Entry-level progammes
Discover how to take part in ESA’s missions and projects as a student or recent graduate.
Traineeships are offered in fields such as space science, Earth observation, telecommunications, navigation, mission control and human spaceflight. NGTs receive on-the-job training under the supervision and guidance of a tutor at one of the ESA Establishments. Traineeships last for one year, with the possibility of extension for a second year.
All ESA Member States, Associate Members and Cooperating States can sponsor National Graduate Traineeships.
Participating countries
List will be updated as opportunities go live
- Belgium: Set up an alert
- Croatia: Set up an alert
- Estonia: 2026 applications closed | Set up an alert
- Germany: 2026 applications closed
Learn more about the German NGT Programme | Set up an alert
- Latvia: 2026 applications closed
Learn more about the Latvian NGT Programme | Set up an alert
- Luxembourg: 2026 applications closed | Set up an alert
- Poland: Set up an alert
Who can apply?
To be eligible for the National Graduate Trainee Programmes, you must be a student in the final year of a Master’s degree or have just graduated. Depending on the vacancy, eligibility may be extended to citizens of ESA’s Member States, Associate Members, European Cooperating States or Canada as a Cooperating State.
The specific nationality requirements of each NGT position are stated in the vacancy description on ESA’s recruiting site.
What we offer
- A unique opportunity to gain highly valuable experience that could launch your career within Europe’s space sector or research institute, or ESA itself.
- An international, multicultural and friendly working environment.
- A one year appointment (with possible extension to a second year) with 2.5 days’ leave per month.
- Guidance from a tutor who helps you integrate into the ESA environment and provides guidance throughout the traineeship.
- Excellent employment conditions, including a monthly salary exempt from national income tax in ESA Member States.
- Travel expenses reimbursed at the beginning and end of the appointment.
- Expatriation allowance and/or an installation allowance on arrival if you move from another country. Excess luggage costs are also reimbursed.
- Affiliation to ESA’s comprehensive social security scheme and pension scheme.
More about life at ESA
Find out everything you need to know about life at ESA and what we offer.
For more information about ESA sites, check out ESA establishments.
Throughout the year, additional NGT posts may be published. Be sure not to miss a single chance to launch your career at ESA by signing up to receive job alerts.
If you would like to apply to the EGT Programme as well
You may apply to the ESA Graduate Trainee and National Graduate Trainee programmes separately. Please note that if you have already benefited from one programme, it may not be possible for you to subsequently participate in another.
ESA Academy
Looking for more learning and hands-on opportunities? ESA Academy is run in close collaboration with European universities and is designed to complement academic education. Its objective is to enhance university students’ educational experience and help them develop both practical and theoretical know-how and expertise in a wide range of disciplines through projects, training and engagement initiatives, such as scholarships, conference sponsorships and more. ESA Academy is open to university students from undergraduate to PhD level coming from ESA Member States, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
You can also explore ESA Education's training courses and workshops on the ESA Education and Community Platform.
Media modal
Continue exploring
ESA Graduate Trainee Programme
ESA’s Graduate Trainee (EGT) Programme offers recent graduates the opportunity to gain valuable on-the-job experience in the development and operation of space missions in an international and multicultural environment.
Find your path with ESA
Take our careers quiz to see which ESA opportunity is right for you!