in an internship or volunteer programme.
A student internship is primarily designed as a learning and professional development opportunity. Internship responsibilities can include research, drafting documents, data analysis, conference support, communications and policy-related work.
Eligibility depends on the specific programme and vacancy. For the UN Secretariat internship programme, the UN indicates that applicants can generally be enrolled in a Bachelor's, Master's or Ph.D. programme or have graduated within the specified recent-graduate period. Strong command of English or French is also an important requirement for many opportunities.
Some specialized internship programmes can have additional requirements. For example, UN language-service internships may require applicants to be enrolled in a graduate programme, in the final academic year of a first university degree, or to have recently graduated.
Students should begin by searching the official UN Careers portal and filtering vacancies by internship category. Each vacancy contains its own eligibility criteria, duties, competencies and application instructions.
A typical application may require:
Students should avoid submitting the same generic application to every opportunity. A stronger strategy is to tailor the application to the specific internship and demonstrate how academic studies, projects, volunteer work and skills relate to the position.
There is no single degree that guarantees a UN career. The UN system recruits people from a wide variety of academic backgrounds.
Relevant fields can include:
For example, a computer science student could target digital transformation or data-related opportunities, while a law student could explore international law, human rights or legal affairs.
Yes. Students can also explore volunteer opportunities and online volunteering. Volunteering can help students develop practical skills while contributing to projects connected to development, humanitarian assistance and other international objectives.
However, students should understand that an internship or volunteer assignment does not automatically result in a permanent UN position.
The best preparation is to combine academic performance with practical experience. Students can build a stronger profile by developing foreign-language skills, participating in relevant student organizations, completing research projects, volunteering, learning data or digital tools and gaining experience in international or development-related projects.
The UN itself describes internships as an important opportunity for current students and recent graduates who are interested in diplomacy, public policy and international affairs.
Unchannel - 8/31/2026