The WHO internship program

The WHO internship pogram offers students and recent graduates the opportunity to gain hands-on professional experience within one of the world’s leading international public health organizations. Interns work alongside WHO technical and administrative teams at Headquarters in Geneva, as well as in regional and country offices around the world, contributing to projects across areas such as public health, epidemiology, data analysis, health policy, communications and administration. The programme is designed to provide practical experience, develop professional skills and give participants a deeper understanding of how global health programmes are planned and implemented. Most internships run for up to 24 weeks, with specific requirements and responsibilities varying by position.

Interns work on live projects in areas such as public health, epidemiology, disease surveillance, nutrition, mental health, and emergency preparedness, or in administrative areas like communications and human resources. Positions are posted on a rolling basis via WHO’s Stellis recruitment system rather than a single annual deadline.

Program benefits

• Living allowance (varies by duty station and vacancy)
• Medical and accident insurance
• Lunch vouchers or allowance at some duty stations
• Travel support for some eligible interns from least developed and middle-income countries

Eligibility

Interested applicants must:

1. At least be 20 years old
2. Be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate program, or graduated within the last 18 months
3. Knowledge of at least one official WHO working language
4. Must hold a valid passport of a WHO Member State (no nationality quotas)
5. Have no prior participation in the WHO Internship Programme
6. No direct family relationship with WHO staff

How to apply

To apply, you must create a Stellis (WHO careers) candidate profile, search for open internship vacancies matching your background, and submit your application with a tailored motivation statement before the vacancy-specific deadline.

Application deadline

Not specified – positions are posted on a rolling basis, so check the Stellis portal regularly.

For more details, visit the WHO Internship Program page.