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WHO Internships

How to apply

Application Dates and Deadlines

The application process requires developing an individual profile within WHO's e-Recruitment system. This profile covers your education, current studies, language skills and computer knowledge and experience.

Students may lack professional experience or find it challenging to complete the levels within the expertise section in eRecruit. Suggestion: Review your experience in light of your academic career or any activities you've done. Show how these experiences have provided you skills and competencies to work in a team, to make decisions and to solve problems. These may relate to your actual schooling or a personal situation.

You are encouraged to supply a Cover Letter to articulate your motivation for seeking a WHO Internship (maximum length - 3 paragraphs). In this letter describe what type of project you feel you could contribute while interning with WHO. Tell us about your ideas. As part of your covering letter, include your dates of availability and any additional information to facilitate the selection process.

If selected for a WHO Internship, you will be required to provide certified copies of proof of enrolment in a course of studies and proof of personal medical insurance (illness) coverage (which must include Switzerland.)

All applications for WHO Internships are acknowledged when received and are made available to technical units for review. The period of time for this review is indeterminate. If you do not hear from a WHO technical unit in a reasonable period of time (say 1-2 months after the application closing date), assume that you will not be considered for a WHO internship at this time.

As an important reminder, WHO Internships are not paid. Living in Geneva is expensive and finding accommodations can be challenging. All intern candidates should be aware of these factors before they consider applying for a WHO Internship. WHO does not provide financial support, so interns are encouraged to seek funding from other external sources.

Applying for funding can be time-consuming and complicated, so interns are advised to start their funding search well in advance. When applying for funding, you are likely to be requested to provide proof of offer stating that you have been accepted for an internship with the WHO. If you have been accepted for an internship with the WHO, and thereby eligible to join the intern community, additional information will be provided to you to aid you in identifying sources of funding.

Warning: If selected for an internship and you are identifying accommodations in Geneva, do NOT make advance payments or provide guarantee sums in advance of your arrival. This is particularly important is someone asks you to wire funds to Western Union or a bank outside of Switzerland. Never, under any circumstances, wire money at the the request of any prospective "landlord" via Western Union, Moneygram, or any other wire service. Even if they tell you to wire the funds to a friend or relative's name "to be safe", it is a trap! Never send a scan of your passport or other ID. These thieves will use your identity to scam others.
If in doubt, please write interns@who.int with your query.

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