World Trade Organization 2025 Internship Program

The WTO Secretariat maintains a variety of internship programs for post-graduate students. Internship selections are based on merit, taking into account eligibility criteria, academic qualifications and expertise. There are three internship programs at the WTO. 

• The WTO Internship Program is open to post-graduate students from all WTO members and countries or customs territories engaged in accession negotiations; 
• The China LDC and Accessions Program (also known as the China WTO Accession Internship Program); and 
• The WTO Support Program for Doctoral Studies. Both (2) and (3) are reserved for post-graduate students from developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs).  

• Table of Content
• About World Trade Organisation (WTO)
• WTO Internship Program
• Aim and Benefits of WTO Internship Program
• Requirements for WTO Internship Program Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About World Trade Organisation (WTO)

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible. The WTO has many roles: it operates a global system of trade rules, it acts as a forum for negotiating trade agreements, it settles trade disputes between its members and it supports the needs of developing countries. All major decis...&nb... continue reading

WTO Internship Program

Aim and Benefits of WTO Internship Program

The benefits include:

WTO Internship Program

• Interns receive a daily allowance of CHF 60, including weekends and official holidays within the internship period.
• The WTO does not cover travel expenses to and from Geneva, nor is this travel insured by the organization.
• Interns are required to arrange their health insurance before starting their internship, as medical insurance coverage is mandatory in Switzerland.

The China WTO Accessions Internship Program and China General Internship Program

• Interns receive a daily allowance of CHF 90, which includes weekends and official holidays within the internship period.
• Economy-class airfare to and from Geneva is covered by the program.
• Interns must arrange their health insurance, with an additional CHF 100 per month provided to help subsidize health insurance premiums during the internship.

WTO Support Program for Doctoral Studies

• Interns in the PhD Internship Program receive a daily allowance of CHF 60, which includes weekends and official holidays within the internship period.
• The WTO covers economy-class airfare for travel to and from Geneva.
• Interns are required to arrange their health insurance, as medical insurance coverage is mandatory in Switzerland before starting their internship.

Requirements for WTO Internship Program Qualification

the eligibility criteria are dependent on the type of internship program you are applying for.

WTO Internship Program

• 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.

The China WTO Accessions Internship Program and China General Internship Program

• Be a national of a least-developed country (LDC) or developing WTO member or an observer engaged in accession negotiations (see list of countries here)
• 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 Program for Doctoral Studies

• 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.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, visit WTO website.