ESA Student Internships 2027 are now open

Before you apply: choose carefully

ESA’s Student Internship Programme is highly competitive. It is therefore essential that you read the vacancies carefully and find the opportunity that is the best match for your studies, skills and interests. A focused, well-prepared application is much more likely to stand out than a generic one.

You can apply for up to two internship opportunities, so use those applications wisely.

• Before applying, make sure you can answer Yes to all of the following:
• Does the internship genuinely match my field of study?
• Do I have the academic background or skills mentioned in the vacancy?
• Can I clearly explain why this particular opportunity interests me?
• Does my CV highlight the experience and knowledge most relevant to this position?
• Can I demonstrate what I could bring to the internship as well as what I hope to learn?

Our advice: don't apply simply because it is an ESA internship. Apply because it is the right internship for you.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for an ESA student internship, you must:

• be a university student, ideally in the final or penultimate year of a Master’s programme
• remain enrolled at university for the full duration of your internship
• be a citizen of one of the ESA Member States, Associate Members, European Cooperating States or Canada as a Cooperating State. The full list of eligible countries is published in the footer of each ESA vacancy.

Find the right opportunity for you

All internship opportunities are published on the ESA job site (jobs.esa.int).

Don't just read the job title. Read the full vacancy description and look at the tasks, subject area and profile carefully.

You may discover an opportunity in an area you had not initially considered, or equally realise that a position that sounds interesting does not closely match your academic background. Taking the time to make that distinction is an important part of preparing a strong application.

Once you have identified the right opportunity, follow these steps to build your application:

1. Create or update your candidate profile.
2. Review and upload your CV.
3. Prepare a concise and compelling motivation letter (aim for one page in length).
4. Complete the information requested in the application.
5. Review everything carefully before submitting.

If you apply for two internships, you must complete and submit the first application before moving on to the second one.

Make your application count

Given the high number of applicants, your CV and motivation letter need to help recruiters quickly understand why your profile fits the particular internship you have chosen.

Tailor your CV

Before uploading your standard CV, take another look at the internship description.

Make it easy to identify the information that is relevant to the position. Highlight relevant studies, university projects, technical skills, software knowledge, research, extracurricular activities or previous work experience.

Make your motivation specific

Your motivation letter shouldn’t simply repeat what is written in your CV, but should tell us something that a CV alone cannot.

Rather than writing a general statement about wanting to work in the space sector, explain why you chose this particular internship.

What interests you about the subject? How does it connect to your studies? Which of your skills or experiences are particularly relevant? What would you like to learn or contribute?

A strong application should feel as though it was written for the vacancy you are applying to.

Be clear and authentic

There is no need to make your application unnecessarily complicated. Clear, concise answers that genuinely reflect your experience, knowledge and motivation make it easy to understand who you are and why you are applying.

And before hitting submit, proofread everything. Check that your CV is up to date, that your motivation refers to the correct internship and that you have supplied all the requested information.

What happens after you apply?

Once applications close, candidates move into the shortlisting and selection stage. This will take place in December and January, then selected candidates will begin their internships from February 2027 onwards.

Internships last from three to six months, with the start date agreed with the ESA tutor, and students must remain enrolled at university for the full duration.

Ready to apply?

Explore the opportunities on jobs.esa.int and take the time to find the internship that best matches your profile.

Remember: a carefully selected, tailored application gives us a much clearer picture of why you are the right candidate for a particular internship.

Find the opportunity that fits you. Take the time to prepare. And make your application count.