Council of Europe - Traineeships (1 October 2026 - 31 March 2027)

Deadline: June 17, 2026

Program Starts: October 01, 2026

Program Ends: March 31, 2027

Internships

International Organizations

Location(s)

France

Strasbourg

Overview

Join the Council of Europe’s traineeship programme and engage in the promotion of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law as well as in the support roles that make the Organisation work.

About 80 traineeship opportunities are available across the Council of Europe for the 2026-2027 session, each offering a unique and enriching experience.

Details

Get involved in meaningful projects, work alongside experts from across Europe, and develop your professional skills and network. This is your opportunity to make a real impact while shaping your international career. With traineeship opportunities spanning the Council of Europe, there is a wide range of experiences to choose from. Whether your interests lie in legal affairs, human rights, public health, international co-operation, public policy design or support services such as human resources, political and legal advice, IT, catering or communication, there is something for all tastes. The programme is designed to give valuable insight into the work, standards, and values of the Council of Europe. By joining an international and dynamic environment, trainees have the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to the work of the Organisation.

We encourage you to explore the list of teams and available traineeship descriptions and find the one that best matches your interests and aspirations (at the end of the application process, you will be asked to indicate your first and second choice). While most of our traineeships take place in Strasbourg, they are also available in Brussels, Budapest, Geneva, Graz, Lisbon, Luxembourg and The Hague, as indicated in the relevant descriptions.

Your Role

As a Council of Europe trainee, you’ll dive straight into meaningful work - and you won’t be on your own: an experienced mentor will support and guide you as you take on various tasks.

Depending on the team you join, you will have the opportunity, for example, to:

conduct research on topics at the heart of European affairs;
contribute to the drafting of reports and studies discussed by international experts;
capture and synthesise key outcomes from high-level meetings;
shape and develop compelling communication content;
play an active role in the organisation of committee meetings and expert events;
play a part in the day-to-day life of your team; or
contribute to a support role (e.g. security, catering, HR, IT) essential for the Organisation to function.

To choose the best fit, consult the traineeship descriptions prepared by the teams who wish to host a trainee.

Opportunity is About

Human Rights International Affairs Law

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Eligibility

Candidates should be from:

Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg North Macedonia Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

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Description of Ideal Candidate

Requirements to apply

You must:

have completed a minimum of three years of university study and have been awarded a degree for the first cycle of the Bologna process framework of qualifications for the European Higher Education Area, unless the traineeship description of your chosen team(s) specifies otherwise. Please note in particular that traineeships at the European Court of Human Rights require that you have completed a first year of a Master's degree;

have a very good knowledge of one of the Council of Europe's two official languages (English or French);

You must also:

be aged 18 or over;
be a citizen of one of the member states of the Council of Europe;
not be the parent, child, stepchild or grandchild of a serving staff member of the Council of Europe;
not have previously participated in a Council of Europe traineeship, study visit, or held employment with the Organisation in any capacity.

All the above requirements must be met at the latest on the day this vacancy closes. If you do not meet the requirements by this deadline, your application will not be considered.

Key competencies