Who can apply?
- Applicants must be current students or recent graduates from a university or higher-education institution accredited by UNESCO and must have completed at least two undergraduate years in a relevant field.
- UNHCR requires English proficiency at a minimum B2 level. A second UN language or the language of the duty station may be required or preferred by an opening.
- Applicants cannot have a parent or sibling working for UNHCR as staff or an affiliate at application, and prior UNHCR internships count toward the cumulative program maximum.
- The selected vacancy decides the subject background, duty station, schedule, work arrangement and additional qualifications.
Completing two undergraduate years is a hard program-level rule, but it still does not guarantee fit. Every UNHCR vacancy adds its own field, language, location and assignment conditions.
Dates, pay & program timing
UNHCR internships can begin throughout the year and normally last two to six months. Cumulative participation may extend to eight months full time or 12 months part time. Interns without outside financial support receive a location-based allowance; remote internships are also compensated, and some return travel costs are reimbursed when an outside sponsor does not cover them.
View the deadline calendarThese details reflect the sources at the review date. An overview is not a live job offer. Check the official page for today's application status and the selected opening's written terms.
How to apply to UNHCR
- Check the two-completed-year and B2 English requirements, then create a complete profile on UNHCR's official recruitment platform.
- Choose a specific internship and tailor the letter of interest to its duties, location and required subject knowledge; applications must be submitted in English.
- Submit before the vacancy deadline and keep the system confirmation. Arrange the required medical insurance only if selected and after reviewing the written offer.
You leave FirstInternships to apply. We do not accept applications, offer referrals, or represent the employer.
Our editorial advice · not employer requirements
How to prepare a stronger application
Connect one piece of coursework or service to the actual function—protection research, public information, procurement, data, health or administration—and distinguish direct experience from academic study.
Prepare to work carefully with sensitive contexts and information. Use public or permitted material in any writing sample and avoid turning another person's displacement experience into a personal-brand story.
Your preparation, on this device
Make it a plan.
Checking an item saves this program. These are planning prompts, not a substitute for the employer's full requirements.
Add a stage & next actionUNHCR: questions before applying
Can college juniors apply to UNHCR internships?
Potentially. UNHCR requires at least two completed undergraduate years, but the individual vacancy must also match your field, language and location.
Are UNHCR internships paid?
UNHCR provides a location-based allowance to interns without outside financial support and says remote internships are also compensated.
How long do UNHCR internships last?
They normally run two to six months, with cumulative limits of eight months full time or 12 months part time.
Official sources & update notes
We reviewed these publisher pages on . They establish the program facts above; our preparation suggestions are independent editorial guidance.
- UNHCR official internship page: eligibility, duration, allowance, locations and insurance
- UNHCR application guidance: recruitment profile, English applications and selection steps
We do not infer deadlines, remote eligibility, or guaranteed offers from older recruiting cycles. Read our editorial process.