The Judicial Fellowship Programme (formerly the University Traineeship Programme, established in 1999) places recent law graduates at the International Court of Justice in The Hague for approximately ten months. The Court generally selects around 15 fellows each year, all nominated by universities across the world.
Fellows work alongside the judges and support the Court’s judicial work, gaining professional experience in public international law. A UN trust fund, established in 2021, provides funded awards to selected nationals of developing countries to improve the programme’s geographical and linguistic diversity.
Benefits & funding
- Approximately ten months at the ICJ in The Hague, from early September to June of the following year.
- Hands-on experience supporting the judges of the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
- For trust-fund awardees (candidates nominated by universities based in developing countries): a monthly stipend covering living expenses in The Hague, plus travel and health-insurance costs, disbursed monthly directly by the UN Secretariat.
- Other fellows are supported by their nominating university; the programme does not publish a stipend figure for them.
- Around 15 fellows are selected each year.
Eligibility
- Recent law graduates with excellent results in their legal studies and a demonstrated interest in public international law.
- Aged 31 or younger at the start of the fellowship (exceptions may be made in special circumstances).
- Excellent written and oral command of at least one of the Court’s two official languages (English or French); a working knowledge of the other is an asset.
- Only universities may nominate candidates — the Court does not accept applications from individuals.
- Trust-fund awards are reserved for candidates nominated by universities based in developing countries; the programme itself is open to nominees from universities worldwide.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
Bachelor · Master
Age requirement
≤ 31 yrs
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Application process
- 1Interested candidates approach a university willing to nominate them — individuals cannot apply directly.
- 2The nominating university completes the ICJ online questionnaire and designates a focal point.
- 3The university submits the required documents: official nomination letter, ICJ personal history form, references, academic records, a writing sample, and a candidate profile summary.
- 4The Court reviews the nominations and selects around 15 fellows.
Program timeline
University nomination deadline (2026–2027 cycle)
Feb 5, 2026
Selection decisions communicated
By April
Fellowship begins
Early September
Fellowship ends
June (following year)