UN Young Professionals Programme Exam
- Organization: United Nations Secretariat
- Type: Job
- Location: Global
- Deadline: November 30, 2026
- Funding: Fully Funded
The United Nations Secretariat runs the Young Professionals Programme, a once-a-year entrance exam for starting a career as an international civil servant. This cycle's only exam for outside applicants is in Development and Sustainability, and it is open only to nationals of 47 participating countries. People who pass go onto a three-year roster used to fill entry-level P-1 and P-2 posts at UN offices around the world. **What you get:** - A free entrance exam: the UN says it charges no fee at any stage of the YPP application, exam or evaluation - If you pass, a place on a roster used for three years to fill entry-level (P-1 or P-2) posts across the UN Secretariat - If selected from the roster, a two-year fixed-term UN contract, which may become a continuing contract after two years of satisfactory performance - First postings may be in Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Beirut, Geneva, Nairobi, New York, Santiago or Vienna, among other duty stations - After two years in your first post, a place in the Managed Reassignment Programme to move to a new role or duty station - Free exam preparation material for invited candidates through the UN Online Examinations and Tests System **What you'll do:** - Apply in Inspira, attaching a scan of your passport or government photo ID and proof of your degree - Sit Part I online (a General Paper and multiple choice questions on the exam area), anticipated for February 2027 - If successful, sit Part II online one to two months later: open-ended questions, which may be remotely proctored - If you pass the written exam, take a competency-based video interview, anticipated for mid-2027 - If placed, work on research, data and policy analysis, support to intergovernmental meetings, and technical cooperation, mainly at DESA, UNCTAD and the UN Regional Commissions **Key dates:** - Applications opened 16 October 2026 - Applications close 30 November 2026 at 11:59 pm New York time - Application screening: December 2026 to January 2027 (UN estimate) - Written exam Part I: anticipated February 2027; Part II one to two months later - Oral exam (video interview): anticipated mid-2027 **More information:** - Programme page with eligibility, exam structure and FAQ: https://careers.un.org/ypp - Job opening 285586, YPP Exam: Development and Sustainability (for external applicants): https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/285586?language=en - The UN warns that for-profit companies selling YPP preparation or application services are not connected to the UN; all preparation material is free on the UN site
