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Parliament offers several options for traineeships within its Secretariat, to provide opportunities for vocational training and for learning more about what the European Parliament is and does.
The traineeships may be paid or unpaid and are of the following types: a general option, a journalism option and traineeships for translators.
When applying online, you have a maximum of 30 minutes to complete each page of the application form.
New rules on traineeships in the secretariat of the European Parliament entered into force on 1 February 2013.
Paid traineeships are awarded solely to graduates of universities or equivalent institutions. Their purpose is to enable trainees to supplement the knowledge which they acquired during their studies and to familiarise themselves with the activities of the European Union and, in particular, the European Parliament.
Paid traineeships cover:
Applicants for Robert Schuman scholarships, general option, must also demonstrate that they have produced a substantial written paper, as part of the requirements for a university degree or for a scientific journal. One of these scholarships, known as the `Chris Piening Fellowship’, may be awarded to a candidate whose paper was concerned particularly with relations between the European Union and the United States.
Applicants for Robert Schuman scholarships, journalism option, must also demonstrate professional experience as evidenced either by works published, or by membership of an association of journalists in a Member State of the European Union, or by a qualification in journalism recognised in the Member States of the European Union or in the applicant countries.
Paid traineeships are awarded for a period of five months.
| Starting dates and deadlines for receipt of applications | |
| Beginning of traineeship | Application period |
| 1 March | 15 August – 15 October (midnight) |
| 1 October | 15 March – 15 May (midnight) |
We advise you not to wait until the last day to apply, to prevent the system from becoming overloaded because there are a large number of applications.
If you are interested in a paid traineeship under this option, please read the Internal Rules Governing Traineeships.
Please note the conditions for admission. If you are selected, the following documents will be requested as supporting documents:
It is not necessary to send these supporting documents at this stage. The documents will be requested when we offer you a traineeship.
If we offer you a traineeship, you will not be admitted unless you provide the full set of documents mentioned above as requested.
Before applying online the candidates are advised to familiarise with the work of the Directorates-General of the Secretariat of the European Parliament in order to apply to those departments that best suit their profile.
If you fulfil the conditions for admission, please complete the online application form.
Please note that if you leave your application form inactive for 30 minutes, the data you have entered will be lost. We therefore advise you to read carefully the ‘Internal rules governing traineeships and study visits in the Secretariat of the European Parliament’ and the Frequently Asked Questions before filling in the application form.
The application cannot be changed online and is completed and submitted in a single operation. After filling in your application please print the summary and make sure that it is correct and complete before submitting.
You may send only one application for one traineeship option. In case of multiply applications for one option we will keep only the most recent one.
NB: Any incomplete applications will automatically be rejected.
Once you have confirmed/sent your online application you will automatically receive a confirmation message at your email address. The message contains a confirmation number that you should quote in all future correspondence concerning the traineeship and the link to the summary of your application in pdf format, a paper version of which will be requested, if we offer you a traineeship
The European Parliament offers the opportunity of undertaking unpaid traineeships to young people who have gained a post-secondary school diploma corresponding to university entrance or have reached an equivalent level of higher or technical education. Priority will be given to young people who are required to complete a traineeship as part of their course of study.
Such a traineeship should be provided for within the framework of:
Unpaid traineeships are awarded for a period of between one and four months.
| Starting dates and deadlines for receipt of applications for non-mandatory traineeships | |
| Beginning of traineeship (max. 4 months) | Application period |
| 1 January | 1 August - 1 October |
| 1 May | 1 December - 1 February |
| 1 September | 1 April - 1 June |
| Starting dates and deadlines for receipt of applications for mandatory traineeships | |
| Beginning of traineeship | Deadline for receipt of applications |
| between 1 January - 30 April | 1 October |
| between 1 May - 31 August | 1 February |
| between 1 September - 31 December | 1 June |
We advise you not to wait until the last day to apply, to prevent the system from becoming overloaded because there are a large number of applications.
If you are interested in an unpaid traineeship, please read the Internal Rules Governing Traineeships.
Please note the conditions for admission. If you are selected, the following documents will be requested as supporting documents:
It is not necessary to send these supporting documents at this stage.
However, if we offer you a traineeship, you will not be admitted unless you provide the full set of documents requested in the letter containing the offer.
Before applying online the candidates are advised to familiarise with the work of the Directorates-General of the Secretariat of the European Parliament in order to apply to those departments that best suit their profile.
If you fulfil the conditions for admission, please complete the online application form.
Please note that if you leave your application form inactive for 30 minutes, the data you have entered will be lost. We therefore advise you to read carefully the ‘Internal rules governing traineeships and study visits in the Secretariat of the European Parliament’ and Frequently Asked Questions before filling in the application form.
The application cannot be changed online and is completed and submitted in a single operation. After filling in your application please print the summary and make sure that it is correct and complete before submitting.
NB: Any incomplete applications will automatically be rejected.
Once you have confirmed/sent your online application you will automatically receive a confirmation message at your email address. The message contains a confirmation number that you should quote in all future correspondence concerning the traineeship and the link to the summary of your application in pdf format, a paper version of which will be requested, if we offer you a traineeship.
The European Parliament promotes equality of opportunity and encourages applications from women and men with disabilities for its traineeship programmes. In 2006, as a positive action measure, the European Parliament launched a specific traineeship programme for people with disabilities.
The European Parliament is offering paid traineeships to persons with disabilities, as a positive action measure aimed at facilitating the integration of disabled people in the workplace.
These traineeships are open both to graduates of universities or equivalent institutions and to people whose qualifications are below university level. (Article 18 of the Internal Rules Governing Traineeships and Study Visits in the Secretariat of the European Parliament which concerns the academic qualifications needed for admission to a paid traineeship thus does not apply to this programme.)
The main purpose of this programme is to offer a number of people with disabilities a meaningful and valuable work experience, and an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the activities of the European Parliament.
Paid traineeships are awarded for a period of five months which cannot be extended. Please note that traineeships do not give trainees the right to future employment in the European Parliament: officials are recruited on the basis of competitions organised by EPSO; contract staff is employed on the basis of the calls for expression of interest published by EPSO.
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Starting dates and application periods
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Beginning of traineeship
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Application period
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1 March
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15 August – 15 October (midnight)
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1 October
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15 March – 15 May (midnight)
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We advise you not to wait until the last day to apply, to prevent the system from becoming overloaded because there are a large number of applications.
Applicants for this programme must:
If you are among the preselected candidates chosen by the respective Directorate-General on the basis of your merit, you will be asked to provide the following documents:
Please note that any information you provide about your disability will be treated in a strictly confidential manner and only by European Parliament staff responsible for analysing possible reasonable accommodation with the purpose of providing the specific adaptations in the workplace and of facilitating your search for accessible housing, transport and assistance.
If you are selected, the following documents will be requested:
Please note that it is not necessary to send these documents at the time of application. As described above, some supporting documents will be requested if you are among the preselected candidates and some of you are offered a traineeship. If you are offered a traineeship, you will not be admitted unless you provide the full set of documents mentioned above.
If you are interested in a paid traineeship under this option, please read the Description of the Traineeship programme for people with disabilities, Internal Rules Governing Traineeships and Study Visits in the Secretariat of the European Parliament and the Pratical information - Brussels/Luxembourg. Please note that the traineeship placements are available primarily in Brussels and Luxembourg as some of the Information Offices in the Member States may not be able to provide specific accessibility adaptations.
If you fulfil the conditions for admission, please complete the online application form, which you can prepare by using the sample form, which however only provides the main fields to be filled in the online application form. Please note that if you leave your online application form inactive for 30 minutes, the data you have entered will be lost. The application is completed and submitted in a single operation and cannot be changed afterwards. After filling in your application please print the summary and make sure that it is complete before submitting.
NB: Any incomplete applications will automatically be rejected.
Once you have confirmed/sent your online application you will automatically receive a confirmation message at your email address. The message contains a confirmation number that you should quote in all future correspondence concerning the traineeship and the link to the summary of your application in pdf format, a paper version of which will be requested, if we offer you a traineeship.
Should you need the application form in a different format, please contact the Traineeships Office by e-mail, specifying your request (e.g. large print or Braille):
Please note that any information you will provide about your disability will be used only within the European Parliament and only for the purposes of providing the specific adaptations in the workplace and of facilitating you in your search for accessible housing, transport and assistance.
The most recent online version of documents and information in relation to the programme concerning 'traineeships for persons with a disability' are, for the moment, only available in English and French. However, this information shall be provided in all official languages in the near future. In the meantime don't hesitate to visit the pages in French and/or English.
These traineeships are awarded only to graduates of universities or equivalent institutions. Their purpose is to enable trainees to supplement the knowledge acquired during their studies and to familiarise themselves with the activities of the European Union and, in particular, the European Parliament.
Applicants for a translation traineeship for university graduates must:
Translation traineeships for university graduates are awarded for a period of three months. Exceptionally, they may be extended for a maximum period of three months.
| Traineeship periods and the corresponding deadlines for applications | |
| Start of traineeship | Application period |
| 1 January | 15 June - 15 August (midnight) |
| 1 April | 15 September -15 November (midnight) |
| 1 July | 15 December - 15 February (midnight) |
| 1 October | 15 March - 15 May (midnight) |
We advise you not to wait until the last day to apply, as a large number of applications is liable to overload the system.
Translation trainees are assigned to Luxembourg.
By way of indication, in 2013 the scholarship represents EUR 1 213.55 per month.
If you are interested in a translation traineeship for university graduates, please read the Internal Rules Governing Translation Traineeships.
Please note the conditions of admission. If you are preselected, the following will be required as supporting documents:
The supporting documents should not be sent at this stage. You will only be asked to supply them if you pass the preselection stage.
If you are preselected for a traineeship, your application will be deemed valid only if you provide the full set of documents listed above.
If you fulfil the conditions for admission, please complete the online application form.
Please note that if you leave your application form inactive for 30 minutes, the data you have entered will be lost. We therefore advise you to read the Internal Rules Governing Translation Traineeships carefully before filling in the application form.
Once submitted, the application cannot be changed online, and it is completed and submitted in a single operation. A sample form is available (see link below) to help you prepare your application before you submit it online.
NB: You should keep a copy of the number allocated to you when you validate your online application.
The European Parliament offers the opportunity to undertake translation training placements to applicants who have, before the deadline for applications, obtained a secondary-school leaving certificate corresponding to the level required for entry to university or who have followed a higher or technical course of study to an equivalent level. Such placements are intended in particular for applicants who are required to complete a training placement as part of their course of study, provided they have reached the age of 18 by the first day of the training placement.
Applicants for a translation training placement must:
Translation training placements are awarded for a period of between one and three months. Exceptionally, they may be extended for a maximum period of three months.
| Training placement periods and the corresponding deadlines for applications: | |
| Start of training placement | Application period |
| 1 January | 15 June - 15 August (midnight) |
| 1 April | 15 September -15 November (midnight) |
| 1 July | 15 December - 15 February (midnight) |
| 1 October | 15 March - 15 May (midnight) |
We advise you not to wait until the last day to apply, as a large number of applications is liable to overload the system.
Translation training placements are located in Luxembourg.
Trainees following a translation training placement will receive a monthly allowance. By way of indication, in 2013 the allowance amounts to EUR 300 a month
If you are interested in a translation training placement, please read the Internal Rules Governing Translation Traineeships
Please note the conditions of admission. If you are preselected, the following will be required as supporting documents:
The supporting documents should not be sent at this stage. You will only be asked to supply them if you pass the preselection stage.
If you are preselected for a training placement, your application will be deemed valid only if you provide the full set of documents listed above.
If you fulfil the conditions for admission, please complete the online application form.
Please note that if you leave your application form inactive for 30 minutes, the data you have entered will be lost. We therefore advise you to read the Internal Rules Governing Translation Traineeships carefully before filling in the application form.
Once submitted, the application cannot be changed online, and it is completed and submitted in a single operation. A sample form is available (see link below) to help you prepare your application before you submit it online.
NB: You should keep a copy of the number that will be allocated to you when you validate your online application.
The European Parliament Interpretation Directorate does not provide basic training to linguists who want to specialise in conference interpreting, since under the principle of subsidiarity this is the responsibility of the national authorities in the Member States.
If you already hold a qualification in conference interpreting and your language combination is relevant to the institution then you should consider applying for an accreditation test or an open competition (see Interpreting for Europe).
If you are interested in becoming a conference interpreter, but you are not yet qualified, a number of universities in Europe offer courses leading to a qualification in translation and interpreting. For a list of universities offering full-time courses go to this link.
So if you already have a degree in any subject, but you would still like to train to be a conference interpreter, you may be interested to know that this «European Masters» is offered at a number of higher education institutions.
To obtain further information, please contact the appropriate office for the type of traineeship you are interested in, after reading the relevant rules: