Internships

During the academic year it became apparent that a great many students is interested in participating in an internship at an international organisation or in a summer course on international law.
Both international internships and summer courses can, if thoroughly prepared and carefully selected, form an important and interesting supplement to your study. For an internship with an international organisation one may add that some professional experience can also be gained, whereas legal summer courses may add to your theoretical knowledge of (international) law in general or a specific topic within the field. Next to the international experience and meetings, such an activity can also offer you a comparative advantage for your future, both on a personal and on a professional level. This will be advantageous no matter what your plans upon completing your studies are, but especially if you wish to continue in international law, when it may even be a requirement.

Below you will find a limited overview of interships. The offer of internships at international organisations is extensive and varied (much more than is apparent from below). The length of the internship may vary from a few weeks to half a year or even longer. Some internships are reasonably or even well-paid, whereas with others you may find you have to sponsor yourself. The nature of the work that will be expected from you is also very different depending on where you find yourself performing. Some internships are on a look-and-learn base, whereas others give you your own tasks and responsibilities. Finally, the demands made of the interns vary. Fortunately, it is not the case that one is required to be an expert in international law for every internship. The usual expectations are good (or very good) academic results, international experience (ERASMUS, exchanges, etc), knowledge of foreign languages (especially English), and a sincere interest for the field of activities of the organisation or department concerned. In some cases special skills (computer literacy, languages) or knowledge (of economics, trade law, environmental law, Human Rights, etc) is required. Generally, though, one can say that finding an interesting internship or attending a good summer course is dependent on your own enthusiasm, qualities and interests.

The same goes for finding the necessary financial means. Unfortunately, the University of Leuven can only be of very limited assistance as far as the latter is concerned.

Below you will mostly be referred to the relevant websites. In some cases we have added information and where no website was available more information is usually given. However, all information given is incomplete and open to change. The mentioned internships are usually part of an organised and pre-existing program. In some cases you may be able to arrange for your own (usually unpaid) internship, maybe in order to aid you with your thesis, research or the like. Do realise that in order to achieve this, you will need to invest even more time and energy (lobbying).

For summer courses, click here.

EU institutions

It is possible to do an internship (stage) with the European Commission, the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament (Secretariat-General or political groups), the European Court of Justice, the European Court of First Instance or the Economic and Social Committee. Generally these internships take 3 to 5 months, either paid or not, and are admissible for (near) graduates. It is an excellent introduction and provides an insider's view of the European Union and these internships are (in)famous for their lively social aspect.

European Commission:

See http://europa.eu.int/comm/stages/index_en.htm   

European Parliament:

See http://www.europarl.eu.int/stages/default.htm

Council of the EU:

   See http://ue.eu.int/cms3_fo/showPage.asp?lang=nl&id=321&mode=g&name=

Economic and Social Committee

   See http://www.ces.eu.int/pages/en/acs/stock.htm

European Court of Justice/Court of First Instance

   See http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/Jo2_7008/traineeships

   Email info@curia.eu.int

Committee of the Regions

   See http://www.cor.eu.int/contactez/coxcon03_stage_en.htm

   Email: trainee@cor.eu.int

For additional information on EC/EU internships and/or more addresses/contact details,
see:

   http://www.euro-staff.gov.uk/finding/otherstages.htm and

   http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg09/career/en/address.htm#stages

Other European organisations

Council of Europe

   See http://www.coe.fr/jobs/traineeship.htm

EBRD

   See http://www.ebrd.com/english/recruit/index.htm

EIB

   The College of Staff Representatives of the European Investment Bank (EIB), which is the elected representative body of 
   the EIB's staff, is available to receive post-graduate students in law wishing to follow a traineeship in order to study from
   a European and Community-law angle certain aspects of social and labour law and practice among the member states of
   the European Union.
   These traineeships have a duration of up to 5 months and areremunerated. The remuneration is of 740 euros per month.
   The trainee would benefitfrom the supervision of lawyers who are members of the College in order tocarry out one or
   more studies on specific agreed subjects in the indicatedgeneral field.
   Interested students are kindly requested to send their application to the following address, indicating their preferred
   dates for traineeship. The candidates are asked to attach to their application a lettermentioning the subject(s) that they
   would like to pursue and their linguisticability. European Investment Bank 100, boulevard Konrad AdenauerL - 2950
   Luxembourg For the attention of the Secretariat of the Staff Representatives
   Email:  j.gehlhaar@eib.org

EFTA

  See http://secretariat.efta.int/vacancies

OSCE

   See http://www.osce.org/employment/13111.htmll 

 Interest in the OSCE and especially the countries of the former USSR is desired.

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Research Fellowships

  See http://www.oscepa.org/index.aspx?articleid=+483 (research fellowships)