Young Graduate Traineeship: frequently asked questions

The YGT Programme

When was the programme developed?
The Young Graduate Trainee (YGT) Programme has been running for more than forty years at ESA, with the first ever YGTs starting February 1985. Since its establishment, it has provided recently-graduated Master’s degree students with hands-on professional experience at ESA.

Are YGT vacancies published every year?
YGT vacancies are published every February. Sometimes positions are republished, or additional positions may be published later in the year. To keep informed of YGT vacancies, sign up with us to receive job alerts.

Who can apply?
To be eligible for the YGT, you must be:

• A student in the final year of a Master’s degree in engineering, sciences or business disciplines, or a recent graduate of a relevant Master’s programme.
• A citizen of one of the following ESA Member States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia as Associate Members, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus as European Cooperating States.

I am not a national of one of the ESA Member States. Can I still apply?
Unfortunately, this is not possible. ESA is only able to consider applications from nationals of ESA Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States (find the full list here).

I live in a country that is not an ESA Member State or Cooperating State. Can I still apply?
Your country of residence is not the determining factor. To be eligible to become a YGT at ESA, you must be a citizen of one of the ESA Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States (find the full list here).

I have more than one year of professional experience. Can I apply to this programme?
If you have more than one year of professional experience, we recommend that you check our Junior Professional Programme or ESA staff vacancies here. Set up a job alert to be informed as soon as a vacancy that matches your profile is published.

Is there an age limit to apply?
No, there is no age limit to apply. As long as you are a citizen of one of the ESA Member States, have graduated from a Master’s degree programme in a relevant field (or have nearly graduated from one) and have up to one year of professional experience, you are eligible to apply to the YGT Programme.

If I am selected for the YGT Programme at ESA, what are the terms and conditions?
Please check our YGT page for full details of the terms and conditions.

What is the difference between the National Trainee Programme and the Young Graduate Trainee (YGT) Programme?
The main difference is that the National Trainee Programme placements are organised by the individual Member States participating in the programme. National Trainees are employed by the governments of their respective countries, with ESA playing the role of host. The YGT Programme, on the other hand, is an ESA programme. It is open to nationals of all of ESA Member States and the trainees are employed by ESA.

I am a national of a country with a National Trainee Programme, can I still apply to the YGT Programme?
Yes, you can.

In the YGT application form, the “Current and relevant Previous Job” section is mandatory, but I have no previous work experience. What should I write there?
If you have no previous work experience, please fill in the Job section with your university studies.

I have not yet completed my Master’s degree. Can I still apply?
You need to have a Master’s degree by the time you begin your placement at ESA. You can therefore still apply while studying for your Master's, but you will need to be able to present us with your Master’s degree no later than three months after you have started working at ESA.

Recruitment process

Where can I find the YGT opportunities?
You can browse the vacancies directly on our recruitment website by clicking here.

How do I apply?
The vacancies are published here. To apply, you need to create your candidate profile, upload your CV and motivation letter, then submit. You will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application and you will be able to track its status by logging into your candidate profile. Set up a job alert to stay informed of vacancies at ESA.

What is the timeline for the selection process?
February – March: Publication of YGT opportunities on Careers at ESA
March – May: Pre-selection and interviews of shortlisted candidates
June: Outcome of interviews and final selection made by ESA
September - October: Successful candidates take up duty

Do you ask for a particular CV format (for example, Europass)?
No, you can send us your CV in your preferred format, but we would recommend that it does not exceed two pages (maximum three).

Do you have any recommendations for the motivation letter?
Your motivation letter should be clear and concise. We recommend that it is no more than one page long (maximum two) and details any experience that could be relevant to the role for which you are applying. Be sure to share your enthusiasm, your interests and your motivation for that particular position.

How will I know if I am selected for an interview?
If you are selected for an interview, you will receive an email from one of our HR colleagues with more information about the timeline and the process. You will also be asked to add some documents to your candidate profile, such as a copy of your diploma and passport or ID card prior to the interview. All candidates, whether they are selected for interview or not, are informed by email about the outcome of their application.

Will the interview take place face-to-face?
Interviews for YGT positions take place virtually via Microsoft Teams. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive all necessary information by email.

Will I have to relocate to participate in the YGT Programme?
Yes, if you are selected for the YGT Programme, you will be required to relocate to one of the main ESA establishments.

The location is stated in each vacancy, so make sure that you are aware of this information before applying. Please note that ESA offers an attractive relocation package, including an installation allowance if you move from another country. Travel and removal expenses are also reimbursed.

I applied to a vacancy but now that it is closed, I can’t find it on my candidate profile. What should I do?
Please write to us at contact.human.resources@esa.int.

More information

Where can I find more information about the YGT Programme, Junior Professional Programme and Research Fellowship Programme?
Check our career pages to learn more and for news on these programmes.

I have a question that isn’t answered here. How do I contact the ESA Human Resources Department?
Please contact us at contact.human.resources@esa.int.