World Health Organization
WHO Internship Programme
The World Health Organization's internship programme gives students and recent graduates six to 24 weeks inside WHO's technical and administrative teams, at its Geneva headquarters or in regional and country offices. WHO describes it as a way to build a diverse pool of future leaders in public health, and since 2020 it has paid a living allowance to interns who need financial support.
- Level
- Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
- Study or work in
- WHO headquarters in Geneva, and regional and country offices
- Who can apply
- Aged 20 or over, a WHO Member State passport, 3 years of university study, enrolled or within 18 months of graduating; no earlier WHO internship
- What it covers
- Medical and accident insurance; a living allowance for eligible interns who need financial support; lunch vouchers at some offices
- Length
- 6 to 24 consecutive weeks, full-time
- Application window
- All year: each internship is advertised separately with its own deadline
Open now
No call is open right now. All year: each internship is advertised separately with its own deadline
How to apply
Apply to a specific internship vacancy on WHO's online recruitment system, Stellis, with a profile covering education, languages and experience and a cover letter written for that position. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed by the technical unit, sometimes with a written test.
What interns do
WHO offers internships in its technical programmes and in administrative areas such as communication, external relations and human resources. The work depends on the position: each vacancy describes the tasks and the learning objectives, and interns complement their studies rather than being recruited as staff.
An internship lasts at least six and at most 24 weeks, which must be consecutive, and is always full-time; in Geneva that means eight hours a day, Monday to Friday. It takes place in one location only. At the end, the supervisor completes an evaluation, and interns can ask for a certificate and a letter of recommendation.
Who can apply
Applicants must be at least 20 on the day they apply and hold a valid passport of a WHO Member State. They must be enrolled in a course leading to a formal qualification (undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate) in public health, medicine or a social field related to WHO's technical work, or in management, administration, communications or external relations, or have finished such a qualification within the last eighteen months.
They must have completed three years of full-time university study before the internship starts, be fluent in at least one working language of the office, and never have done a WHO internship before. Close relatives of WHO staff cannot apply. Qualifications must come from an institution listed in the World Higher Education Database, and doctoral students are eligible.
Money, insurance and visas
All interns are covered by medical and accident insurance for the internship period, though not for travel to and from the duty station. Interns who need financial support can receive a living allowance, assessed from a Declaration of Interests form in which they list grants, bursaries and scholarships; some offices also give lunch vouchers.
Visas and their costs are the intern's responsibility, and a tourist visa is never acceptable. WHO provides a letter confirming the internship and, on request, a visa support letter. Interns in Switzerland should check with the Swiss embassy, since the authorities treat an internship at an international organisation as gainful employment. WHO does not help find housing, and it warns against paying deposits in advance.
How selection works
- Vacancy. Each internship is posted as its own vacancy on the WHO careers site, with its own requirements, dates and deadline.
- Application. Candidates apply to the vacancy through Stellis, the online recruitment system, with a profile and a cover letter for that position.
- Shortlist and interview. The technical unit contacts shortlisted candidates for an interview, which may include a written test. Others are not contacted.
- Offer. Selected candidates countersign a WHO Internship Offer Letter and complete a medical certificate before starting.
Questions
Is the internship paid?
Interns who need financial support can receive a living allowance, assessed from their Declaration of Interests. All interns have medical and accident insurance.
Can PhD students apply?
Yes, doctoral students are eligible.
I finished my degree last year. Can I still apply?
Yes, if you apply within eighteen months of completing your last qualification.
How many vacancies can I apply to?
As many as you like, with a specific cover letter for each.
Can I write my thesis during the internship?
There is no provision for it; any arrangement is at your supervisor's discretion, and unpublished WHO information cannot be used without permission.
Can my university sign an agreement with WHO?
No. WHO signs only its own Internship Offer Letter with the intern.
Does an internship lead to a WHO job?
No. Interns and former interns may apply for posts as external candidates like anyone else.
Do interns get time off?
Yes: 2.5 days a month, taken monthly or saved up with the supervisor's agreement.
Related programmes
Sources
Official pages last checked 28 September 2026.