The World Trade Organization pays its interns CHF 60 a day. The WTO Internship Programme offers up to six months of paid work in Geneva, and intake is on an ongoing basis — there is no fixed deadline.
There is also a better-paid track: China’s LDCs and Accessions Programme pays CHF 90 a day plus travel costs and medical insurance, for up to ten months. If you are a postgraduate student or recent graduate interested in trade, keep reading.
The key details at a glance
| Detail | What the WTO says |
| Organisation | World Trade Organization (WTO) |
| Location | Geneva, Switzerland |
| General programme | CHF 60/day, up to 6 months |
| LDCs/Accessions programme | CHF 90/day + travel + medical insurance, up to 10 months |
| Deadline | Rolling — ongoing intake |
| Age | 21 and above |
What the internship gives you
The general programme pays 60 Swiss francs per day — roughly CHF 1,200 a month. The LDCs and Accessions track pays CHF 90 a day plus travel and medical insurance. For Geneva these are modest amounts, but a paid WTO internship on your CV carries real weight in trade law, economics, and policy careers.
Interns work in areas like trade law, economics, statistics, trade policy, languages, and administration. You are inside the institution that runs the multilateral trading system — the network you build matters as much as the stipend.
Who can apply
You must be a national of a WTO member state or a country/territory in the accession process. You must be a postgraduate student or a recent graduate (within two years of finishing). You must be at least 21 years old.
You should probably not apply if:
- You are not a national of a WTO member/observer state.
- You finished your studies more than two years ago.
- You are under 21.
- You expect a full Geneva salary — the stipend covers part of your costs, not all.
How to apply
Intake is ongoing with no specific recruitment period — you apply through the WTO’s official internship page whenever you are ready. Prepare a strong application showing your interest in international trade; competition is serious.
Because there is no deadline, the best time to apply is now — and the second-best time is when your documents are strongest. Do not rush a weak application; polish it first.
More paid internships in Geneva and beyond: the WIPO Internship Programme and the WHO Paid Internship Programme.
Questions applicants ask
Is the WTO internship paid?
Yes — CHF 60/day in the general programme (up to 6 months); CHF 90/day plus travel and medical insurance in the LDCs and Accessions Programme (up to 10 months).
Is there a deadline?
No — intake is on an ongoing basis with no specific recruitment period.
Where are internships based?
Geneva, Switzerland.
Who is eligible?
Nationals of WTO member/observer states who are postgraduate students or recent graduates (within 2 years), aged 21+.
How long do internships last?
Up to 6 months (general) or up to 10 months (LDCs and Accessions Programme).
What fields can interns work in?
Trade law, economics, statistics, trade policy, languages, administration, and related areas.
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