NATO INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

NATO Headquarters (HQ) introduced its Internship Programme in 2004. The aim of the programme is to provide a small number of current or recent students with the opportunity to intern with the International Staff at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
There is one call for applications per year, from March until June with two starting dates, in September and March the following year. Internships will in principle last 6 months.
Programme Objectives
The NATO Internship Programme has four main objectives:
To provide the Organisation with access to the latest theoretical and technical knowledge that the intern can apply through practical work assignments, as well as with additional staff resources.
To provide interns with an opportunity to learn from the NATO community and get a better understanding and a more balanced view of the Organisation.
To contribute to creating a more diverse workforce.
To expand understanding of NATO in Alliance countries.
What does NATO offer?
Interns will benefit by experiencing an international organisation from the inside while substantiating their Curriculum Vitae.
Internships are offered in the following areas:
Defence Policy and Planning
Defence Investment
Executive Management
NATO Office of Security
Operations
Political Affairs and Security Policy
Public Diplomacy
NATO Office of Ressources
Private Office
Agencies: IMS (International Military Staff), SHAPE, NC3A, NAMA, ...
Remuneration: Interns receive a lump sum of € 800 per month. The salary is not exempt from taxation. Interns may receive emoluments from outside sources (such as scholarships or grants).
Travel: Interns will be reimbursed for their travel expenses on taking up duty and on leaving the service based on a return economy ticket and for an amount of up to 1,200 Euros.
Leave: After three months of service, interns shall be entitled to leave (including sick leave) at the rate of 2.5 working days for every month of service completed.
Eligibility Criteria
Current students and recent graduates (1 year) with:
Age: over 21 at the time of internship (for insurance purposes)
Nationality: nationals of a NATO member state*
Studies: at least two years of university study or equivalent
Languages: proficiency in one of the official NATO languages (English/French); desirable working knowledge of the other.
Interns are required to have health insurance coverage, and to take care of formalities with Belgian authorities regarding their stay in Belgium: Federal Public Service of the Interior, Chaussée d’Anvers 59B, 1000 Brussels (phone: + 32 2 206 15 99, http://www.dofi.fgov.be or http://diplobel.fgov.be or www.diplomatie.be ), or Belgian Embassies and Consulates outside Belgium.
All interns will require a security clearance from their national authorities prior to working at NATO. The procedure will be initiated as soon as the candidate has been selected.
Please refer to the NATO Internship Programme Policy for a full description of the programme.
Application Instructions
The 8th Call for Application for an internship in 2011 will open on 6th April 2010.
If you are interested in doing an internship at NATO HQ in 2011, here is how it works:
1) You need to submit electronically:
The completed Application Form
Curriculum Vitae
Letter of motivation, indicating why you want to intern at NATO HQ and why you chose a specific division.
Please note that incomplete applications will not be processed. Due to the high number of applications received we will not be able to get back to you in case of incomplete information.
Applications arriving after the deadline will not be considered.
2) A security clearance from your national authorities is obligatory before your start of internship. Please be aware that the clearance process can only be started after you receive your conditional offer of acceptance. Your national delegation will contact you, so there is no need to do anything before that.
3) If you hold a grant or scholarship for your internship at NATO HQ, you are not bound by the deadlines for applications and the periods for the internship. You can simply send us a completed Application Form and attach your CV and a letter of motivation.
Application Forms:
Application Form 8th Call
Scholarship / Grant Application Form
Timeline:

Procedure
Timeline
Application via e-mail
Application Form, CV, Letter of Motivation
6th April 2010 -4th June 2010
Reception
An acknowledgment receipt is sent automatically, and further information will be provided in September for those who have sent the complete package of application and are eligible.
automatic
Eligibility
Eligible
No notification
Not Eligible
e-mail sent by end June 2010
Preselection
Shortlisted
Will receive further information (September 2010)
Not Shortlisted
e-mail sent by September 2010
Final Selection
Selected candidates
Will get an offer via e-mail (latest by end of October)
Non-selected candidates
e-mail sent by latest end of October
Onboarding Period
Security clearance received before mid-January
Start date of internship will be in March or September, depending on preference and division
Security clearance received before mid-July
Start date of internship will be in September
Contacts
Questions about the Internship Programme can be sent by e-mail to: internships@hq.nato.int
Applications, together with a CV and a one page essay on your motivations, should be sent by e-mail to: intern.applications@hq.nato.int