WHO Internship Programme: Eligibility, Living Allowance and How to Apply

The World Health Organization (WHO) Internship Programme lets students and recent graduates work with WHO teams for 6 to 24 weeks. Interns receive medical and accident insurance, and eligible interns receive a living allowance. There is no single yearly deadline. WHO posts internship vacancies through the year, and you apply to a specific vacancy.

This guide explains who can apply, what WHO provides, how to find and apply for vacancies, and what to check before you accept. It was last checked against the WHO careers website on 4 October 2026.

WHO Internship Programme at a glance

What is the WHO Internship Programme?

The programme gives students practical experience of the technical and administrative work of WHO. Interns are placed with a WHO unit that needs support, in areas such as public health, communications, management or external relations.

What does WHO provide?

• Medical and accident insurance for the period of the internship.
• A living allowance for eligible interns. WHO has provided this since January 2020, and the amount is stated in each vacancy notice.

Insurance before and after the internship, including during travel to and from the duty station, is your own responsibility. WHO also warns that Geneva is expensive and that accommodation can be hard to find, so plan your budget before you accept an offer there.

Who can apply?

• Age: you are at least 20 years old on the date of application.
• Education: you are enrolled in a university course leading to a formal qualification, at undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate level. Applicants who have recently completed a qualification may also qualify.
• Field: public health, medical or social fields related to WHO’s technical work, or management, administration, communications or external relations.
• Passport: you hold a valid passport of a WHO Member State.
• First time: you have not taken part in WHO’s Internship Programme before.

Documents you need

• An online profile and application in WHO’s recruitment system
• Proof of enrolment, or proof that you completed your last qualification
• A cover letter for the specific vacancy

Interns must also disclose anything that could be a conflict of interest with the work they will do.

How to apply, step by step

1. Go to the WHO Careers site and filter the vacancies for internships.
2. Read each vacancy notice: the unit, duty station, dates, requirements and living allowance.
3. Create your profile in the Stellis recruitment system.
4. Apply to the vacancy with a cover letter written for that role.
5. Wait to be contacted by the unit if you are shortlisted.

WHO accepts applications only through vacancy notices in Stellis. It does not accept applications sent by email or outside the system.

Tips to strengthen your application

• Apply to vacancies that match your field of study.
• Explain in your cover letter what you can contribute to that unit’s work.
• Keep your profile complete and up to date, since units search it.
• Check that you can work full-time for the whole period.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Sending an application by email.
• Applying when you are under 20.
• Applying again after a previous WHO internship.
• Accepting a Geneva placement without checking the cost of living.

How to read a WHO internship vacancy

WHO does not run one general intake. Each office posts its own vacancies during the year, and each notice has its own deadline. Before you apply, find these six things in the notice:

1. Duty station: the city and office where you would work.
2. Duration and start date: internships last between 6 and 24 weeks.
3. The tasks: what you would actually do each week.
4. The field of study required: your degree must match it.
5. The working language: you need to be fluent in at least one working language of that office.
6. The closing date: note the time zone as well.

Apply only where your studies and skills fit the tasks. A focused application to one suitable vacancy is stronger than the same text sent to ten.

Check your eligibility in one minute

Plan your money before you apply

This is the part most applicants misunderstand. WHO gives every intern medical and accident insurance. A living allowance is paid only to interns who are eligible and need financial support, and the amount is stated in each vacancy. Travel to the duty station is not covered.

• Estimate rent, food and local transport in the duty station for the full period.
• Add your flight and any visa cost.
• Compare the total with the allowance in the vacancy and with your own savings.
• Ask your university about travel grants or internship funds for students.

If the numbers do not work for a distant office, look for vacancies in a country office nearer to you.

How to write your motivation statement

Keep it short and specific. Three short paragraphs are enough.

1. Why this vacancy: name the unit or topic and one reason it matches your studies.
2. What you bring: two skills with evidence, such as a thesis method, a data tool or field experience.
3. What you want to learn: one clear learning goal, and how you will use it afterwards.

Weak: "I am passionate about global health and want to work at WHO." Stronger: "My final-year project analysed dengue reports from three districts using R. I would like to apply these skills to the surveillance tasks described in this vacancy."

After you apply

WHO contacts only successful candidates, so you may not receive a reply. Do not send documents until you are asked. Keep studying and applying elsewhere, and save a copy of each vacancy notice, because it disappears from the website after the deadline.

How an internship helps your scholarship applications

An internship at an international organisation gives you three things for later applications: a concrete example of your work for your essays, a supervisor who may write a reference, and a clearer career plan. Write down your tasks and results every week while you are there. You will need exact details months later.

If you are not eligible yet

The UNICEF Internship Programme accepts applicants from the age of 18. You can also build knowledge with free online courses from UN agencies while you complete your third year of study.

If WHO contacts you: questions to prepare

A hiring unit may ask for a short call or written answers before it decides. Prepare these in advance:

• Why this unit? Name its topic and one piece of its recent work.
• What can you do in the first two weeks? Give skills you can use at once, such as a data tool, literature review or drafting in a working language.
• When are you available, and for how long? Know your exact dates, and check them with your university.
• How will you fund your stay? Be ready to explain your plan honestly, including whether you would need the living allowance.

Practical points for your stay

Insurance is provided, but most other arrangements are yours. Unless the vacancy says otherwise, expect to organise your own travel, visa and housing. Start the visa process as soon as you receive a written offer, ask the unit for the supporting letter you will need, and look for shared student housing near the office. Keep copies of your offer, your insurance details and your university’s enrolment letter with you.

Frequently asked questions

Does WHO pay for my flight?

No. Travel to the duty station is not covered.

Can final-year students apply?

Yes, if you are enrolled, are at least 20 years old, and will have completed three years of full-time study before the internship starts.

Does WHO charge an application fee?

No. Apply only through the official WHO careers website, and be careful with anyone who asks for payment.

Is the WHO internship paid?

WHO provides a living allowance to eligible interns. The amount is in each vacancy notice.

How long is the internship?

From 6 to 24 weeks, full-time.

When is the deadline?

Each vacancy has its own closing date.

Can graduates apply?

Applicants who have recently completed a qualification may qualify. Check the rule in the vacancy notice.

Is IELTS required?

WHO does not list a required English test for internships. Language needs are stated in each vacancy.

Where to apply

Find vacancies on the official WHO Internship Programme page. See also our UNICEF internship guide and our resume and CV guide.

For the key facts in one place, see our WHO Internship Programme page.