The WTO Internship Programme gives eligible postgraduate students and recent graduates the opportunity to gain work experience at the World Trade Organization. Internships can last up to six months, and participants receive a daily allowance of CHF 60. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis rather than through a fixed annual recruitment period.
Programme Snapshot
Programme: WTO Internship Programme
Host: World Trade Organization
Category: Internship Programme
Duration: Up to 6 months
Remuneration: CHF 60 per day
Eligible Applicants: Eligible postgraduate students and recent postgraduate graduates
Application Period: Ongoing, with no specific recruitment period
About the WTO Internship Programme
The programme is one of the internship opportunities maintained by the WTO Secretariat for postgraduate students. Internship selections are merit-based and take account of eligibility requirements, academic qualifications and expertise.
Assignments are intended to strengthen interns’ understanding of the WTO and trade policy. The exact work depends on the WTO division to which an intern is assigned.
You may like: Digital, AI and Innovation Internship 2026 at UNDP
Areas of Work
WTO interns may work across a range of professional and technical areas.
• Trade law
• Economics
• Statistics
• Trade policy
• Languages
• Administration, including procurement, finance and human resources
• Information, communication and external relations
• Information management
Recommended: CERN Short-Term Internship Programme 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland
Duration and Remuneration
The WTO Internship Programme can last for a maximum of six months.
Confirmed financial conditions include:
✓ Daily allowance of CHF 60, including weekends and official holidays falling within the internship period
Travel expenses to and from Geneva are not paid by the WTO and are not covered by the Organization’s insurance. Medical health insurance is mandatory in Switzerland, and interns must arrange their own coverage before beginning the internship.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the conditions stated by the WTO.
• Be a national of a WTO member state or a country or customs territory engaged in accession negotiations.
• Have completed undergraduate studies in a relevant discipline.
• Be currently enrolled in a master’s degree with at least one year completed; or have completed a master’s degree and be enrolled in a higher-level postgraduate programme, including doctoral studies; or have completed a postgraduate master’s or PhD degree within the previous two years at the time of selection.
• Be at least 21 years old at the time of the internship.
Related opportunity on GrantForYouth: OIST Research Internship Spring 2027 in Japan (No IELTS Required)
Selection Process
The WTO states that internship selections are based on merit while considering applicants’ eligibility, academic qualifications and expertise.
Only candidates selected for an interview are contacted. Suitable candidates may be placed on a roster from which interns are selected, and suitable applications remain on that roster for one year.
Discover: IIAS Asia in the World Fellowship 2027–2028
How to Submit an Application
Candidates must submit their applications through the WTO external jobs platform. The online system provides instructions for completing the application procedure.
Intake is conducted on an ongoing basis, with no specific recruitment period. The WTO may also publish individual internship vacancy notices when particular qualifications or skills are required.
Apply Here
Submit your application through the official WTO external jobs platform.
