Internship•Switzerland · Geneva

WIPO Internship Program

Funding

Partial / Stipend

Program dates

TBA

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the United Nations agency for intellectual property, runs an internship program for students and fresh graduates at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Interns contribute to work across fields such as law, IT, economics, communications, and project management, gaining hands-on experience in an international organization. Recruitment runs through an annual Internship Roster: candidates apply once, and their profiles are shared with relevant areas of WIPO and reviewed on a rolling basis as needs arise.

Benefits & funding

  • Monthly stipend: 1,645 CHF for Category I (undergraduate level) and 2,170 CHF for Category II (graduate level).
  • Travel: round-trip airfare reimbursed up to 1,500 CHF for nationals of developing countries, least-developed countries, and countries in transition.
  • Leave: 10 days of official holidays per year plus 2.5 days of annual leave for each month of internship.
  • Full medical and accident insurance coverage for the duration of the internship.
  • Professional exposure and international networking within a UN specialized agency.

Eligibility

  • Open to applicants of all nationalities; WIPO welcomes interns from diverse geographical backgrounds.
  • Category I: holders of a bachelor’s degree obtained within the last two years; undergraduate students in their third or fourth year; or master’s students who have not yet completed coursework or thesis.
  • Category II: holders of a master’s (advanced) degree obtained within the last two years; or graduate students who have completed coursework but not their thesis, or are pursuing a further degree.
  • Professional written and spoken knowledge of English and/or French.
  • No specific age limit; the program is intended as a learning opportunity for students and fresh graduates.
  • Former WIPO interns may not reapply; a prior internship at another UN organization does not disqualify an applicant.

Application process

  1. 1
    Explore the Internship Roster on WIPO’s online careers portal and register to create a profile.
  2. 2
    Submit the application, including the job questionnaire and a letter of motivation.
  3. 3
    Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; profiles are kept for one year and shared with relevant WIPO areas.
  4. 4
    Shortlisted candidates may be invited to complete an online interview or test (about 30–45 minutes).
  5. 5
    Selected candidates receive an offer and contract.

Program timeline

  1. Rolling

    a new Internship Roster is advertised each year and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

  2. Applications are retained for one year after submission.

  3. Internships last between 2 and 12 months (Category I

    2–6 months; Category II: 2–12 months).