The Young Professionals Programme is the United Nations Secretariat’s annual competitive recruitment examination for entry-level international civil servants. Exam areas change with staffing needs, and the 2025 external examination covered Global Communications.
Applicants apply for the announced exam area through Inspira, then proceed through screening, online written assessment and an oral interview. Successful candidates enter a three-year roster and may be selected for P-1 or P-2 posts at UN duty stations worldwide; roster placement does not guarantee employment.
Benefits & funding
- Candidates selected from the roster receive a salaried entry-level UN staff appointment at P-1 or P-2 level.
- The initial appointment is a two-year fixed-term contract; satisfactory performance may lead to a continuing contract.
- The roster remains valid for three years, during which suitable vacancies may arise.
- The UN charges no fee at any stage of recruitment.
Eligibility
- For the 2025 cycle, applicants had to be nationals of one of 47 participating Member States: Andorra, Angola, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. The list changes each year.
- Applicants had to be 32 or younger by 31 December 2025.
- A Bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent degree of at least three years, in a field relevant to the announced exam area was required; holders of higher degrees could also apply.
- Fluency in English or French was required.
- No prior work experience was required, and no residence or gender restriction was stated.
- Successful candidates must be willing to serve at any UN duty station or field operation.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Andorra · Angola · Belize · Brunei · China · Cuba · North Korea · Dominica · Equatorial Guinea · Germany · Grenada · Guinea-Bissau
+ 35 more
Indonesia · Iran · Israel · Japan · Kiribati · Kuwait · Laos · Liberia · Libya · Liechtenstein · Luxembourg · Malta · Marshall Islands · Micronesia · Monaco · Nauru · Oman · Palau · Panama · Papua New Guinea · Paraguay · Qatar · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · São Tomé and Príncipe · Saudi Arabia · Singapore · Slovenia · Solomon Islands · Timor-Leste · Turkmenistan · Tuvalu · UAE · USA · Vanuatu · Vietnam
Education required
Bachelor · Master · PhD
Age requirement
≤ 32 yrs
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Application process
- 1Check the current YPP page for the participating-country list and announced exam area.
- 2Open the relevant YPP job opening, create or update an Inspira profile and submit the complete application before the deadline.
- 3Eligible applications are screened against the exam-specific education, age, nationality and language requirements.
- 4Invited candidates complete an online written examination covering a general paper and specialized subject matter.
- 5Candidates who pass the written stage attend an oral competency-based interview by video conference.
- 6Successful candidates join the roster for possible selection into suitable P-1 or P-2 vacancies.
Program timeline
27 October 2025
The 2025 Global Communications job opening was posted.
Applications for the latest external cycle closed.
14 December 2025
Next cycle
The official pages reviewed do not publish an exact opening date.