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European traineeships, internships and stages

Looking for a traineeship or a stage with a European institution? There are lots of options, including paid internships with the European Parliament in Brussels and traineeships with the European Court of Justice if you're a law or political science graduate.

European Parliament

Unpaid internships at the European Parliament last between one and four months and are aimed mainly at final-year students. Placements take place at fixed times (deadlines in brackets): 1 January (1 October); 1 May (1 February) and 1 September (1 June).
Internships are within one of Parliament’s divisions or Directorates-General, and can be in Brussels or Strasbourg. Applicants should submit a study plan, a CV and a university certificate or other proof of the relevance of their study.
Paid internships are open to graduates and carry a grant of €3,900 per month. As well as ‘official’ internships, many MEPs take on their own assistants.

European Commission

Each year, the European Commission employs around 1,400 graduates  trainees in two intakes or stages. The
summer intake starts on 1 March for which applications should be submitted by 30 September of the previous year. The winter intake starts on 1 October for which applications should be submitted by 1 March of the same year.

European Court of Justice

The Court offers a small number of paid traineeships each lasting up to five months. Applicants for the 1 March intake should apply by 1 October; those who wish to start on 1 October should apply by 1 May. You should have a degree in law or in political sciences and a command of the French language is an advantage.

European Central Bank

There are a limited number of posts at the ECB for graduates who have studied particular subjects including economics, finance, law, business administration, human resources and translation.

Committee of the Regions

Trainees who work for the Committee of the Regions start on 16 September (apply by 31 March) or 16 February (apply by 30 September).

Economic and Social Committee

Trainees at the EESC start on 16 February or 16 September, and you must apply by 30 September or 31 March respectively.

Court of Auditors

This Court has a very limited number of traineeships.

Council of Europe

Traineeships last three months from January to March, April to June or October to December.

Unpaid study opportunities

Study periods of one month are available at the Parliament’s Directorate-General for research.
Apply to:
European Parliament
Traineeships Office
KAD 02C008
L-2929 Luxembourg

Further help and research

Choosing a European country

European sector overview: law

Writing European applications that impress

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