Administrative Traineeships at the European Commission - October 2026

Eligibility requirements

Applicants are eligible to apply if they meet all the following conditions:

• Have successfully completed a full three-year university degree (EQF Level 6) or equivalent
  Find out more about EQF levels.
• Satisfy all language proficiency requirements
• Hold a valid passport or nationality card
• Can provide proof for all qualifications and professional experience declared in the application. 

Candidates who have any prior or ongoing professional experience in any European Institution, body or agency, longer than 6 weeks (42 calendar days), will be excluded.

1. Educational requirements

The candidate must have completed and obtained a full higher-education degree, corresponding to an EQF level 6 or higher, of at least 180 ECTS credits, or equivalent to at least a completed higher-education cycle. 

Important clarifications

• The degree must be fully completed and the diploma obtained at the time of application.
• The university degree or equivalent qualification must cover a minimum period of three academic years. 
  Applicants must hold either a diploma or official academic transcripts confirming completion of the cycle. Applications submitted without such proof will be deemed ineligible.
• Degrees obtained outside the European Union are accepted if they correspond to a completed three-year higher-education cycle. 
  Applicants whose degree does not award ECTS credits are eligible only if they can demonstrate completion of a standard three-year higher-education programme; in such cases, a minimum of 180 ECTS must nevertheless be indicated in the application.
• Self-declarations are not accepted, except for Italian candidates, since they are legally recognised for education in Italy. Any such document must be duly dated and signed and/or stamped by the University. 

2. Language knowledgeEU nationals

Applicants must demonstrate a very good knowledge of two official EU languages:

• The first one must be the one of the European Commission working languages:
  English, French or German at C1 or C2 level (or mother tongue)
• Second official EU language: at least B2 level (or mother tongue).

Non-EU nationals

Applicants must demonstrate a very good knowledge of one of the European Commission working languages:

• English, French or German: at least C1 or C2 level (or mother tongue).

Notes

• Language proficiency levels are defined in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
• Mother tongues are considered for eligibility purposes but are not scored.
• Residence in a country does not constitute proof of language proficiency.
• Participation in Erasmus mobility programmes does not constitute proof of language proficiency.  

3. No prior experience in EU Institutions

Candidates who have any prior or ongoing professional experience in any European Institution, body or agency, longer than 6 weeks (42 calendar days), will be excluded.

Any such experience will count as professional experience regardless of:

• Formal or informal, paid or unpaid status
• Full-time or part-time work
• Accumulated continuous or non-continuous periods, and includes all types of professional and internship experience gained as:
  • Staff member
  • Interim staff
  • Intra-muros consultant
  • Researcher
  • Trainee.

The rule covers activities carried out within:

• EU institutions, bodies or agencies
• EU delegations or representations
• Cabinets of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)
• Offices of Advocates General at the Court of Justice of the EU.

The European Commission may verify compliance and exclude applicants at any stage of the selection process, including after application submission, during evaluation, or after acceptance of a placement offer. 

4. Age

• 18 years or older on the starting date of the traineeship. 

5. Nationality

Applicants must be nationals of: 

• A member state of the European Union, or
• A candidate country benefiting from a pre-accession strategy. 

A limited number of nationals of non-member states are also accepted in specific Directorates-General or Servicesaccording to available resources. 

• Applicants must hold a valid passport or national identity card corresponding to the nationality declared in the application. 
  Driving licences are not accepted as proof of nationality.

6. Work experience - home country

For the purposes of the application, the nationality declared equals the home country for professional experience. All types of work experience may be declared, including student employment and holiday jobs. 

The following conditions apply: 

• The minimum duration for any declared work experience is 15 calendar days, or the full-time equivalent.
• Only work experience acquired from the age of 16 onwards is eligible for declaration.
• Voluntary work or civic service is considered as work experience.
• Remote work, based in your home country, is considered work experience and not international experience. 

Proof requirement

• All declared work experience must be supported by documents, such as contracts, signed employer attestations, payslips or tax declarations.
• Failure to provide adequate supporting documentation will result in exclusion from the selection procedure.  

7. International experience

All experience that has taken place outside of your home country, with your home country being the country of the nationality declared in your application.

International experience may include:

• Studies
• Employment
• Voluntary activities
• Participation in recognised mobility programmes.

Important exclusions

• Teleworking for an international organisation, while residing in home country, does not qualify as international experience.
• Remote work performed while residing in home country, is considered professional experience only, and not international experience. 

The living allowance for the traineeship sessions is about €1.418,20 per month.

Visa costs and related medical fees may be reimbursed together with the travel expenditures.