The ESA Graduate Trainee Programme

When was the programme developed?

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

Are EGT vacancies published every year?

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

Who can apply?

To be eligible for the EGT Programme, you must be:

• Within one year of graduation and with a Master in engineering, science, IT or business services. You can of course apply (and we encourage you to do so) while you are still studying if you are in the final year of your Master, but you must have graduated by the time your traineeship starts. You will be asked to provide us with your Master’s diploma at the very latest within three months of starting at ESA.
• 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, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia as Associate Members, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta 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 an EGT 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 relevant post-Master's professional experience, we recommend that you check our Junior Professional Programme or ESA staff vacancies. 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 EGT Programme.

If I am selected for the EGT Programme at ESA, what are the terms and conditions?

Please check our EGT page for full details of the terms and conditions.

What is the difference between the National Graduate Trainee Programmes and the ESA Graduate Trainee Programme?

The main difference is the nationality requirement: the EGT Programme is open to nationals of all ESA Member States, while the NGT Programmes are only open to nationals of the countries sponsoring NGT opportunities. See the dedicated NGT page for more information.

I am a national of a country with a National Trainee Programme, can I still apply to the EGT Programme?

Yes, you can.

In the EGT 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 can apply (and we encourage you to do so) while you are still studying if you are in the final year of your Master, but you must have graduated by the time your traineeship starts. You will be asked to provide us with your Master’s diploma at the very latest within three months of starting at ESA.

Recruitment process

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.

More information