The World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat offers a range of internship programs tailored for post-graduate students. Interns are selected based on merit, considering eligibility criteria, academic qualifications, and expertise. There are three main internship programs at the WTO. Firstly, the WTO Internship Programme is available to post-graduate students from all WTO member countries and those involved in accession negotiations. Secondly, the China LDC and Accessions Programme, also known as the China WTO Accession Internship Programme, and thirdly, the WTO Support Programme for Doctoral Studies are specifically for post-graduate students from developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs).
These internship programs aim to enhance the diversity of the WTO. The WTO Internship Programme offers a valuable opportunity for post-graduate students from WTO member and observer countries to gain practical experience within the organization. Interns receive a daily allowance of CHF 60, inclusive of weekends and official holidays during the internship period. However, travel expenses to and from Geneva are not covered by the WTO, and interns are required to arrange their medical health insurance before commencing their internship in Switzerland.
To qualify for the WTO internship, applicants must be nationals of a WTO member state or a country engaged in accession negotiations, have completed undergraduate studies in a relevant field, finished at least one year of postgraduate studies, and be between 21 and 30 years old. While the application deadline is unspecified, interested candidates should submit their applications via the WTO external jobs platform. Only selected candidates will be contacted for interviews. The WTO maintains a roster of suitable candidates from which interns are chosen, and applications remain on the roster for one year. Although intake for the WTO Internship Programme is ongoing, specific vacancy notices for positions with unique qualifications may be posted on the WTO’s e-recruitment website. For more information, please visit the WTO website.
