Host organization: European University Institute (EUI)

Location: Florence, Italy

Duration:

• Paid traineeships: up to 12 months, with shorter placements of at least 3 months possible in justified cases.
• Unpaid traineeships: up to a maximum of 3 months.

Financial conditions:

• Paid traineeship: a monthly grant of €1,540, effective from January 1st, 2026.
• Travel allowance: trainees recruited from outside Florence are entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses actually incurred at the beginning and end of the traineeship, provided they are in a paid position.
• Unpaid traineeship: no grant is provided by the EUI, although trainees may receive financial support from their home university or organization, as specified in the inter-institutional agreement.

WHAT IS THE EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE?

The European University Institute (EUI) is an international research institute specializing in the social sciences and humanities, renowned for its doctoral and postdoctoral research and training activities. It offers a multicultural and international academic environment where students and young professionals can develop their skills and gain practical experience while working alongside experienced staff.

WHAT DO THE TRAINEESHIPS INVOLVE?

Trainees will be assigned to a unit or team and will work under the supervision of an experienced supervisor. Responsibilities vary depending on the assigned service and may involve different areas of the Institute’s activities.

The current opportunities include:

• Academic Service: support for the Institute’s academic activities and services.
• ICT Service: work in the areas of Systems & Networks, Administrative Systems and Web Services.
• Human Resources Service: a traineeship focused on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
• Communications Service: opportunities in events, graphic design, marketing, multimedia, research and institutional communications.
• Historical Archives of the European Union: activities related to the European Union’s historical archives.

These traineeships offer the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the EUI’s work, apply knowledge acquired through academic studies, develop new professional and personal skills, and contribute to projects in an international environment.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To apply for a traineeship at the EUI, candidates must generally:

• Be nationals of an EU Member State or of a candidate country benefiting from a pre-accession strategy. Some exceptions apply to specific categories of applicants.
• Have a good command of English, corresponding to at least B2 level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
• Have a satisfactory knowledge of another EU official language, to the extent required for the duties involved.

For paid traineeships, candidates must also:

• Have completed the first cycle of university studies and obtained a full university degree or equivalent by the application deadline.
• Have obtained their most recent university degree no more than three years before the application deadline, except for candidates currently enrolled in further university studies.

For unpaid traineeships, candidates must:

• Be currently enrolled in a recognized university degree programme.
• Have an inter-institutional agreement in place between their home university or organization and the EUI.

HOW TO APPLY

Application procedures and deadlines depend on the position. The opportunities listed in the official announcement include:

• Trainee within the Academic Service: application deadline November 2nd, 2026, at 23:59 CET. Starting date: February 1st, 2027.
• Trainees within the ICT Service: application deadline November 2nd, 2026, at 23:59 CET. Starting dates: February–April 2027, depending on needs and available positions.
• EDI Trainee within the Human Resources Service: application deadline November 9th, 2026, at 23:59 CET. Starting date: February 1st, 2027.
• Trainee within the Communications Service: open call, with no specific deadline.
• Archivist Trainee within the Historical Archives of the European Union: open call, with no specific deadline.

Applications must be submitted through the relevant online application form, together with the documents requested in the vacancy notice. Only applications submitted through the online form will be accepted.

Candidates may also submit a spontaneous application for a traineeship at the EUI through the online application form.

For full details about eligibility, available positions and application procedures, visit the official EUI traineeships webpage.

A valuable opportunity to develop professional skills and gain experience in an internationally renowned research institution, with traineeship options across a wide range of academic, administrative and technical fields. Remember to check whether your chosen position is paid or unpaid before applying.