The Danish Refugee Council is offering a six-month internship in Copenhagen starting January 2027. Gain experience supporting UN humanitarian deployments, recruitment and administration. Apply by 30 October 2026.
Background & Job Description
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is inviting applications for its Standby Roster Team Internship, a six-month opportunity based at the organisation’s headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The internship offers students an opportunity to gain practical experience in humanitarian operations, international affairs and the work of the United Nations. The Standby Roster team helps UN agencies and DRC operations respond to humanitarian needs by deploying qualified experts to fill capacity gaps in the field.
As an intern, you will support the coordination of expert deployments, recruitment and onboarding activities, communications, training and administrative operations. The internship is scheduled to run from mid-January to mid-July 2027.
Applications close on 30 October 2026.
Internship Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Danish Refugee Council (DRC) |
| Internship | Standby Roster Team Internship |
| Location | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Duration | Six months |
| Start date | Mid-January 2027 |
| End date | Mid-July 2027 |
| Working hours | 32 hours per week |
| Employment arrangement | National contract |
| Remuneration | Unpaid |
| Application deadline | 30 October 2026 |
| Job ID | 176950 |
| Official application | Apply through DRC Careers |
Tasks and Internship Benefits
The selected intern will join the Standby Roster team within DRC’s People and Organization Department. The role involves supporting activities that help prepare, coordinate and facilitate humanitarian deployments.
Responsibilities may include:
- Updating website information and contributing to social media communications.
- Writing and distributing quarterly newsletters to roster members.
- Supporting administrative and financial tasks using Excel and the internal Dynamics system.
- Assisting with travel arrangements, expense processing and responses to enquiries.
- Supporting induction training for new roster members.
- Assisting with recruitment, reference collection and onboarding.
- Attending briefings and debriefings with roster members before and after deployments.
- Registering UN deployment and training requests in the HERO database.
- Developing a project that addresses the team’s needs and aligns with the intern’s interests and competencies.
Learning Opportunities
The internship provides an opportunity to gain experience within an international humanitarian organisation and learn more about the humanitarian system and DRC’s UN partners.
Interns will have opportunities to take responsibility for tasks, work independently and collaborate with an international team. DRC also offers some flexibility in assigning duties to accommodate relevant study requirements.
Remuneration and Benefits
The internship is unpaid. However, DRC lists the following benefits:
- 2.08 unpaid vacation days per month, which may be taken as earned or accumulated.
- Free lunch in the staff canteen when it is open.
- Free participation in the organisation’s winter or summer party, subject to the dates.
Applicants should consider the cost of living in Copenhagen and confirm any additional financial arrangements before accepting an offer.
Qualifications and Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Have completed at least two years of higher education.
- Be enrolled at a university throughout the entire internship period.
- Be fluent in spoken and written English.
- Have an interest in international affairs and humanitarian assistance.
- Be able to handle complex tasks and work in a challenging environment.
- Demonstrate initiative, flexibility and the ability to work independently.
The preferred field of study is social sciences and/or international affairs, although the advertisement states that the specific field of study is not paramount.
Experience or an understanding of humanitarian-sector funding mechanisms is considered an advantage.
Candidates must also be committed to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including communicating effectively, collaborating, taking the lead, striving for excellence and demonstrating integrity.
Work Authorisation in Denmark
Applicants who do not already have the right to work in Denmark through their nationality or an existing work visa will need to apply for the appropriate authorisation if selected. DRC warns that this process can take up to three months from initiation.
International applicants should investigate the relevant requirements early enough to meet the anticipated January 2027 start date.
Additional Information
The internship is based at the Danish Refugee Council headquarters at Lyngbyvej 100, Copenhagen, Denmark. Working hours are 32 per week, with flexibility available for study-related obligations.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must submit:
- An updated CV in English.
- A cover letter in English.
- Documentation confirming current university enrolment.
- Written references, if available.
Applicants applying for more than one DRC internship should indicate this in their cover letter.
How to apply: Complete the online application through the official DRC application portal.
The deadline is 30 October 2026. DRC reviews applications as they arrive and may conduct interviews before the closing date, either at its Copenhagen headquarters or remotely through Microsoft Teams. Early applications are therefore encouraged.
For questions about the internship, contact the Standby Roster Team at sbr@drc.ngo.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Danish Refugee Council Internship 2027?
It is a six-month internship with DRC’s Standby Roster team, supporting humanitarian deployments, recruitment, communications, training and administration.
2. Where is the internship located?
The internship is based at DRC headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark.
3. When does the internship start and end?
The advertised period runs from mid-January 2027 to mid-July 2027.
4. Is the Danish Refugee Council internship paid?
No. The internship is unpaid. DRC offers 2.08 unpaid vacation days per month, free lunch when the canteen is open and participation in its winter or summer party, subject to dates.
5. Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must have completed at least two years of higher education, remain enrolled at a university throughout the internship, be fluent in English and have an interest in international affairs and humanitarian assistance.
6. Which fields of study are preferred?
Social sciences and international affairs are the suggested fields, but DRC states that the specific field of study is not paramount.
7. Can international applicants apply?
Applicants may apply, but they must meet Denmark’s work-authorisation requirements. Those without an existing right to work in Denmark may need to apply for authorisation if selected.
8. What documents are required?
Applicants need an English CV, an English cover letter and proof of university enrolment. Written references may also be submitted if available.
9. What is the application deadline?
The closing date is 30 October 2026. Interviews may take place before the deadline, so early applications are recommended.
10. How can I apply?
Apply through the official Danish Refugee Council vacancy page.
Opportunities Feed Assessment
The DRC Standby Roster Team Internship may suit students interested in humanitarian assistance, international organisations and the operational work behind UN deployments. It offers practical exposure to recruitment, deployment coordination, communications and administration.
However, candidates should carefully consider the unpaid nature of the internship, Copenhagen living costs, the university-enrolment requirement and any work-authorisation arrangements before applying.
Disclaimer: Opportunities Feed shares employment, internship and education opportunities for informational purposes. It is not affiliated with the Danish Refugee Council and does not recruit on the organisation’s behalf. Applicants should verify requirements and application details through the official DRC website.
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