OPCW Internship Programme

Benefits & funding

• Monthly stipend of €540, normally paid, subject to monthly certification of service by the intern’s supervisor.
• A supervisor inside the host section who handles orientation and gives guidance and structure on projects.
• A computer workstation for the length of the placement.
• Visa assistance from OPCW on request; the visa cost itself is not covered.
• The intern pays for travel, visas, taxes, accommodation, living expenses and repatriation, and finds their own housing in The Hague.
• The intern buys their own medical insurance covering hospitalisation for the internship plus one month, and third-party liability insurance valid in the Netherlands.

Eligibility

• One of three study routes: enrolled in a university degree with at least one year completed; enrolled in graduate school for a second degree or higher; or graduated from a university or graduate school within the year before the internship starts.
• Citizenship of an OPCW Member State, meaning one of the 193 States Parties listed in the structured eligibility field.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Each vacancy adds its own field of study and skills. The Office of the Legal Adviser posting asks for a law programme. The Budget and Finance posting asks for economics, accounting, finance, business administration or a related degree plus good knowledge of Excel. The International Cooperation posting names international relations and development studies as desirable.

Application process

1. 1
   Find an open internship vacancy on the OPCW internships page or the OPCW jobs portal, and read its branch-specific requirements and closing date.
2. 2
   Open the vacancy, click apply, then download, complete, save and upload the OPCW Candidate Application Template, which covers education, work experience, supplementary questions and a motivation statement.
3. 3
   Fill in the supplementary online form with personal and vacancy-specific details in one sitting, because that form cannot be saved and resumed.
4. 4
   Submit the complete application through OPCW CandidateSpace before 22:00 Netherlands local time on the closing date.
5. 5
   Wait to be contacted. Only applicants under serious consideration are approached.

Program timeline

1. International Cooperation Branch internship, application deadline.

   Aug 19, 2026

2. Office of the Legal Adviser internship, application deadline.

   Aug 26, 2026

3. Budget and Finance Branch (Disbursement Section) internship, application deadline.

   Sep 6, 2026

4. Proposed start date for the Office of the Legal Adviser and Budget and Finance placements.

   Oct 1, 2026

5. Alternative proposed start window for a second Office of the Legal Adviser placement.

   2027 Q1

6. Ongoing

   branches advertise internship vacancies separately, each with its own closing date, rather than through one annual round.