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Application Deadline: November 30, 2026
Applications are now open for the 2026 United Nations Young Professionals Programme. The UN Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a recruitment initiative for talented, highly qualified professionals to start a career as an international civil servant with the UN Secretariat. It consists of an entrance examination process and professional development once those who are successful start their career with the UN.
The YPP examination is held once a year in different subject areas, depending on the needs of the UN. YPP is open to nationals of participating countries. The list of participating countries varies from year to year.
Requirements
Nationality
You need to be a national of a participating country.
Education
You will need at least a first-level university degree relevant for the exam (at least a relevant Bachelor’s degree or a 3- year equivalent degree).
Age
You need to be 32 years or younger in the year of the examination.
Language
You need to be fluent in either English or French.
Participating Countries
Please see the list of countries in the YPP Exam Cycles section on this page.
Application Process
1. Confirm your eligibility
Carefully review basic application criteria on this page.2. Review the Job Opening
The YPP application period typically opens each June. The job openings, specific to each exam area, will be found through the Job Search function in Inspira or the UN Careers Portal. Read carefully to determine if you meet the requirements.3. Prepare an application
Watch the YPP Application Guide Videos (Part 1 and Part 2) prior to applying! A general UN ‘Applicant Guide’ is available in Inspira by logging in and clicking on the “Manuals’’ link inside the Main Menu.
Timeline
Please note that this timeline is for reference only, as it varies a bit from year to year. The below provides an overview of the steps and general time frame of the YPP exams from start to finish.
Application Period
October – November
- Review the job opening and requirements
- Create and submit your application on inspira.un.org
Applications Screened
December – January
- Applications evaluated based on eligibility criteria
- Candidates notified of eligibility and convoked to the examination
Assessment Process
February – May
- Examinations administered online
- Examinations marked
- Verification of exam results
Interviews & Results
June – August
- Candidates notified of results of written examination
- Interviews conducted
- Notification of overall results
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the United Nations Young Professionals Programme