The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) is the UN body for ocean science and services, and coordinates the UN Ocean Decade. This posting fills a pool of intern candidates, not one specific opening.
Interns spend one to six months at UNESCO Headquarters, a field office or an institute, supporting research, data, partnerships, Ocean Decade operations, meetings and communications.
Benefits & funding
- No pay: UNESCO gives no compensation, financial or otherwise.
- 2.5 days of leave a month, plus 1 working day per complete month.
- Limited workplace insurance, only for harm caused by the internship work.
- You pay your own travel, arrange any visa, and must prove comprehensive health insurance for the whole stay.
Eligibility
- Aged 20 or over.
- One of: enrolled in the third or final year of a Bachelor’s; enrolled in a second degree, Master’s or PhD; or holding a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD completed no more than 12 months before the internship agreement is issued (diploma date).
- Technical/vocational applicants: final year at a specialised institution, or graduated within 12 months.
- Excellent written and spoken English or French.
- No nationality restriction is stated.
Application process
- 1Apply online in English or French by 31 December 2026; the questionnaire must be finished within one hour.
- 2Your candidacy stays in the pool for six months; only selected candidates are contacted.
- 3UNESCO signs only its own Internship Agreement, never a university’s internship convention.
Program timeline
Application deadline
Dec 31, 2026 (midnight)
Six months after applying
candidacy lapses if no one has made contact