The WHO Global Internship Programme 2026 offers students and recent graduates the opportunity to gain practical experience with the World Health Organization in public health, medicine, social sciences, communications, management and other related fields. Eligible interns may receive medical and accident insurance and, subject to eligibility and financial-support assessment, a WHO living allowance. Internships run for 6 to 24 weeks and are advertised continuously through the official WHO careers system.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Internship Programme is designed to give students and recent graduates practical exposure to the technical and administrative work of the world’s leading global public health organisation.
WHO explains that a strong and dynamic health workforce is essential for advancing global health goals. The internship programme therefore seeks to help develop a diverse pool of future public health leaders by giving eligible participants opportunities to learn about WHO’s technical and administrative programmes.
The programme is broader than traditional public health placements. WHO states that internships can be available in technical areas as well as administrative functions such as communications, external relations and human resources.
Interns have an opportunity to strengthen their knowledge and professional experience while contributing to the work of WHO teams.
Internship Areas
WHO offers internship opportunities across different technical and administrative programmes.
Potential areas include:
Public health
Medicine and health-related fields
Social sciences
Management
Administration
Communications
External relations
Human resources
The precise responsibilities, academic requirements and location depend on the individual internship vacancy.
WHO internships can be offered at different organisational locations, including:
WHO headquarters
Regional offices
Country offices
Because opportunities are advertised continuously, applicants should regularly check the official WHO careers system for new positions.
WHO Internship Eligibility Requirements
WHO provides specific eligibility criteria for its Internship Programme.
Age Requirement
Applicants must be at least 20 years old on the date of application.
Education
Applicants must be enrolled in a university or equivalent institution leading to a formal qualification at undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate level.
The field of study must be relevant to the work of the WHO office or programme. This can include:
Public health
Medicine
Social sciences
Management
Administration
Communications
External relations
Applicants who have already completed a qualification may also be considered, provided they apply within 18 months following completion of the formal qualification.
In addition, applicants must have completed three years of full-time university study before starting the internship.
Language Requirements
Applicants must be fluent in at least one working language of the office of assignment.
The language requirement can therefore vary depending on where the internship is based.
Nationality
Applicants must hold a valid passport from a WHO Member State.
Previous WHO Internship
Applicants must not have previously participated in the WHO Internship Programme.
Family Relationship
Applicants cannot be related to a WHO staff member in specified close family relationships, including as a son or daughter, brother or sister, or mother or father.
Internship Duration
WHO states that interns must be available to work full-time.
Internships can last:
Minimum: 6 weeks
Maximum: 24 weeks
The exact duration depends on the requirements of the WHO technical unit and the individual vacancy.
Candidates should therefore check the specific internship announcement for the precise start date, end date and working arrangements.
WHO Internship Benefits
Medical and Accident Insurance
WHO provides interns with medical and accident insurance coverage during the internship period.
However, WHO states that insurance before the internship begins and after it ends, including travel to and from the duty station, is the intern’s own responsibility.
Living Allowance
Since January 2020, WHO has provided a living allowance to eligible selected interns who require financial support.
Importantly, this is not automatically guaranteed to every intern.
WHO assesses eligibility for financial support based on information disclosed through the required Declaration of Interests process, including other financial support such as grants, bursaries and scholarships.
Applicants should therefore check the individual vacancy notice for the applicable living allowance amount.
Lunch Vouchers
Lunch vouchers may be available at some duty stations, depending on the location.
Application Process
WHO states clearly that all internship applications must be submitted through the internship vacancy notices published on the WHO Careers site using its online recruitment system, Stellis.
There is no alternative application route for WHO internships outside the Stellis system.
Step 1: Search Available Internships
Applicants should use the WHO careers portal to search for current internship vacancies.
Because vacancies are published continuously, the available opportunities and deadlines change regularly.
Step 2: Review the Vacancy
Every internship announcement can have different:
Qualifications
Academic requirements
Languages
Location
Duration
Application deadline
Applicants should carefully read the complete vacancy notice before applying.
Step 3: Submit Through Stellis
Eligible candidates should complete the application through the WHO online recruitment system.
WHO does not accept internship applications outside the official system.
Documents and Pre-Internship Requirements
WHO states that successful candidates must provide evidence of their eligibility before beginning the internship.
This includes:
Proof of university enrolment, or proof of completion of the latest qualification where applicable.
WHO medical certificate of fitness for work before the internship starts.
Declaration of Interests, including disclosure of relevant financial support.
WHO specifically asks candidates not to send supporting documents until they are requested.
Candidate Obligations
Before an internship offer is extended, candidates must be prepared to meet several requirements.
They must be available for the required full-time internship period.
They must provide documentation confirming their education or qualification status.
They must disclose circumstances that could create potential conflicts of interest.
They must provide the required medical fitness documentation before starting.
These requirements are part of WHO’s formal internship process.
Internship Locations
WHO internships may be available across a variety of organisational locations.
Opportunities can be based at:
WHO headquarters
WHO regional offices
WHO country offices
The availability of positions depends on operational and programme needs.
Applicants interested in a particular country or region should therefore search the WHO careers portal regularly rather than assuming that internships are permanently available in a particular location.
Important Information for Geneva Internships
WHO specifically warns applicants about internships based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Although eligible interns may receive a living allowance, WHO notes that the cost of living in Geneva is high and accommodation can be difficult to find.
Candidates considering a Geneva internship should therefore carefully assess their overall financial requirements before accepting an offer.
Competition and Selection
WHO describes its internships as very competitive.
Only a relatively small number of applicants are selected each year, and only successful candidates are contacted.
Not being selected for one vacancy does not prevent a candidate from applying for another WHO internship, provided they remain eligible and have not previously participated in the WHO Internship Programme.
Career Value of the WHO Internship
A WHO internship can provide valuable exposure to international public health systems and the work of a major multilateral health organisation.
For students and recent graduates, it can help develop a better understanding of how technical experts, policymakers, administrators, communications specialists and other professionals contribute to global health programmes.
The experience may be particularly relevant to candidates interested in future careers in:
Global health
Public health
International development
Health policy
Health communications
International organisations
Human resources
Programme management
Important Disclaimer for Applicants
WHO interns do not have the status of WHO staff members and cannot represent WHO officially.
Participation in an internship also does not automatically lead to employment.
WHO explains that interns and former interns may apply as external candidates for vacancies for which they are qualified, provided the positions are open to external candidates.
In addition, WHO does not enter into agreements required by universities, sponsors or other institutions concerning its internships.
Final Thoughts
The WHO Global Internship Programme 2026 provides a structured pathway for eligible students and recent graduates to gain practical experience in global public health and related administrative fields.
The programme accepts applicants from diverse academic backgrounds, including public health, medicine, social sciences, management, administration, communications and external relations. Internships can take place at WHO headquarters, regional offices or country offices and normally last between 6 and 24 weeks.
WHO provides medical and accident insurance during the internship and may provide a living allowance to eligible interns who need financial support. However, the allowance is subject to an eligibility assessment and the precise amount should be checked in the relevant vacancy notice.
The most important step for prospective applicants is to monitor the official WHO careers portal, because internships are posted continuously and each vacancy has its own requirements and deadline.
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