The WTO Secretariat maintains a variety of internship programmes for post-graduate students. Internship selections are based on merit, taking account of eligibility criteria, academic qualifications and expertise.
There are three internship programmes at the WTO. (1) The WTO Internship Programme is open to post-graduate students from all WTO members and countries or customs territories engaged in accession negotiations; (2) The China LDC and Accessions Programme (also known as the China WTO Accession Internship Programme); and (3) the WTO Support Programme for Doctoral Studies. Both (2) and (3) are reserved for post-graduate students from developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs).
The internship programmes is designed to increase the diversity of the WTO.
WTO Internship Programme
The WTO Internship Programme provides an opportunity for post-graduate students from WTO member and observer countries to gain valuable experience from working at the WTO.
​General assignments
​ Assignments given to interns are intended to enhance the individual’s understanding of the WTO and of trade policy more generally. However, internships include opportunities in other specialist areas, such as finance, human resources, language services, IT and communications. The division to which the intern is assigned determines the precise nature of the work to be undertaken. Many interns work in the following areas:
| Trade lawEconomicsStatisticsTrade policyLanguages | Administration (procurement, finance, human resources)Information, communication and external relations Information management |
Duration
Up to a maximum of six months.
Remuneration
Interns receive a daily allowance of CHF 60 (including week-ends and official holidays falling within the selected period). Travel expenses to and from Geneva cannot be paid by the WTO, and such travel is not covered by the Organization’s insurance.
Medical health insurance coverage is mandatory in Switzerland, and interns are responsible for organizing their own health insurance prior to commencing their internship at the WTO.
Eligibility
A candidate must:
- be a national of a WTO member state or a country or customs territory engaged in accession negotiations
- have completed his/her undergraduate studies in a relevant discipline and have completed at least one year of his/her postgraduate studies
- be at least 21 years old and a maximum of 30 years old during the internship.
China’s LDCs and Accessions Programme
China’s LDCs and Accessions Programme, sponsored by the Government of China, aims to help recent graduates and young professionals from least-developed countries (LDCs) and developing countries gain work experience at the WTO. The Accessions Division, in close coordination with the Human Resources Division, manages the implementation of the programme. The Accessions Division and the Government of China meet annually to review the operation and implementation of the programme.
General functions
Interns under this programme are placed in the Accessions Division of the WTO. The work of this division is to facilitate the negotiations between WTO members and countries/customs territories seeking to join the WTO.
Assignments given to interns are intended to enhance their understanding of trade law, economics and trade policies more generally. The needs of the division are balanced with the capacity-building needs of the interns. Under the supervision of a professional staff member, interns are expected to assist the division in its regular work.
Duration
Up to 10 months.
Remuneration and benefits
Interns under the programme receive a daily allowance of CHF 60 (including weekends and official holidays that occur within the selected periods). In addition, travel expenses (economy class air fare) to and from Geneva is covered by the WTO.
Medical health insurance coverage is mandatory in Switzerland, and interns are responsible for organizing their own health insurance prior to commencing their internship at the WTO.
Eligibility
A candidate must:
- be a national of a WTO member state or a country or customs territory engaged in accession negotiations
- be a national of a least-developed country (LDC) or developing country
- have completed his/her undergraduate studies in a relevant discipline (e.g. economics, law, political science, international relations), and have completed at least one year of his/her postgraduate studies
- be no older than 30.
WTO Support Programme for Doctoral Studies
The WTO Support Programme for Doctoral Studies (also known as the PhD Internship Programme) aims to support the development of academic expertise on WTO issues in developing countries. The WTO Secretariat invites doctoral students from developing countries to conduct research at the WTO and provides them with mentoring/advice in close collaboration with the students’ academic supervisors.
General functions
Participants in the PhD Internship Programme are expected to advance their doctoral thesis during their time at the WTO, taking advantage of access to WTO facilities and information as well as opportunities for interaction with the general trade policy community. They are not expected to undertake assignments on behalf of the WTO Secretariat. A mentor is allocated to the doctoral student for the duration of his/her internship. The role of the mentor is to provide the student with advice, as required, in close collaboration with the student’s academic supervisors. Before the end of the PhD Internship Programme, the participant is required to give a seminar on his/her work.
Duration
From three to six months.
Remuneration and benefits
Interns under the PhD Internship Programme receive a daily allowance of CHF 60 (including weekends and official holidays falling within the selected period). In addition, travel expenses (economy class airfare) to and from Geneva is covered by the WTO.
Medical health insurance coverage is mandatory in Switzerland, and interns are responsible for organizing their own health insurance prior to commencing their internship at the WTO.
Eligibility
A candidate must:
- be a national of a WTO member state or a country or customs territory engaged in accession negotiations
- be a national of a least-developed country (LDC) or a developing country
- undertake a PhD or equivalent in economics, law, international relations or in a closely related WTO discipline
- be in the final stage of his/her PhD and therefore at the writing-up stage (75% minimum completion) of the thesis
- work in one of the three official languages of the WTO, i.e. English, French and Spanish.
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