United Nations University Internship 2027
The United Nations University (UNU) offers internships at its headquarters in Tokyo and at its research institutes. The one with the nearest deadline is the Junior Fellows Internship at the Office of the Rector in Tokyo, which closes on 1 November 2026. This guide covers it and the other UNU internships.
Junior Fellows Internship (Tokyo), Spring 2027
This is a roughly six-month internship, from 1 March to 27 August 2027. Work is mainly on-site at UNU headquarters in Shibuya, Tokyo, with some flexibility for remote work. For the Spring 2027 term, applicants both in Japan and overseas will be considered.
The schedule is full-time, 9:30 to 17:30, Monday to Friday, with 1.5 days of leave per month.
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Deadline
Applications close on 1 November 2026 at 23:59 Japan Standard Time, with no exceptions after that time.
Who can apply
- You must be pursuing, or have completed within the last two years, a master’s or doctoral degree, preferably in a related field.
- You must be 32 or younger at the time of application.
- You can have no more than 5 years of work experience in a related field.
- You need native or fluent English. Provide TOEFL, IELTS or TOEIC unless English is your native language or the language of your studies.
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Is it paid?
Interns who have no financial support from other sources, such as a university or institution, get a monthly stipend to partly cover living costs. Academic scholarships don’t count as other support. The amount varies by duty station and isn’t published on the pages we read. The stipend is not full pay, so plan for living costs.
What you need to submit
- English CV, up to two single-sided pages (no P11 form needed)
- English cover letter, up to one page, covering your motivation, your potential contribution and how the internship fits your career goals
- The completed UNU application form
- The completed funding form, showing your funding sources and amounts
- Two recommendation letters, with at least one from a professor. Your referees must email the letters from their official addresses. Letters sent by you won’t be considered.
- English language certificate, if required
Selection process
UNU reviews documents first, then holds a phone or Zoom interview with shortlisted candidates.
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Candidates also complete a time-limited assignment of up to two hours on the same day as the interview. The internship isn’t intended to lead to UNU employment, and interns aren’t UN staff members.
Other UNU internships
UNU’s research institutes also take interns. UNU-IAS, for example, takes postgraduate students (and sometimes final-year undergraduates or recent graduates, within two years, with related research topics) for 2 to 6 months. Interns or their sponsors cover insurance, visas, travel, accommodation and living costs. UNU-IAS lists no fixed deadline on its page. Check careers.unu.edu for current vacancies.
FAQs
What is the deadline for UNU Junior Fellows Spring 2027?
1 November 2026, 23:59 Japan Standard Time.
Is the internship paid?
A partial monthly stipend is paid to interns without other financial support. The amount isn’t published.
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Can I apply from outside Japan?
Yes. For the Spring 2027 term, applicants both in Japan and overseas will be considered.
What is the age limit?
32 or under.
Do I need an English test?
Yes, TOEFL, IELTS or TOEIC, unless English is your native language or the language of your studies.
Can I apply as an undergraduate?
Not for Junior Fellows, which asks for a master’s or doctoral degree. UNU-IAS may consider final-year undergraduates with related research topics.