World Health Organization Internship Programmes 2015

Course(s) Offered: Several (health, medicine, social sciences, etc)
Course Level: Undergraduate, Postgraduate
Provider/Employer: WHO
Internship can be taken at: Worldwide (Switzerland, Country offices)

Internship Description
The World Health Organization (WHO) as the leader in global public health issues is committed to building future leaders in public health.The WHO Internship Programme offers a wide range of opportunities for students to gain insight in the technical and administrative programmes of WHO.

For summer internships, applications are accepted between December 1 - January 30 each year.


Eligibility (who are we looking for?)
To be eligible, the following must apply:

• You are enrolled in a degree programme in a graduate school (second university degree or higher) both at the time of application and during the internship.


• You have completed at least three years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution towards the completion of a degree.


• You are at least 20 years old.


• You possess a first degree in a public health, medical or social field related to the technical work of WHO or a degree in a management-related or administrative field.


• You are fluent in the working language of the office of assignment.

Please note:
Interns must possess a passport of a WHO Member State.

Ineligibility:
Persons related to a WHO staff member, i.e., son/daughter, brother/sister are not eligible for an internship.

Eligible groups
Citizens of ANY country.

Participating Institutions
World Health Organization (WHO) - Headquarters (Geneva) and Regional / Country Offices worldwide

Fields of study
Internships are available in a wide variety of areas related to the technical work of WHO including Medicine, Public Health, Social fields (related to technical work of WHO), Management-related, Administration, etc.

The more specific you can be in your request, the better chances there will be to match you to one of our technical programmes, internships in Geneva, Switzerland.

When you are ready to apply, please select one area within WHO:

• Director-General’s Office,


• Communications,


• Family, Women and Children’s Health,


• General Management,


• Health Security and Environment,


• Health Systems and Services,


• HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases,


• Information, Evidence and Research,


• Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health,


• Polio, Emergencies and Country Collaboration

Visit official website (link to it is below) for more.

Number of awards
Not specified by WHO, but many are awarded every year

Internship duration
The duration of WHO internships is between six (6) weeks to three (3) months. Exceptionally, internships may be extended up to a maximum of twenty-four (24) weeks depending on your degree requirements.

Internship benefits
Internship offers a wide range of opportunities for students to gain insight into the technical and administrative programmes of WHO.

Unfortunately, however, WHO internships are not paid and all costs of travel and accommodation are the responsibility of the intern or the sponsoring institution.

WHO does not charge for internships. If you have any questions about programmes that "facilitate" your obtaining an internship but require the paying of money, please contact the WHO via email below.

Method of Application (How can I apply?)
Application for WHO Internships is Online. Please ensure you are eligible before applying. To commence, WHO invites you to initiate the steps below.

First, you should create a profile in WHO's e-Recruitment system. This includes details regarding your education, current studies, language and computer skills.

You will also need to write a Cover Letter to express your motivation for applying for a WHO Internship (maximum length - three paragraphs).

To apply for internships at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, please follow the instructions found on the Internship Employment page where you will find further information on WHO programme and advertised WHO Internship opportunities. To start this application, click here.

To apply for internships at one of WHO's regional or country offices, where a limited number of internships may be available, please contact that regional office directly by following the links below:

• WHO African Region


• WHO Region of the Americas


• WHO South-East Asia Region


• WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region


• WHO Western Pacific Region

To apply for Internships in the WHO Regional Office for Europe AND to apply for Internships at the WHO Kobe Centre (WKC), Japan, you must visit the official website below for more details and links.

It is very important to visit the official website (link to it is below) for detailed information.

DEADLINES:
Summer application (May to October): To be considered for a summer internship, applications are accepted between December 1 - January 31 each year. Summer internships are usually held between May and October.

Winter application (November to April): To be considered for a winter internship, applications are accepted between August 1 - September 30 each year. Winter internships are usually held between November and April, the following year.

PLEASE NOTE:
Any international student who has completed at least three years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution towards the completion of a degree, OR is enrolled in a degree programme in a graduate school (second university degree or higher) is eligible.

This is NOT a paid internship.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group. Its predecessor, the Health Organization, was an agency of the League of Nations.

The constitution of the World Health Organization had been signed by all 61 countries of the United Nations by 22 July 1946, with the first meeting of the World Health Assembly finishing on 24 July 1948.

Since its creation, it has been responsible for playing a leading role in the eradication of smallpox. Its current priorities include communicable diseases, in particular, HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis; the mitigation of the effects of non-communicable diseases; sexual and reproductive health, development, and aging; nutrition, food security and healthy eating; occupational health; substance abuse; and drive the development of reporting, publications, and networking.

WHO is responsible for the World Health Report, a leading international publication on health, the worldwide World Health Survey, and World Health Day (7th-April of every Year).

Contact
The World Health Organization receives a very large number of applications each year. Please review the Frequently Asked Questions, found on the official website (link to it is below) if you have questions concerning the WHO Internship Programme.

If you have additional questions, or in doubt on any issue, please use the email below:
interns@who.int

Application Deadline: 30 September 2015
Open for International Students: Yes

More Internship Information and Application