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Young Professionals

Kickstart your career at NCIA, where you will make an impact.


Calls for internships at NCIA are launched every year in February and close in early March.

An NCIA internship provides valuable work experience within an industry facing, commercially minded international organisation within the NATO community.

The multicultural atmosphere provides me with a unique experience to diverse cultures and broadens my mind.

Laura Danilas, NCIA Intern

Internship Programme

As a NCIA intern, you have the opportunity to work alongside dynamic individuals and positively impact NATO's mission of safeguarding nearly one billion citizens.

Choose from over 40 exciting internships that provide an insight into the rich seams of technology systems, platforms and products that NCIA provide and the commercial operations that enable their delivery. Our internships are located in Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands for a period of 6 months. Join a diverse team of experts and gain the opportunity to boost your CV, build your network and support the NATO mission.

Immerse yourself in the diverse environment of our international organization and bring your knowledge, unique perspective and innovative ideas to the most successful Alliance in history.

Don't take our word for it? Learn more from former NCIA Intern Tsvetelina Shabanska.

NATO Young Professionals Programme

NATO's Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is run centrally by NATO HQ and aims to attract and develop highly talented professionals who are interested in accelerating their career through entry-level positions at NATO. Successful candidates are assigned to different NATO bodies over three years, providing them an opportunity to gain a range of experiences across the Alliance and a broad understanding of NATO.

FAQ for internships at NCIA

Are NCI Agency interns paid?

Yes, NCI Agency Interns are compensated at a fixed rate. Interns may receive emoluments from outside sources (such as scholarships or grants).

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What is the duration of an internship?

All internships at NCIA are 6 months, where we bring onboard our new cohorts of interns on 1 March or 1 September, depending on when the security clearance is granted.

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Who is eligible to apply to a NCI Agency internship?

  • Only nationals and citizens of NATO Member States can apply to the Internship
  • You need to be a university student in their final year of study or have gradated within 12 months a submitted application to an NCI Agency internship

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How can I apply for a NCIA internship?

Please ensure that you meet all eligibility requirements before applying to the internship programme. Carefully review the internship description and verify that your educational background and experience fulfil the criteria. You may submit multiple applications, but you are encouraged to only apply to positions you are qualified for and focus on your top three choices.

  1. To submit an application, you must first create an account in NATO's Careers Platform.   Click on "Sign In" in the upper right corner and you will be directed to a page where you can create a "New User" account.  Please note that we do not accept applications that are not received via the Careers site.
  2. After selecting the internship you wish to apply for, you will be asked to respond to a set of pre-screening questions to support your application prior to uploading your CV
  3. Once you have reviewed your responses, you can submit your application. You will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your submission.
  4. Once your application is reviewed after the close date, you will be notified whether you will be invited to complete the on-demand evaluation for the internship that you've applied for. You will have one week to complete this evaluation.
  5. Your on-demand evaluation will be reviewed by the hiring team and, if selected to progress, you will attend the virtual interview with the team as the final stage of your application. Interviews typically take place during April with offers presented by May.

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Can I apply for more than one internship at a time?

Yes, but you must ensure that you meet the specific requirements for each post that you are applying to. When applying for more than one internship, beware that you must submit a separate application form for each internship. You are encouraged to consider applying to only your top three choices.

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Can I join the Internship Programme if I hold a Scholarship or a grant?

Yes, you can. Whether or not you hold a grant or scholarship has no influence on the internship selection process.

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Are there any additional requirements for interns?

  • Insurance: Interns are responsible for their own health and accident insurance and are required to hold a valid health insurance which satisfies the requirements of the Host Nation (the country where they will be working from). Interns are only covered by accident insurance for occupational risks (invalidity/death) that occur during the working hours/period of the internship.
  • Administrative Formalities with Host Nation: Interns will be responsible for fulfilling all administrative formalities required by the host nation, such as registration of housing and obtaining an identification card upon arrival in the Host Nation. Interns coming from a Non–EU country are not required to obtain a visa for the internship.

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