€1,500 a Month Security Policy Internship

The European Security and Defence College (ESDC), the EU body that trains civilian and military staff in the Union's Common Security and Defence Policy, is taking interns in Brussels for 2027. Interns help organise and run ESDC courses, seminars and conferences, and come away with a working understanding of how EU security and defence policy is taught and made. It is open to EU nationals currently enrolled in a relevant bachelor's or master's degree, and pays EUR 1,500 a month.

What you get:

• A monthly allowance of EUR 1,500 (if you already receive a grant such as Erasmus+, the ESDC tops it up to EUR 1,500)
• Reimbursed expenses for occasional duty trips outside Brussels, and possible duty trips abroad subject to budget
• A dedicated mentor and an ESDC certificate confirming the internship
• Two working days of leave per month, plus the same public holidays as ESDC staff

What you'll do:

• Help prepare, run and follow up courses, seminars and conferences on EU security and defence policy, in Brussels and abroad
• Prepare course materials and draft background briefs and reports
• Support meetings of ESDC bodies and stakeholders: logistics, attending, note-taking and follow-up
• Support eLearning module revisions, the annual course catalogue and the ESDC Annual Report
• Proof-read documents and draft social media posts

Key dates:

• Applications close 14 October 2026 at 12:00 Brussels time
• First period: 18 January to 14 May 2027
• Second period: 29 March to 30 July 2027
• A third period (1 September to 31 December 2027) will be advertised separately in March 2027

More information:

• Apply by email only to esdc-vacancies@eeas.europa.eu with a CV in the Europass format and a motivation letter, in English or French, as PDF or Word
• Your application must state which internship period you are available for and name a contact or supervisor at your university
• Incomplete applications are not considered; shortlisted candidates are invited to interview
• Full call for applications (PDF): https://www.esdc.europa.eu/document/download/20f33463-e57d-474e-b7a6-0062e628d652_en?filename=Internship%20Call_period%201%20%26%202_%202027%20TQ.pdf

• Nationality of an EU member state
• Currently enrolled at a university for a bachelor's or master's degree (or equivalent) in a field relevant to the ESDC's work
• Enrolled for the entire duration of the internship
• Sickness and accident insurance covering the whole internship
• Thorough knowledge of English or French; a second language is an asset
• Selection is based on academic achievements, academic profile, international profile and work experience