The World Health Organization (WHO) Internship is not a degree scholarship. It is a full-time placement inside WHO itself, where students and recent graduates work on technical and administrative programmes under the guidance of WHO staff. Placements can be at the headquarters in Geneva, at a regional office or at a country office. If you want to see how international health policy is actually made, this is one of the most direct ways in.
It suits students in public health, medicine, social sciences, management, administration, communications and external relations who already have a few years of university behind them. It does not suit someone looking for a funded master's degree, or anyone who needs guaranteed money before they can travel. You can read the full scholarship details on our listing, and this guide explains how the programme works in practice.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | World Health Organization (WHO) |
| Funding | Full / Partial (living allowance only for interns who show financial need) |
| Level | Undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students, plus recent graduates |
| Duration | Full-time, from six weeks to 24 weeks |
| Deadline | Varies, vacancies are posted on a continuous basis. Confirm on the official site |
| Country | Switzerland (Geneva headquarters), plus regional and country offices |
| Official site | WHO Careers: internships |
An internship with a needs-based allowance, not a full scholarship
Read the funding line carefully. Since January 2020, WHO has provided a living allowance to eligible selected interns who demonstrate a need for financial support. Your eligibility for that allowance is assessed from the mandatory Declaration of Interests form you submit. So the allowance is tied to need, and it is not automatic for every intern.
Beyond the allowance, the programme lists these benefits:
- Medical and accident insurance coverage during the internship period
- A living allowance for eligible interns who demonstrate financial need
- Possible lunch vouchers at specific duty stations
- Professional experience inside a global public health organization
- Exposure to international health policy and administrative systems
What is missing from that list matters just as much. Nothing in it mentions flights, visa costs or accommodation. Living in Geneva is expensive, and finding somewhere to stay can be hard. Even with the allowance, plan your budget as if you will be covering a real share of your costs yourself, and confirm the current allowance terms on the official portal before you accept an offer.
The eight eligibility rules, and the ones that catch people out
WHO lists eight requirements. You must meet all of them:
- Be at least 20 years old on the date of application.
- Be enrolled in a course of study at a university or equivalent institution.
- Have completed at least three years of full-time studies (Bachelor's level or equivalent) before starting.
- Or, as a recent graduate, apply within 18 months of completing your formal qualification.
- Be fluent in at least one working language of the office where you would be placed.
- Hold a valid passport of a WHO Member State.
- Not be related to a WHO staff member.
- Not have taken part in the WHO Internship Programme before.
The three-year rule is the one Pakistani applicants most often misread. A first or second year MBBS or BS student will not qualify, however strong the CV. You need three full-time years completed by the time the internship starts, which in practice means final-year undergraduates, master's students, PhD students, or graduates still inside the 18-month window.
On nationality, the rule is a valid passport of a WHO Member State. Check the official site to confirm your passport meets this requirement before you invest time in an application. The language rule is also easy to overlook. Fluency in one working language of the specific office is what counts, so read each vacancy notice for the language it needs.
The once-only rule matters too. Because you can only do this internship once, it is worth waiting for a placement that genuinely fits your field rather than grabbing the first unit that has an opening.
Four documents, and when WHO actually wants them
The documents checklist is short:
- Proof of enrollment in a course of studies
- Proof of completion of your last qualification
- The Declaration of Interests form
- The WHO medical certificate of fitness for work form
Timing is the tricky part. Do not send documents until the hiring unit specifically asks for them. Your first application goes through the online system with a cover letter, and the paperwork comes later if you move forward. Still, get your enrollment letter and transcripts ready early, because university offices in Pakistan can take weeks to issue them. Our documents checklist for international scholarships covers how to prepare these properly.
WHO also suggests verifying that your university or institution is accredited in the World Higher Education Database (WHED). Check this before you apply. If your institution is not listed, you want to know that now, not after an interview.
Applying through Stellis, one vacancy at a time
There is no single annual call. Internships appear as individual vacancy notices on the WHO Careers site, and you apply to a specific notice. All applications go through the Stellis online recruitment system, and WHO does not accept applications outside it.
- Monitor the WHO Careers site and internship vacancy notices regularly.
- Create an online profile on the Stellis recruitment system.
- Submit an application for a specific internship vacancy notice.
- Include a cover letter describing your motivation for that role.
- Wait to hear back. Only shortlisted candidates are contacted.
- If shortlisted, complete the assessment and a competency-based interview.
Complete your Stellis profile fully and accurately before you apply to anything. A half-filled profile attached to a good cover letter still looks careless.
Why continuous posting changes how you plan
The deadline field says "varies", and that is accurate. Opportunities are posted continuously, so there is no fixed date to work towards. Each vacancy has its own window, which you need to confirm on the notice itself. The practical answer is to check the portal often, perhaps weekly, and to have your profile and a base cover letter ready so you can respond quickly.
Selection itself may take several weeks or months. If you are a final-year student, start watching vacancies well before your last semester so an offer can still land inside your eligibility window. Recent graduates should count carefully: the 18 months are counted from completing your formal qualification, so work out that date from your documents before you apply.
Where applicants go wrong
The selection is highly competitive, and only a small number of applicants are chosen each year. Some mistakes come up again and again:
- Sending one generic cover letter to every unit. Research the technical unit you are applying to and write about its actual work.
- Emailing documents to WHO before anyone asks for them.
- Applying while still short of three years of completed full-time study.
- Assuming the allowance will cover Geneva rent. It is need-based, and Geneva housing is hard to find.
- Expecting WHO to sign a university internship agreement. WHO does not sign agreements proposed or required by a sponsor, university or equivalent institution, so check with your department early if your degree needs one for credit.
Also keep your expectations realistic about status. Interns are not WHO staff members and cannot represent the organization in any official capacity. That will not bother most applicants, but it is better to know before you describe the role on your CV or LinkedIn.
If you do get an offer for Geneva, you will be dealing with a Swiss visa and proof of funds. Our guide to common student visa rejection reasons is useful background, though always follow the instructions WHO and the Swiss authorities give you. For other study options in the same country, see all Switzerland scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply outside the Stellis system?
No. All applications must be made through internship vacancy notices posted on the WHO Careers site, using the Stellis online recruitment system.
Is the WHO internship fully funded?
Not for everyone. Interns get medical and accident insurance, and there may be lunch vouchers at some duty stations. The living allowance goes only to selected interns who demonstrate financial need, assessed through the Declaration of Interests form.
How long does the internship last?
It is full-time, with a minimum of six weeks and a maximum of 24 weeks.
What happens if I am not selected?
Only successful candidates are contacted, so silence usually means you were not shortlisted. You can apply again to other posted internships as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria.
Will WHO sign my university's internship agreement?
No. WHO does not sign agreements proposed or required by a sponsor, university or equivalent institution. Sort out with your department in advance whether you can still get credit without one.
Before applying, check the live vacancies on the official WHO internships page, and keep the WHO Internship scholarship page handy for the key details.