Student internships: frequently asked questions

Where can I find the student internship opportunities?
Once published, you can browse the opportunities directly on our recruitment website. Please note that EAC internships can be found under the establishment ESOC when filtering.

Who can apply?
To apply for an internship, you must be a student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of university course at Master's level and you must be a citizen of one of the ESA Member States, Associate Members, Canada as a Cooperating State or Bulgaria, Croatia or Malta as European Cooperating States. The full and most up-to-date list of eligible countries is provided in the footnote to each ESA vacancy.

I am a PhD student. Should I apply to the internship opportunities?
No, ESA internships target students who are at an earlier stage of their academic journey, i.e. Master or Bachelor. If you are studying at PhD level, we encourage you to explore our Research Fellowship Programme or ESA co-funded research opportunities.

How do I apply?
Once the opportunities are published, you can browse them on our recruiting site and apply by creating your own candidate profile. Once your application is sent, you will be able to track its status by logging into your candidate profile. Don’t forget to set up a job alert to get notified about future vacancies that fit your profile.

How long is the selection process?
Opportunities will be published in November and will remain open for one month. Shortlisting and selection of candidates will take place from December to February. The starting date for successful candidates can be any time between February and December of the same year and is agreed upon between ESA and your tutor, taking into account your preferences as expressed in your application form.

Can I do an ESA internship remotely?
ESA internships take place in person and on site. A key element of our internships is face-to-face interactions with the tutor and the other ESA colleagues. 

I live in a country that is not an ESA Member State or Cooperating State. Can I still apply?
As long as you are a citizen of an ESA Member State, Associate Member State or Cooperating State and are a student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a university course at Master’s level, you are eligible to apply for the ESA Internship Programme. 

I live in one of the ESA Member States or Cooperating States but I am not a citizen of one of these countries. Can I apply to the internships programme?
Unfortunately, this is not possible. To be eligible for an ESA internship, you must be a citizen of one of the countries listed above. 

If I am selected for an internship at ESA, what are the terms and conditions?
You will be informed of the full terms and conditions of an ESA internship if you are the selected candidate for the position you apply to. Please check out our Student Internships page for general information and mandatory requirements for internships at ESA.

Are the application requirements the same as for the ESA Graduate Trainee Programme, Junior Professional Programme and Research Fellow Programme?
Each of our entry-level programmes is organised independently and the application requirements vary. Find out which programme you are best suited to by following our careers flowchart.

Can I do my Master’s thesis at ESA?
Once you are selected for an internship at ESA, and if agreed with your tutor, you can write your Master's thesis while at ESA. If your thesis is related to your ESA internship, you will need your tutor’s approval before sharing it externally.

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

I would like to do an eight-month long internship, is this possible?
ESA internships are between three and six months long. Six months is the maximum duration.

Can I do more than one internship?
Only one internship can be undertaken at ESA to ensure as many students as possible have the unique opportunity to gain experience at the agency.

Can I apply to the EGT Programme while I am an intern at ESA?
Yes, on the condition that you are about to graduate at Master’s level. EGT candidates must be in their final year or have just obtained their Master’s level degree.