UNHCR Internship Programme 2027: Who Can Apply and How
- Study in
- Worldwide
- Levels
- Students, recent graduates
- Funding
- Allowance if not funded by others
- Covers
- Living allowance; travel in some cases
- Who can apply
- Students and graduates within two years
- Run by
- UNHCR
The UNHCR Internship Programme lets students and recent graduates work alongside staff of the UN Refugee Agency. Interns support teams in areas such as protection, external relations, education, reporting and project support. Posts are based in UNHCR offices around the world. Interns without other funding can receive an allowance.
Status: Rolling. There is no single deadline for 2027. Each internship is advertised on its own with its own closing date (checked October 30, 2026). The official pages do not bar applicants from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya or India, but each post sets its own requirements. You usually pay for your own visa and medical insurance, so plan for those costs. You cannot apply if a parent, brother or sister works for UNHCR.
What it covers
UNHCR country offices state that interns without outside funding receive an allowance for food, local transport and living costs. The official pages do not give a fixed amount. For interns recruited from outside the duty station country, UNHCR may pay return travel by the cheapest route unless a sponsor covers it. You arrange and pay for your own visa and health insurance. Interns are not UN staff.
Who can apply
UNHCR country office pages list these rules:
- Current undergraduate or graduate students, or people who graduated within the last two years.
- Your university must be recognised by UNESCO.
- You should have at least two years of undergraduate study in a field related to UNHCR’s work.
- Your parent, brother or sister must not work for UNHCR.
Each vacancy lists its own language and skill needs. Read them carefully.
Key details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Run by | UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency |
| Who | Students and graduates of the last two years |
| Length | 2 to 6 months, extendable in some offices |
| Allowance | Given to interns without other funding; amount not stated |
| You pay | Visa and medical insurance |
| Deadline | Varies by vacancy |
How to apply
- Go to the UNHCR careers portal and search for “intern”.
- Filter by location or field and open each post that fits you.
- Read the duties, requirements and closing date of that post.
- Create an account and apply online with your CV and a motivation letter written for that post.
Some country offices also explain their own process. See the UNHCR Türkiye internship page as an example of the rules.
Tips before you apply
- Check the portal every week. New posts appear all year.
- Write a new motivation letter for each post. Link your studies to the exact duties.
- Budget for your visa, insurance and the first weeks of living costs.
- Apply only before your two year graduation window closes.
- Never pay anyone who promises to secure an internship for you. Apply only through the official portal.
Related guides
- Heinrich Böll Foundation Internship Spring 2027 in Washington, DC: $700 a Month
- NNPC/Renaissance JV Sabbatical and Research Internship 2027: How to Apply Safely
- Schneider Electric Graduate Trainee Programme 2026: How to Apply in Nigeria and Kenya
Details are taken from the official UNHCR website and careers portal, checked on October 30, 2026. Confirm the current rules there before you apply.
