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The UN Young Professionals Programme (YPP) 2026 is the United Nations’ entrance exam for young graduates. People who pass are placed on a roster and can be offered a paid two-year contract as an Associate Officer (P-1 or P-2 level) at the UN Secretariat, with no work experience required.
This year’s exam is in Development and Sustainability. It is open to graduates aged 32 or younger who are citizens of one of the 47 countries taking part in 2026, listed below.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | United Nations Secretariat |
| Exam area 2026 | Development and Sustainability |
| What successful candidates get | A paid two-year P-1/P-2 contract when selected from the roster |
| Duty stations | Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Beirut, Geneva, Nairobi, New York, Santiago, Vienna and others |
| Who can apply | Citizens of 47 participating countries, born on or after 1 January 1994, with a Bachelor’s degree |
| Work experience | Not required |
| Application fee | None |
| Deadline | 30 November 2026 |
What is the UN Young Professionals Programme?
The YPP is how the UN Secretariat recruits early-career professionals. It has two parts: a competitive exam, and professional development for those who start a UN career. The exam runs once a year in subject areas the UN needs, and the list of participating countries changes every year.
In 2026, successful candidates will mostly work in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the UN Regional Commissions. The work covers economic affairs, social affairs, population, statistics, data science and environmental protection, guided by the Sustainable Development Goals.
What you get
- A two-year fixed-term UN contract at P-1 or P-2 level, if you are selected from the roster
- The chance of a continuing contract after two years, with good performance
- A UN salary and benefits package for international staff
- Placement in UN offices such as Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Beirut, Geneva, Nairobi, New York, Santiago or Vienna
- A place on the YPP roster for three years if you pass
Passing the exam puts you on the roster. A job offer comes when a suitable vacancy opens, so being on the roster does not guarantee one.
Participating countries for 2026
Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America and Vanuatu.
The list changes each year. If your country is not on it this time, we post UN internships and fellowships open to every nationality every week.
Who can apply
- A citizen of one of the participating countries above
- Born on or after 1 January 1994 (32 or younger by the end of 2026)
- At least a Bachelor’s degree (three years or more) in economics, statistics, data science, social affairs, environment, sustainable development or a related field
- Fluent in English or French
Is there an age limit?
Yes. You must be born on or after 1 January 1994.
Do I need work experience?
No. Work experience is not required. It is only used as an extra screening point when more than 90 people from the same country apply to the same exam area.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?
No test certificate is required. You need fluent English or French, and your language skills can be tested at any stage of the exam.
Is there an application fee?
No. The UN does not charge any fee at any stage of recruitment.
Required documents
- A scanned passport or state-issued ID showing your name, date of birth, nationality and photo
- Scanned degree documents (diploma, transcript or similar) matching the main course of study you select
- A complete profile on Inspira, the UN’s application system
How to prepare your application
Small mistakes can disqualify you, so take care.
- In Inspira, choose the field of study closest to your degree. Never choose “other”, or you are automatically disqualified.
- Type your exact degree title in its original language, plus an English or French translation, in the comment box.
- Attach both your passport or ID and your degree documents. Applications without them are not considered.
- Start preparing for the written exam now. The General Paper tests skills for international work, and the Specialized Paper tests your subject knowledge.
How to apply, step by step
- Check that your country is on the 2026 list.
- Open the job opening using the button at the end of this post.
- Create or update your profile on Inspira.
- Apply to the Development and Sustainability exam and upload your documents.
- Submit before 30 November 2026.
Selection process
- Screening of applications. If more than 90 people from one country apply, the top 90 are invited to the exam.
- Written exam online, Part I (General Paper and multiple-choice Specialized Paper), expected in February 2027
- Written exam Part II (open-ended questions), one to two months later, for up to 60 candidates per country
- Oral exam by video, expected in mid-2027
Deadline
30 November 2026.
The job opening was posted on 16 October 2026. Find your degree documents early so your scans are ready to upload.
Have a question?
Drop your question in the comments and we will do our best to help. If you have taken the YPP exam before, tell us how you prepared, it helps the next reader.
Related reading
- UNU Junior Fellows Internship 2027 in Tokyo, Japan (Paid)
- WHO Ethics Internship 2027 in Geneva, Switzerland (Paid)
- World Bank Young Professionals Program 2027 (WBG YPP, Fully Funded)
- UNIDIR Graduate Professional Programme 2026 (Paid Placement in Geneva)
- United Nations Volunteer Program 2026 (On-site and Online)
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