The WHO Internship Programme offers students and recent graduates opportunities to gain practical experience in global public health, administration, communications and related fields. Learn about WHO internship eligibility, application requirements, benefits, duration and how to apply through the official WHO careers system.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Internship Programme provides students and recent graduates with an opportunity to gain practical exposure to the work of one of the world’s leading international public health organizations.
The programme is designed to help develop future public health professionals by connecting eligible participants with WHO technical and administrative programmes. Interns can gain experience in areas ranging from public health and medicine to communications, external relations and human resources.
According to the programme information provided by WHO, internships are available across different organizational locations, including WHO headquarters, regional offices and country offices. Opportunities are posted continuously, meaning applicants should regularly monitor available vacancies and their individual deadlines.
Background & Internship Description
The WHO Internship Programme is intended to give students and recent graduates practical insight into the technical and administrative work of the organization.
WHO describes its internship programme as part of its effort to develop a diverse pool of future public health leaders. Participants can gain knowledge of health-sector systems, international stakeholders and the processes involved in advancing global health objectives.
The programme can also benefit WHO teams by bringing students with academic backgrounds relevant to the organization’s technical and administrative activities.
Internship opportunities may be available in areas such as:
- Public health
- Medicine
- Social sciences
- Management
- Administration
- Communications
- External relations
- Human resources
- Other fields related to WHO’s technical work
The exact responsibilities, qualifications and application deadline depend on the individual internship vacancy.
WHO Internship Programme Eligibility
Applicants must meet several requirements before they can be considered for a WHO internship.
Age Requirement
Candidates must be at least 20 years old on the date they submit their application.
Education Requirement
Applicants must be enrolled in a university or equivalent institution in a programme leading to a formal qualification.
Relevant fields include public health, medicine, social sciences and other disciplines connected to WHO’s technical work. Applicants studying management, administration, communications or external relations may also qualify for relevant internship positions.
Individuals who have already completed a qualification may also be considered if they apply within 18 months of completing their formal qualification.
Applicants must also have completed at least three years of full-time university-level study before beginning the internship.
Language Requirement
Candidates must be fluent in at least one of the working languages of the WHO office where the internship is based.
Because individual vacancies can have additional language requirements, applicants should carefully review each position before applying.
Nationality Requirement
Applicants must hold a valid passport from a WHO Member State.
Previous WHO Internship
Candidates who have previously participated in the WHO Internship Programme are not eligible to participate again.
Applicants must also not be related to a WHO staff member, including a parent, child or sibling.
Internship Duration and Working Requirements
WHO interns must be available to work full-time for a minimum of six weeks and up to a maximum of 24 weeks, depending on the requirements of the relevant technical unit.
Before an internship begins, successful candidates may be required to provide evidence of university enrolment or proof that they have completed their most recent qualification.
Interns must also complete relevant documentation, including a declaration concerning potential conflicts of interest and a WHO medical certificate of fitness for work.
WHO specifically advises applicants not to send supporting documents until they are requested to do so.
WHO Internship Benefits
The programme provides several forms of support for interns.
WHO states that all interns receive medical and accident insurance coverage for the duration of their internship.
Since January 2020, WHO has also provided a living allowance to eligible selected interns who require financial support. The exact amount is determined according to the applicable internship vacancy and the relevant assessment.
Interns may also receive lunch vouchers at certain duty stations.
However, applicants should carefully consider the cost of living associated with their chosen duty station. WHO specifically notes that living in Geneva can be expensive and that finding accommodation can be challenging.
Insurance coverage before and after the internship, including travel to and from the duty station, remains the individual’s responsibility.
Where Are WHO Internships Available?
WHO internship vacancies can be available in different organizational locations around the world.
These may include:
- WHO headquarters
- Regional offices
- Country offices
- Other organizational locations specified in individual vacancy announcements
Because opportunities are published on a continuous basis, applicants should not rely on a single annual deadline. Instead, they should regularly check the WHO internship listings for newly posted positions.
How to Apply for a WHO Internship
Applications must be submitted through the WHO Careers website using the organization’s online recruitment system, Stellis.
WHO states that there is no alternative method for submitting an internship application outside Stellis.
Applicants should therefore:
- Review available WHO internship vacancies.
- Identify positions matching their academic background and interests.
- Carefully review the specific eligibility requirements.
- Check the vacancy’s application deadline.
- Prepare the required application information.
- Submit the application through the WHO online recruitment system.
- Monitor the application and follow any instructions provided by WHO.
Because internship vacancies can have different requirements and deadlines, applicants should evaluate each position individually rather than assuming that the general programme requirements apply identically to every vacancy.
What Makes the WHO Internship Programme Competitive?
WHO internships are highly competitive, and the organization states that only a relatively small number of applicants are selected each year.
Applicants should therefore make sure their academic background, interests and experience are clearly connected to the internship for which they apply.
Strong candidates should pay particular attention to the requirements listed in each vacancy and ensure that their application accurately represents their qualifications.
The international nature of WHO’s work also means that an internship can provide valuable exposure to global health systems, international cooperation and multidisciplinary approaches to public health.
However, completing a WHO internship does not automatically lead to employment with WHO. The organization explains that interns and former interns remain free to apply for external vacancies for which they are qualified, but all employment is subject to the established recruitment and selection procedures.
Important Information for Applicants
WHO interns do not have the status of WHO staff members and cannot represent the organization officially.
WHO also states that it only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED). Professional certificates that are not listed in WHED may require individual review.
Applicants should also be cautious about unofficial websites or individuals claiming to offer WHO internships. The application information provided here indicates that legitimate internship applications must go through the WHO recruitment system.
Final Thoughts
The WHO Internship Programme offers students and recent graduates a structured opportunity to gain practical exposure to international public health and related administrative work.
With opportunities spanning technical disciplines, communications, administration and other areas, the programme can be relevant to candidates pursuing different academic and professional pathways.
The key requirements include meeting the age and education criteria, having completed at least three years of university-level study before the internship, satisfying the relevant language requirements, holding a passport from a WHO Member State and not having previously participated in the WHO Internship Programme.
Because vacancies are published continuously and individual positions can have different requirements, prospective applicants should regularly check the official WHO careers system and apply only through Stellis.
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