Intern – Committee, Policy and Legal Affairs Section (CPLA)

Job Description

Duties and Responsibilities
The internship is located at the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in Vienna, Austria. The intern will be placed in the Committee, Policy and Legal Affairs Section (CPLA) in Vienna Austria. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Program Manager CPLA.

The internship is UNPAID and interns work five days per week (full time - 40 hours). For more information on UNOOSA, please visit: www.unoosa.org or our LinkedIn, Instagram, X/Twitter and Facebook sites.

Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background as well as the internship period. Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Assist in the substantive Secretariat services to the 2026 cycle of sessions of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and Legal Subcommittee;
• Assist in capacity-building activities on space law and policy;
• Assist in legal and/or policy related research and analysis; and
• Perform other tasks as necessary.

Qualifications/special skills
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
(a) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
(b) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent).

Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme.

Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.

Be computer literate in standard software applications; proficiency in preparing spreadsheets and databases management (good knowledge of MS Excel).

Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter.

(c) Degree programmes should be in a field of international affairs, policy and law, or other degree relevant to the activities of CPLA.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

DEADLINE: OCTOBER 12, 2025