WHO Ethics Internship 2027 in Geneva, Switzerland (Paid)

The WHO Ethics Internship 2027 is a paid 24-week internship at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Interns receive a monthly living allowance of up to CHF 1,680, lunch vouchers of CHF 20 for every working day, and medical and accident insurance.

You join WHO’s Ethics team, the group that sets global rules on health ethics, from research with people to the use of new technologies in public health. It is open to postgraduate students, and to people who finished a postgraduate degree in the last 18 months, in bioethics, public health, medicine, philosophy, law or a related field.

What is the WHO Ethics Internship?

WHO’s Ethics team looks at the hard questions behind global health decisions. Who gets a scarce vaccine first? How should countries use new technology like genomics or AI in public health? What do we owe people taking part in research? The team writes guidance on these questions and helps countries build their own ethics capacity.

As an intern, you work under a Senior Ethics Specialist on real projects. You help write briefs, evidence summaries, meeting notes, draft reports and presentations. You review academic research, support expert meetings and workshops, and help run the team’s big events, such as the Global Summit of National Ethics Committees and the Global Forum on Bioethics in Research.

You also support TArGET, a WHO and OECD tool that helps governments plan for new technologies in public health, and a project on the ethics of public health surveillance.

What you get

• A monthly living allowance of up to CHF 1,680 if your permanent home is outside Geneva
• Up to CHF 739 a month if your permanent home is in Geneva
• Lunch vouchers worth CHF 20 for every working day
• Medical and accident insurance for the whole internship
• 24 weeks of work experience inside WHO headquarters

Interns do not receive a salary. The allowance is calculated for each intern after selection, based on a financial form you complete, and it can be lower if you already get a grant or scholarship. WHO does not provide housing, so the allowance is what covers your rent and daily costs in Geneva. Flights are not listed as covered.

Who can apply

• You are enrolled in a postgraduate programme, such as a master’s or PhD, or you completed one within the last 18 months
• Your studies are in bioethics, public health, medicine, philosophy, law or a related field
• You are interested in applied ethics, especially public health, climate change or new technologies
• You have expert English, spoken and written
• You can use Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and use AI tools responsibly for research
• Your degree comes from a university listed in the World Higher Education Database (whed.net)

Any nationality can apply. WHO especially encourages women, people with disabilities, and nationals of countries that are under-represented in its workforce.

Is there an age limit?

No age limit is listed. What matters is your study status: you must be a current postgraduate student or have finished within the last 18 months.

Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?

No test score is requested. You do need expert-level English, because all the writing and meetings are in English. Intermediate French or another UN language is a plus, not a must.

I only have a bachelor’s degree. Can I apply?

Not for this one. It is set for postgraduate students and recent postgraduates. If you are still at bachelor’s level, our WHO Internship Programme 2027 guide covers WHO’s wider internship scheme, and we post new paid internships every week.

Do I need work experience?

No set number of years is required. WHO asks for an interest in applied ethics and familiarity with key ethics ideas. Coursework, a thesis, or volunteer work in health or ethics can show this.

Required documents

• An online profile on the WHO careers portal with your education, experience and languages
• Answers to the questions in the online application form
• If selected: certified proof of enrolment in your postgraduate course (or of completion)
• If selected: a WHO medical certificate of fitness for work
• If selected: contact details for reference checks

How to write your application

Show that you understand what this team actually does. Pick one or two of its topics, such as new technologies in public health, climate change and health, or ethics in health emergencies, and connect them to your own study. A thesis chapter, a seminar paper, or a real case from your country all count.

Be concrete about your skills. Say what you have written: literature reviews, policy briefs, reports. The intern’s main job is turning research into clear documents, so clear writing in your application is your best proof.

Keep it honest and specific. One real example of an ethical problem you studied beats a long list of interests.

How to apply, step by step

1. Open the official WHO careers page for vacancy 2604183 (the button below).
2. Create an account on the WHO careers portal if you do not have one.
3. Fill in your profile: education, work, languages and skills.
4. Complete the internship application form and submit it.
5. Wait to hear from WHO. Shortlisted candidates are contacted.
6. If selected, send your proof of enrolment, medical certificate and references.

Selection process

WHO reviews all applications and contacts only shortlisted candidates. Selected interns then complete a financial form to set their allowance, a medical clearance, and a background check.

Deadline

23 October 2026.

The WHO portal shows the closing time in your own device’s time zone, so check it there. The internship runs from 1 February to 16 July 2027.

Have a question?

Drop your question in the comments and we will do our best to help. If you have applied to something like this before, tell us how it went, it helps the next reader.

Related reading

• WHO Internship Programme 2027 (Paid, Switzerland and Worldwide)
• Paid Internships in Switzerland 2026/27: 7 Global Organizations in Geneva
• KAUST VSRP Internship 2027 in Saudi Arabia (Fully Funded Research Internship)
• OIST Research Internship Spring 2027 in Japan (Funded)

Follow us so you never miss an opportunity

We post fully funded scholarships, fellowships and internships like this one every week.

Join our WhatsApp Channel

Follow us on TikTok

Apply now

Apply on the Official WHO Careers Website