StudyDesk Scholarships
About the internship
The World Trade Organization (WTO), based in Geneva, runs its internship programme for students and recent graduates who want to work inside the organisation that sets the rules of world trade. Interns join a division for three to six months of full-time work, supporting the WTO’s work on trade policy, dispute settlement, accessions or development — and the experience carries weight well beyond the placement itself, because WTO internships are one of the few routes into the trade-policy world for early-career professionals from member countries.
The programme is paid, but modestly: the general track pays CHF 60 a day, including weekends and holidays, and does not cover travel to Geneva or health insurance. Two specialist tracks are more generous — the China’s LDCs and Accessions Programme pays CHF 90 a day plus a return airfare and runs for up to ten months, and the doctoral support programme also covers travel. Applications run on a rolling roster, so the 31 December 2026 date is the cut-off for the current requisition rather than the end of the programme.
Eligibility
- Be a national of a WTO member country or of a country or customs territory negotiating accession to the WTO.
- Be at least 21 years old at the start of the internship and no older than 30.
- Hold a relevant undergraduate degree and have completed at least one year of a Master’s programme; or have completed a Master’s and be enrolled in higher postgraduate study; or have completed a Master’s or PhD within two years of selection.
- Be available for a full-time placement in Geneva of three to six months (up to ten months on the China’s LDCs and Accessions track).
Benefits
- A daily allowance of CHF 60 under the general programme, including weekends and holidays.
- CHF 90 a day plus a return airfare and a CHF 100-a-month health-insurance contribution under the China’s LDCs and Accessions Programme (up to ten months).
- Travel cover under the doctoral support programme.
- A full-time placement at WTO headquarters in Geneva, working inside the organisation that governs world trade.
- Experience that counts towards a career in trade policy, international law or development.
Documents to prepare
- An online application through the WTO external jobs platform.
- A current CV.
- A motivation letter for the specific track you apply to.
- Proof of your degree and enrolment status as set out in the requisition instructions — check the exact list on the posting you apply to, as it varies by track.
- No IELTS or TOEFL score is required by WTO.
How to apply
- Read the programme information on the WTO website (wto.org/english/thewto_e/vacan_e/iypp_e.htm) and decide which track fits you — general, China’s LDCs and Accessions, or doctoral support.
- Open the WTO external jobs platform (wto.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/External) and find the current internship requisition.
- Prepare your CV and motivation letter, tailored to the track and the division you want to join.
- Submit the online application before the requisition closes.
- Apply by 31 December 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Geneva time for the current general-programme requisition (JR103985) — suitable candidates are held on a one-year roster.
FAQs
CHF 60 a day under the general programme, including weekends and holidays. The China’s LDCs and Accessions Programme pays CHF 90 a day plus a return airfare and a CHF 100-a-month health-insurance contribution, and runs for up to ten months.
31 December 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Geneva time, for the current general-programme requisition (JR103985). The programme itself is rolling, with suitable candidates held on a one-year roster.
No. WTO does not require an IELTS or TOEFL score as part of its application. Language ability is assessed through the application itself.
Nationals of WTO member countries or of countries or customs territories negotiating accession, aged 21 to 30, with a relevant undergraduate degree and at least one year of a Master’s completed, or an equivalent postgraduate position.
Not under the general programme — interns arrange and pay for their own travel and their own health and accident insurance. The China’s LDCs and Accessions Programme covers the return airfare, and the doctoral support programme also covers travel.
Verified 25 Oct 2026: wto.org (official, WTO internship programme page) — programme structure and tracks; Opportunities Home, Scholarships.af, Opportunities Feed — current requisition JR103985, deadline 31 December 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Geneva time, CHF 60 a day (general) and CHF 90 a day plus airfare and CHF 100 a month health-insurance contribution (China’s LDCs and Accessions), 3–6 months general programme (up to 10 months LDCs track), rolling one-year roster, age 21–30, degree and enrolment requirements. "Without IELTS" is aggregator framing, not a WTO term; WTO requires no language test.
