The WHO Internship Programme is not a scholarship in the usual sense. Nobody pays your tuition. What you get is a fixed stretch of full-time work inside the World Health Organization, at its headquarters in Geneva, at a regional office or at a country office, plus some support to make that possible. For a Pakistani student in public health, medicine, management or communications, it can be one of the strongest lines on a CV. It is also very competitive, and only a small number of applicants are picked each year.
This guide explains how the programme works, who fits the rules, and where applicants usually go wrong. For a shorter summary, see the full scholarship details.
A paid-in-kind placement, not a degree award
WHO describes the internship as a way to build a diverse pool of future public health leaders. Interns work on real technical and administrative tasks. The source material names communication, external relations and human resources as examples, alongside the technical programmes themselves. The idea is that you bring what you learned at university and apply it to WHO work, while the organization gets the benefit of your specialised skills.
Two things are easy to miss. First, interns are not WHO staff members and do not represent the organization in any official capacity. Second, there is no single annual intake. Positions are posted on a continuous basis, and each vacancy notice sets its own requirements and its own deadline. That second point shapes everything about how you should apply.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | World Health Organization (WHO) |
| Funding | Listed as full or partial; support depends on the case (see below) |
| Level | Undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students or recent graduates |
| Location | Geneva, Switzerland (headquarters), plus regional and country offices |
| Duration | Full-time, minimum six weeks, maximum 24 weeks |
| Deadline | Varies by vacancy; confirm on the official site |
| Official site | WHO internships page |
What WHO actually provides during the internship
The support package is modest and partly conditional. According to the programme information, interns get:
- Medical and accident insurance coverage for the internship period
- A living allowance, but only for eligible selected interns who need financial support
- Lunch vouchers at some duty stations, not all of them
Read that list carefully. The living allowance is not automatic, and the wording makes clear it is tied to financial need and eligibility. Do not build your budget on the assumption that you will get it until WHO confirms it in writing.
The bigger value is the experience: exposure to international health systems, technical programmes and people working across many countries. That network is real, and it is the main reason students apply.
The Geneva cost problem
Headquarters internships are in Geneva, and the cost of living there is high. WHO itself flags this. If you are applying for a headquarters vacancy, sit down before you apply and work out how you would cover rent, food and transport for the full length of the placement if the allowance does not cover everything. A country office placement may be a more realistic option for some students, and it is still WHO experience. If you need to show funds for a visa, our guide to bank statements and proof of funds covers how Pakistani applicants usually prepare that paperwork.
The three-year study rule and the other eligibility tests
Seven conditions apply. You must:
- Be at least 20 years old on the date you apply
- Be enrolled in a course of study, or have completed a qualification within the last 18 months
- Have completed at least three years of full-time university study (bachelor's level or equivalent)
- Be fluent in at least one working language of the office you are applying to
- 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 catches many undergraduates. The programme is listed as open to undergraduates, but a first or second year student will not meet the minimum. In practice this suits final-year bachelor's students, master's and PhD students, and MBBS students who have finished at least three years of study.
The 18-month window matters for recent graduates. If you finished your degree two years ago and have been working since, you are outside it. If you graduated recently, you can still apply as long as you are within 18 months of completing your qualification.
On nationality, the rule is a valid passport of a WHO Member State. Check the vacancy notice and the WHO internships page to confirm how this applies to your passport before you invest time in an application.
Your university has to be in the WHED
WHO only considers higher education qualifications from institutions recognised in the World Higher Education Database (WHED). Professional certificates not listed there may need individual review. Pakistani students at smaller or newer institutions should check that their university is listed before applying. If it is not, you may face delays or a rejection that has nothing to do with your ability.
Fields WHO recruits interns for
The listed fields are public health, medical fields, social fields, management, administration, communications and external relations. That is broader than many students expect. A business or media student can be a good fit for an administrative or communications vacancy. Read each notice to see which unit is hiring and what they want, because the requirements differ from post to post.
Paperwork: less up front, more after selection
The documents list is short, and most of it comes later in the process:
- Proof of enrolment in a course of study, or proof that you completed your last qualification
- The WHO medical certificate of fitness for work form, which is required before you start
- A Declaration of Interests form
WHO's advice is clear: do not send any documents until they are specifically requested. Your first application goes through the online system, not by email with attachments. Still, it helps to have your enrolment letter or degree certificate ready. If documents need attestation for later visa steps, the IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains how that usually works.
Applying through Stellis, vacancy by vacancy
All applications go through vacancy notices on the WHO Careers site using the Stellis online recruitment system. There is no other route. The process looks like this:
- Watch the WHO Careers site for internship vacancy notices.
- Create a profile in the Stellis recruitment system.
- Apply to a specific vacancy notice.
- Answer any self-assessment questions the vacancy asks.
- Wait. Only shortlisted candidates are contacted.
That last step frustrates people. If you hear nothing, it usually means you were not shortlisted for that vacancy. Keep applying to others rather than waiting on one.
Timing when there is no fixed deadline
Because positions are posted continuously, the deadline varies from vacancy to vacancy and there is no single date to put in your calendar. Confirm each closing date on the official portal. The practical answer is to set up job alerts in Stellis so new postings reach you, and to check the internships page regularly. A complete profile lets you apply within a day of a posting rather than scrambling.
Where applicants lose their chance
Most weak applications fail on basics rather than talent. These are the patterns to avoid:
- Applying before you have three full years of university study completed. You will be screened out.
- Letting the 18-month graduation window lapse while you wait for the "right" vacancy.
- Submitting a half-finished Stellis profile. Fill in every section accurately before you apply anywhere.
- Sending generic answers. Research the specific WHO unit and its work, and connect your studies to what that unit does.
- Ignoring the language requirement. You need fluency in at least one working language of the office of assignment, which may differ between Geneva and a regional or country office.
- Emailing documents nobody asked for.
- Accepting a Geneva placement without a realistic plan for living costs.
One more point. You can only do this programme once. If you are offered a short placement now but expect to be a much stronger candidate after your master's, think about the timing. Your first internship is also your last.
Who should skip it
If you need a funded degree, this is the wrong opportunity. Look at the all Switzerland scholarships roundup instead. If you have a close relative working at WHO, you are not eligible. And if you cannot commit to full-time work for at least six weeks, the programme will not fit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply outside the Stellis system?
No. All applications must go through internship vacancy notices on the WHO Careers site, using Stellis.
How long does a WHO internship last?
Interns must be available full-time for a minimum of six weeks and a maximum of 24 weeks.
I have already graduated. Can I still apply?
Yes, if you apply within 18 months of completing your formal qualification.
Is the living allowance guaranteed?
No. It is for eligible selected interns who need financial support. Confirm what applies to you with WHO before you commit to the placement, especially in Geneva.
Will WHO tell me if my application is unsuccessful?
Only shortlisted candidates are contacted. If you do not hear back, assume you were not shortlisted for that vacancy and keep applying to others.
How old do I need to be?
At least 20 years old on the date of application.
Before applying, read the current vacancy notices on the WHO internships page and check the full scholarship page for the summary.