About this opportunity
The United Nations University Office of the Rector is inviting applications for the Junior Fellows Internship Programme, Spring 2027 term. The placement runs for approximately six months, from 1 March 2027 to 27 August 2027, and gives a young researcher a working seat inside a United Nations think tank that studies the pressing problems of human survival, development and welfare.
Junior Fellows support the Office of the Rector across administrative research and writing, project planning, internal analysis in tools such as Microsoft Excel, event coordination, meeting minutes, proofreading and the preparation of newsletters and event summaries. The work is full time from 9:30 to 17:30 Japan Standard Time, Monday to Friday, with 1.5 days of leave each month. Most of it is on site at the UNU headquarters in Tokyo, with some flexibility for remote work.
UNU pays a monthly stipend to interns who are not already receiving financial support from a university or another institution, and it sets the amount from the stipend rates in force at the duty station. The programme is open to candidates worldwide, and UNU strongly encourages applications from developing countries and from women. For the Spring 2027 term the Office of the Rector considers candidates living in Japan and candidates living overseas, regardless of current location.
What you receive
- A six month internship with the Office of the Rector at United Nations University headquarters in Tokyo
- A monthly stipend toward basic living costs for interns with no other financial support
- Full time working hours of 9:30 to 17:30 Japan Standard Time, Monday to Friday, with 1.5 days of leave each month
- Primarily on site work at the UNU headquarters in Tokyo, with some flexibility for remote work
- Direct exposure to executive briefs, internal policy research, conferences and public events at a United Nations think tank
- An agreed internship Agreement Form that acts as the working contract between the fellow and the Office of the Rector
- UNU assists selected candidates with the Japanese visa application process where a visa is required
Who can apply
- Currently pursuing postgraduate studies at master's or doctoral level, or having completed them within two years of application, preferably in a field related to the work of the University
- At or under 32 years of age at the time of application
- No more than five years of work experience in a related field
- A native or fluent command of written and spoken English
- Excellent research, writing and analytical skills
- Advanced computer skills with hands on knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, and high proficiency in Microsoft Excel is desirable
- A demonstrated interest in the work of the United Nations and of the United Nations University
- Open to candidates located in Japan and candidates located overseas for the Spring 2027 term
Who should not apply
- Applicants older than 32 at the time of application do not meet the stated range
- Applicants with more than five years of work experience in a related field fall outside the stated range
- The internship carries no expectation of employment at the end of the term and does not lead to further employment with UNU
- Interns do not hold international civil servant status and are not staff members under the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations
- Interns may not represent UNU in any official capacity
- Candidates already receiving financial support from a university or another institution are not paid the UNU stipend
Documents to prepare
- A current and complete curriculum vitae in English, limited to two single sided pages, uploaded where the application asks for the P11 Form
- A cover letter in English of no more than one single sided page covering your motivation, how you would contribute to the work of the Office of the Rector, and how the programme relates to your future career goals
- The UNU Application Form, completed in Microsoft Word or filled in by hand and printed
- The UNU Funding Form, setting out the source, amount and duration of actual and projected funding while in Tokyo
- Two letters of recommendation sent by the referees themselves from official institutional, academic or corporate email addresses to ro_internship@unu.edu
- A valid TOEFL, IELTS or TOEIC score report for applicants whose native language is not English and who did not study in an English medium programme
How to apply
- Read the Junior Fellows Internship Programme listing on the UNU careers site and confirm that you meet the stated age, study and experience range.
- Prepare a two page curriculum vitae in English and a one page cover letter that answers the three questions the listing sets out.
- Download and complete the UNU Application Form and the UNU Funding Form from the links on the listing page.
- Ask two referees to send their letters of recommendation themselves, from official email addresses, to ro_internship@unu.edu, with at least one referee who knows your academic work.
- Arrange an English language certificate if neither English is your native language nor your study was delivered in English.
- Submit the complete application through https://careers.unu.edu/o/junior-fellows-internship-spring2027 before 23:59 Japan Standard Time on 1 November 2026, noting that no account is needed and that applications cannot be submitted after that time.
Selection process
- Stage one reviews the submitted documents to assess motivation, background and how the qualifications meet the selection criteria, and may include a desk review, a competency based interview and reference checks.
- Shortlisted applicants move to stage two, a telephone or Zoom interview arranged in advance with each candidate.
- Stage three asks candidates to complete a short time restricted assignment on the same day as the interview, for which applicants should allow up to two hours.
- Successful applicants sign and return the Agreement Form, which acts as the working contract, and then begin the Japanese visa application where one is needed.
- Only candidates under serious consideration are contacted.
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
When do applications close for the UNU Junior Fellows Internship Programme?
Applications close on 1 November 2026. UNU states that applications will not be possible after 23:59 Japan Standard Time on that date.
Is the internship paid?
Interns who are not receiving financial support from a university or another institution receive a monthly stipend from UNU to partially subsidise basic living costs. The amount is set from the stipend rates in force at the duty station.
Can applicants from Nigeria and other African countries apply?
Yes. The listing is open to candidates worldwide and UNU states that applications from developing countries, and from women, are strongly encouraged. Candidates living overseas are considered alongside candidates living in Japan.
What age and experience range does UNU look for?
The candidate must be at or under 32 years of age at the time of application and must not have more than five years of work experience in a related field.
How long does the internship last and when does it start?
The internship runs for approximately six months, that is 24 weeks. The expected start date is 1 March 2027 and the expected end date is 27 August 2027.
Can I send my own reference letters?
No. Both referees must email their letters themselves to ro_internship@unu.edu from official institutional, academic or corporate email addresses. Recommendation letters submitted by the applicant are not considered.
Does this internship lead to a job at the United Nations?
No. UNU states that the purpose of the programme is to complement an intern's studies and that there should be no expectation of employment at the end of the internship.
Important disclaimer
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