Internships

African Union Internship Program 2026: Eligibility, Costs and How to Apply

Organization: African Union Compensation: Not specified Deadline: Dec 31, 2026

About this opportunity

The African Union (AU) Internship Program gives students and graduates practical experience within the organisation, helping them develop professional skills in a multicultural workplace.

Placements are full-time and initially last three months. An additional three months may be approved depending on your performance and the host department’s agreement. The published working hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Application deadline and location

Application deadline: 31 December 2026.

The current African Union Commission vacancy lists Ethiopia as the location and 1506 as the requisition number. No closing time or timezone is published. Submit ahead of the final day.

What you could work on

Interns provide administrative and technical support across areas including agriculture, education, peace and security, law, communications and information systems.

The vacancy seeks computer proficiency, clear communication and the ability to work with people from different backgrounds. Previous work experience is not required. Internship responsibilities and skills

When preparing your application, connect your experience to a relevant area of work. University projects, research, volunteering and student leadership can provide useful examples of what you could contribute.

Funding and expenses

This is an unpaid internship. You or your sponsoring institution must arrange and cover:

Travel.
Visa costs.
Accommodation.
Daily living expenses.
Health and other necessary insurance.

You are also responsible for costs arising from illness or accidents. The Commission does not provide interns with staff benefits. Official financial and insurance conditions

AU promises reasonable assistance with entry and residence visas, but this does not mean it pays the costs. Vacancy terms

Before accepting a placement, prepare a realistic budget for the full assignment. If you expect support from your university or another sponsor, confirm the amount, payment timing and expenses covered before making travel commitments.

Eligibility requirements

You must be a national of an AU Member State. The programme covers final-year undergraduate students, postgraduate students and graduates of recognised institutions. Consult the official programme eligibility guidance and AU Member States list.

Applicants must demonstrate integrity and have no serious criminal conviction; minor traffic offences are excluded. Vacancy eligibility requirements

Check the age and language requirements carefully

The official pages differ:

Requirement	General internship page	Current vacancy
Age	22–32 when applying	No older than 32 at selection
Languages	Includes Kiswahili alongside Arabic, English, French and Portuguese	Eligibility lists Arabic, English, French and Portuguese; the skills section also includes Spanish and Kiswahili

You need proficiency in an accepted language. Seek clarification if these differences affect your eligibility—for example, if you are younger than 22 or rely on Spanish or Kiswahili alone. General requirements, vacancy requirements

Required documents

Prepare:

A motivation letter explaining what you hope to learn.
A copy of a valid passport or national identity card.
Certified copies of relevant academic certificates.
Your current CV.
An internship recommendation from your educational institution.

If you have graduated, ask AU which recommendation it accepts; do not assume this requirement is waived. Official document checklist

The AU CV template is mandatory. Access it through the vacancy. CV instructions

For your motivation letter, explain your interests, the skills you can contribute and your learning objectives. Use specific examples instead of general statements about wanting international experience. These are preparation suggestions, not additional AU requirements.

How to apply

Open the official vacancy. Visit the Internship Program listing and review its latest requirements.
Start the application. Use the vacancy’s application action, currently labelled “I’m Interested.”
Register or sign in. Create your applicant account if you have not used the recruitment system before.
Complete your profile and application. Provide accurate information about your education, skills and relevant experience. Upload the required supporting documents.
Review and submit. Check that your details are consistent across the form and attachments. Creating an account or saving a draft does not complete an application.
Keep your confirmation. Look for the acknowledgement email and retain a copy for your records.

AU’s application guidance explains that submitted applications go to the relevant office for review and that applicants can monitor their status online. Official application guidance

Selection and follow-up

Recruiters contact applicants whose profiles match available placements. Track your application through the careers portal; AU does not provide application-status updates by telephone. Programme FAQs

Continue checking both your account and email, including your spam folder. Treat an acknowledgement as confirmation of receipt rather than an offer.

Conditions to understand before accepting

The AU’s published internship conditions require interns to maintain confidentiality and submit a brief report about their experience at the end of the placement.

Interns are not Commission staff members. The programme does not guarantee employment, and the published guidance specifies a six-month interval after the internship before taking an AUC position. Review these conditions alongside the internship agreement before accepting an offer. Internship status and conditions