2021 remote 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 by clicking here.
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 masters level (or equivalent) and you must be a citizen of one of the following ESA Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia and Slovenia, as Associate Members, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Lithuania and Slovakia as European Cooperating States.

How do I apply?
Once the opportunities are published, you can browse them here and apply by creating your own candidate profile. Once your application is sent, you can track its status. Don’t forget to set up a job alert to learn about more vacancies.

How long is the selection process?
Opportunities will be published in November and will be open for a month. Shortlisting and selection of candidates will take place from December to January. The take-up-duty date for successful candidates is set by mutual agreement taking into account the preferences expressed in your application form and can be any time from February to October of the same year.

I read that the internships will take place remotely in 2021. If I prefer to do my internship on site, is it possible?
Unfortunately, due to the many uncertainties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, students internships in 2021 will only take place remotely from your place of residence. Only for very rare exceptions (e.g. where laboratory access is essential) will opportunities be offered on site.

I live near one of the ESA establishments but my internship is taking place remotely. Can I come on site?
Even for students living near an ESA site, 2021 internships will take place remotely. Only for very rare exceptions (e.g. where laboratory access is essential) will opportunities be offered on site.

I live in a country that is not an ESA Member State or Cooperating State. Can I still apply?
To be eligible for an ESA internship, you must be a student preferably in your final or second-to-last year of university course at masters level (or equivalent) and you must be a citizen of one of the following ESA Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia and Slovenia, as Associate Members, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Lithuania and Slovakia as European Cooperating States.
If this is the case, you can apply and if selected, you will undertake your internship from your place of residence.

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 student preferably in your final or second-to-last year of university course at masters level (or equivalent) and you must be a citizen of one of the following ESA Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia and Slovenia, as Associate Members, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Lithuania and Slovakia as European Cooperating States.

If I am selected for a remote internship at ESA, what are the terms and conditions?
Please check our Student Internships page for full details of the terms and conditions.

Are these measures also in place for the YGT programme and Research Fellow programme?
Each of our entry-level programmes is organised independently and we are currently putting plans in place for the 2021 YGT and Research Fellow programmes. Check our career pages to learn more and for news on these programmes.

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.

I have a question. How do I contact ESA Human Resources Department?
Please contact us at contact.human.resources@esa.int