WHO Internship Programme 2026–2027: Eligibility, Benefits and Application

WHO

Internships
Multiple Location
September 24, 2026

The WHO Internship Programme gives eligible university students and recent graduates an opportunity to gain practical experience with the World Health Organization. Opportunities are available in public health and technical fields, as well as areas such as management, administration, communications, external relations and human resources.

WHO internships are full-time and normally last 6 to 24 consecutive weeks. Applicants must be at least 20 years old, meet the education requirements, and hold a valid passport from a WHO Member State. Recent graduates can also be eligible if they apply within 18 months after completing their qualification.

There is no single annual deadline for the WHO Internship Programme. WHO publishes individual internship vacancies throughout the year, and each vacancy has its own requirements and closing date. Applications must be submitted through WHO’s online recruitment system, Stellis.

WHO Internship Programme Quick Details

Detail	Information
Organization	World Health Organization (WHO)
Opportunity	Internship
Locations	WHO offices in different locations
Eligible applicants	University students and qualifying recent graduates
Minimum age	20 years at application
Duration	6–24 consecutive weeks
Schedule	Full-time
Fields	Technical and administrative fields related to WHO work
Living allowance	Available to eligible selected interns; amount varies
Insurance	Medical and accident insurance during internship
Meals	Lunch vouchers/support may be available depending on duty station
Deadline	Varies by individual vacancy
Application system	WHO Stellis
Application route	Online through an advertised WHO internship vacancy

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What Is the WHO Internship Programme?

The WHO Internship Programme is designed to give students and recent graduates practical exposure to the work of an international public health organization.

Interns can work in WHO technical programmes or administrative areas. Depending on the specific vacancy, opportunities can involve public health, medicine, data, research, health emergencies, communications, management, human resources, external relations and other fields relevant to WHO’s work.

This means the programme is not limited only to medical students. The exact academic background required depends on the internship vacancy.

For example, WHO has advertised 2026 internships in digital health, human resources, health emergencies, collaborative analysis and language services, demonstrating the range of academic backgrounds that may be relevant.

Who Can Apply for a WHO Internship?

WHO sets general eligibility rules for its Internship Programme. Individual vacancies can add more specific requirements.

1. Age Requirement

You must be at least 20 years old on the date you submit your application.

2. Education Requirement

Applicants can be enrolled in undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate study at a university or equivalent institution.

The programme can cover academic backgrounds related to WHO’s technical work, including public health, medical and social fields. Relevant management, administrative, communications and external-relations fields can also qualify.

You must have completed at least three years of full-time university-level studies before starting the internship. WHO’s FAQ confirms that undergraduate students can qualify once they have completed at least three years of full-time study before the internship begins.

3. Recent Graduates

You do not necessarily need to be a current student.

WHO allows applicants who have completed a formal qualification to be considered if they apply for the internship within 18 months after completing that qualification.

4. Language Requirement

You must be fluent in at least one working language of the WHO office where the internship is based.

The exact language requirement is stated in each vacancy. Some positions can require more than one language.

WHO’s official languages are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish, but the specific language requirements depend on the office and position.

Is IELTS Required for WHO Internships?

WHO’s general internship requirements do not state that every applicant must submit IELTS or TOEFL.

However, this should not be interpreted as a universal “No IELTS” rule. WHO requires the language proficiency stated in the specific vacancy and may ask candidates during recruitment to demonstrate their language ability, including through an exercise or formal proof of a language test.

Applicants should therefore check the language section of the exact internship vacancy before applying.

5. Nationality Requirement

Applicants must hold a valid passport from a WHO Member State. WHO also states that candidates from across the world are invited to apply to the Global Internship Programme.

This is more precise than saying that every nationality automatically qualifies: applicants need to satisfy WHO’s Member State passport rule and all vacancy-specific requirements.

6. Family Relationship

You cannot be related to a WHO staff member in the relationships covered by WHO’s eligibility rule, such as parent/child or brother/sister.

7. Previous WHO Internship

You must not have previously participated in the WHO Internship Programme. WHO’s FAQ further explains that an individual can undertake only one WHO internship.

Eligible Fields for WHO Internships

There is no single academic-major list that applies to every vacancy.

WHO states that internships can relate to technical and administrative programmes. Relevant backgrounds can include public health, medicine and social fields connected to WHO’s technical work, along with management, administration, communications and external relations.

Individual advertisements can be considerably more specific. For example, a 2026 Digital Health internship accepted relevant backgrounds including public health, health informatics, public policy, environmental/climate science and related digital, scientific or social science disciplines.

Applicants should therefore judge their eligibility against the education section of the individual vacancy, not only the general programme page.

Is the WHO Internship Fully Funded?

It is more accurate to describe WHO internships according to the specific benefits provided rather than labeling the entire programme “fully funded.”

Living Allowance

WHO says eligible selected interns who need financial support may receive a living allowance. The exact support depends on factors including the duty station and other financial support available to the intern.

The amount is therefore not one fixed global stipend.

For a concrete current-cycle example, a WHO Geneva internship advertised in September 2026 lists a maximum allowance of CHF 739 per month for interns permanently resident at the duty station and CHF 1,680 per month for interns whose permanent residence is outside the duty station. The exact amount is determined after selection based on financial disclosure. These figures belong to that Geneva vacancy and should not be presented as the amount for every WHO internship.

Medical and Accident Insurance

WHO provides interns with medical and accident insurance during the internship period.

However, WHO explains that coverage before the internship begins and after it ends, including travel to and from the duty station, is the intern’s responsibility.

Meal Support

Lunch support depends on the duty station.

WHO’s FAQ states that interns may receive meal vouchers or a cash amount for lunch at some locations. Interns in Geneva receive lunch vouchers valued at CHF 20 per working day.

Travel Costs

Applicants should not assume that WHO pays airfare for every intern.

WHO’s current FAQ says that approved travel costs may be covered for some interns from least developed and middle-income countries. This is conditional rather than a universal travel benefit.

Accommodation

WHO does not assist candidates in finding accommodation, although information and tips may be provided in its intern welcome materials.

WHO specifically warns candidates considering Geneva internships that accommodation can be difficult to find and that living in Geneva is expensive.

Visa Costs

Selected interns are responsible for obtaining any necessary visa, and WHO states that visa costs are borne by the intern candidate.

WHO can provide internship confirmation and, when requested, a visa support letter to help with the visa application. An intern cannot undertake the internship in the host country using a tourist visa.

How Long Does a WHO Internship Last?

WHO internships last from a minimum of 6 weeks to a maximum of 24 weeks, and the weeks must be consecutive.

The individual WHO technical unit determines the exact duration according to its needs. Internships are full-time.

For example, several WHO internship vacancies published in 2026 specify a duration of 24 weeks.

Documents and Information Needed

The online Stellis application asks applicants to provide information covering:

eligibility;
education and current studies;
language skills;
experience;
qualifications and certifications;
training;
publications where relevant;
computer skills; and
motivation for the specific internship.

WHO advises applicants to write a specific cover letter for each internship rather than submitting the same generic letter to multiple vacancies. The official FAQ says the cover letter should explain why you are applying, what skills and experience you can contribute, and how the internship would benefit you. WHO recommends keeping it to no more than three paragraphs.

Do not send supporting documents separately unless WHO requests them.

Before an internship offer is extended, candidates may be required to provide proof of enrolment or completion of their last qualification, complete a Declaration of Interest, and provide WHO’s medical certificate of fitness for work.

Specific vacancies may require additional information or documentation, so applicants should follow the vacancy notice itself.

University Recognition Requirement

WHO states that it considers higher-education qualifications from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED). Some professional certificates that do not appear there may require individual review.

Applicants should consider this requirement when checking whether their academic qualification meets WHO’s rules.

How to Apply for the WHO Internship Programme

WHO does not accept internship applications outside its official recruitment system.

First, visit the WHO Internship Programme or WHO Careers page and find an internship vacancy relevant to your education and skills. Read the individual vacancy carefully because its academic field, languages, dates, duties and other requirements can differ.

Then create or access your candidate profile in Stellis, WHO’s online recruitment platform, and complete the application for that specific internship vacancy.

WHO’s FAQ says there is no limit to the number of internship vacancies you may apply for, but you should prepare a specific cover letter for each application.

WHO Internship Programme – Official Page

WHO Careers and Application Portal

WHO Internship Deadline 2026–2027

There is no single deadline covering the entire WHO Internship Programme.

WHO publishes opportunities continuously, and each internship vacancy has its own application deadline.

For example, two Geneva language-service internships published on 4 September 2026 have a closing date of 25 September 2026, with internships scheduled to start on 4 January 2027. This is an example of active 2026 recruitment for 2027 placements, not a programme-wide deadline.

Applicants should therefore check WHO Careers regularly rather than waiting for one annual application period.

What Happens After You Apply?

WHO states that only successful candidates are contacted.

According to its current FAQ, if you have not heard back within approximately four to eight weeks after the vacancy closes, you can assume that you were not shortlisted for that position.

Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an interview, and the selection process may also include a written test.

If you are not selected, you can apply for another WHO internship as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

Important Points Before Applying

Applicants should check the individual vacancy rather than relying only on the general programme rules. Field requirements, languages, duration, duty station, financial support and deadlines can differ between positions.

WHO also warns that its internships are highly competitive and that only a small number of applicants are selected each year.

WHO does not charge candidates recruitment fees. Applicants should use the official WHO Careers/Stellis system and be cautious of websites or individuals asking for money in exchange for a WHO application or recruitment service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can recent graduates apply for WHO internships?

Yes. Applicants who have already completed their qualification may be eligible if they apply within 18 months of completing it and satisfy the other requirements.

Can undergraduate students apply?

Yes, but they must have completed at least three years of full-time university study before the internship begins.

Can PhD students apply?

Yes. WHO’s internship FAQ explicitly confirms that doctoral students can apply.

Are WHO interns paid?

WHO distinguishes its financial support from a salary. Current vacancy notices state that interns do not receive a salary, but eligible interns can receive a living allowance whose amount varies by duty station and individual circumstances.

Does WHO provide accommodation?

No. WHO does not arrange accommodation for internship candidates, although it may provide guidance or information about finding accommodation.

Is there one WHO internship deadline?

No. Vacancies are posted continuously, and each vacancy has its own closing date.

Can I apply for more than one WHO internship?

Yes. WHO says there is no limit on the number of internship vacancies you may apply to. However, each application should have a position-specific cover letter.

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