The WHO Internship Program 2026 is the World Health Organization’s global internship pathway for eligible students and recent graduates. Internships provide full-time practical experience in WHO technical and administrative work, with assignments offered at headquarters, regional offices, and country offices. Eligible selected interns can receive WHO financial support through a living allowance, plus medical and accident insurance; the exact allowance depends on the vacancy and duty station.
WHO uses its internship programme to build future public health talent while giving teams support from students in relevant technical, management, communications, and administrative fields. WHO is the United Nations agency responsible for international public health, with work spanning health emergencies, universal health coverage, disease prevention, and health systems. For more opportunities, browse Opportunities Institute alongside this listing.
WHO Internship Program 2026 Details:
- Host Country/Location: WHO headquarters, regional offices, and country offices worldwide; the exact duty station is stated in each vacancy.
- Host Org: World Health Organization (WHO).
- Duration & Schedule: Full-time; normally 6 to 24 consecutive weeks, based on the needs of the WHO technical unit.
- Eligibility scope: Students and some recent graduates who meet WHO age, education, language, nationality, relationship, and prior-participation requirements.
Benefits of WHO Internship Program 2026:
- Eligible selected interns may receive a living allowance from WHO; the maximum amount is stated in the individual internship vacancy and varies by duty station and other financial support.
- WHO provides medical and accident insurance to all interns for the internship period.
- Lunch support may be available at some duty stations; Geneva interns receive daily lunch vouchers valued at CHF 20 for WHO cafeterias, according to the official FAQ.
- Some eligible interns from least developed and middle-income countries may have approved travel costs to and from the duty station covered, subject to WHO rules.
- Internships provide practical exposure to WHO technical programmes and administrative functions, with learning objectives defined in each vacancy.
- Assignments can be based at headquarters, regional offices, or country offices, creating different work and location options.
- WHO does not treat interns as staff members, but former interns may later apply as external candidates for eligible WHO vacancies through the normal recruitment process.
- Benefits and support are not identical for every vacancy, so applicants should use the financial support section of the specific notice as the final source.
Departments / Focus Areas
WHO states that internships can cover both technical and administrative work. Recent 2026 vacancy notices also confirm a broad range of academic and professional areas.
- Public health and epidemiology
- Health emergencies
- Pandemic and epidemic intelligence
- Digital health
- Data, analytics, and artificial intelligence
- Medicine and biomedical sciences
- Biology, microbiology, virology, and biochemistry
- Health informatics
- Public policy and environmental or climate-related health
- Human resources and talent management
- Communications and advocacy
- External relations
- Management and administration
- Research, literature review, data collection, and report writing
Eligibility Criteria for WHO Internship Program 2026:
Eligibility can vary by vacancy, so applicants must check the requirements of the specific WHO internship notice before applying.
- Be at least 20 years old on the application date.
- Be enrolled in a university or equivalent institution leading to a formal qualification, or in some cases have completed the qualification within the previous 18 months.
- Have completed the equivalent of at least three years of full-time university study before the internship begins.
- Study in a field relevant to the WHO assignment, such as public health, medicine, social sciences, management, administration, communications, or external relations.
- Be fluent in at least one working language of the office of assignment.
- Hold a valid passport from a WHO Member State.
- Not be related to a WHO staff member in the family relationships specified by WHO.
- Not have previously participated in the WHO Internship Programme.
- Meet the academic, skills, language, and experience requirements stated in the individual vacancy.
Required Documents/Materials:
- WHO online recruitment profile in Stellis.
- Education and current-study information.
- A vacancy-specific motivation or cover letter.
- CV or details of qualifications, skills, training, publications, and computer skills requested in Stellis.
- Proof of enrolment or proof of completion of the most recent qualification, when requested.
- Declaration of Interests information, including relevant financial support or potential conflicts of interest.
- WHO medical certificate of fitness for work, required before the internship starts if selected.
- Reference-check contact details when requested.
- Certified copies of enrolment or qualification evidence where the vacancy specifically requires them.
WHO advises candidates not to send documents until they are specifically requested. Higher educational qualifications must come from institutions recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), subject to WHO’s review rules.
Deadline:
There is no single WHO Internship Program 2026 deadline. WHO posts internship vacancies on a continuous basis, and each notice has its own closing date and requirements. Applicants should check the live WHO internship portal for currently open vacancies rather than relying on an old deadline. Browse more Opportunities Institute listings.
How to Apply for WHO Internship Program 2026?
- Open the official WHO Internship Programme and review the current eligibility rules.
- Go to the WHO Careers internship portal and search the available Intern vacancies.
- Select a vacancy that matches your academic field, location, skills, and eligibility.
- Create or update your Stellis candidate profile.
- Complete the eligibility, education, studies, language, skills, and experience sections.
- Submit a specific cover letter or motivation statement for each vacancy, rather than reusing one generic letter.
- Submit the application before the exact closing date shown in that vacancy and monitor your Stellis account for updates.
FAQs
What is the WHO Internship Program 2026?
It is WHO’s global internship programme for eligible students and some recent graduates. Positions provide full-time practical experience in technical and administrative areas across WHO offices.
Are WHO internships paid?
WHO does not describe the internship as a salary-paying job. Eligible selected interns may receive a living allowance, with the maximum amount stated in the vacancy and adjusted for factors such as duty station and other financial support.
How long is a WHO internship?
WHO internships last from a minimum of 6 weeks to a maximum of 24 consecutive weeks. Each internship is full-time, and the technical unit determines the exact duration.
Can recent graduates apply for WHO internships?
Yes. Graduates may qualify when they apply within 18 months of completing their formal qualification, while also meeting the three-years-of-study and other vacancy requirements.
Do WHO internships require a previous internship or work experience?
No general previous internship is required. However, individual vacancies can ask for specific skills or relevant academic or practical experience.
Where can I apply for a WHO internship?
Applications must be submitted through the WHO Careers internship vacancies in Stellis. WHO says there is no alternative route for submitting an internship application.
Conclusion
The WHO Internship Program 2026 is a rolling opportunity rather than a single annual application window, and eligible selected interns may receive a living allowance plus medical and accident insurance. Because deadlines, funding amounts, duties, and locations vary by vacancy, applicants should use the official WHO internship portal to identify an open position and apply before its stated closing date.
Disclaimer: All listings are gathered from trusted official sources. Applicants are solely responsible for confirming accuracy and eligibility before applying.
