The following items will need to be included in a completed internship application (documents should be in English or in French):
- Completed application form (including Acceptance and Undertaking, and Nominating Institution or Organisation Form);
- Cover letter stating the reasons for applying;
- Two letters of recommendation;
- A sample of your written work in a field relevant to the work of the Tribunal (required by applicants for legal internship positions only, no more than ten pages);
- Copies of university degrees and / or diplomas or a list of courses taken;
A photocopy of your valid medical insurance or a signed statement confirming intent to obtain medical insurance while in The Netherlands.
Applications that are not submitted in accordance with the guidelines above are regarded as incomplete and will not be considered. The Tribunal will not remind candidates to submit missing documents. All necessary documents must be included in the application package.
Please note that you always have to include this form. In accordance with the applicable regulations for internships within the UN system, candidates are requested to present a nomination by an authority (university, government institution, sponsoring organisation or private enterprise). This ensures that the organisation can verify that the candidate is known to the institution and is, generally speaking, “in good standing.” As stated, a nomination does not imply any further obligation on part of the institution. The only “obligation” imaginable is that occasionally the organisation might wish to contact the institution in order to get a further insight into the personality of the candidate. As far as possible sponsoring is concerned, appropriate arrangements, if any, are the responsibility of the candidate and the UN does not get involved in this area at all. Note that all applications submitted without this form are deemed incomplete.
No. The Tribunal does not accept incomplete applications. References must be included with the application form. The Human Resources Section of the Tribunal will not remind candidates to send missing parts of an application. Candidates are advised to hold their application until both recommendations are ready to be included in the application package.
No. The application may not be sent through e-mail. Completed applications may only be sent through regular mail to the following address:
ICTY - Internship Office
P.O. Box 13888
2501 EW The Hague
The Netherlands
No. The Tribunal is not able to provide participants in both the Regular and Restricted Internships with remuneration, nor is it possible to provide any reimbursement for any expenses incurred during the internship. All successful applicants are expected to make their own arrangements for travel, accommodation and living expenses during the internship period.
The Tribunal will confirm receipt of applications via e-mail. All completed internship applications are subsequently distributed to the sections the applicant selected for consideration. During this reviewing process no information on the status can be given.
Please note that the application and selection process may take up to four months. Candidates will be informed of their selection or non-selection only via e-mail. Therefore it is important that you have a valid e-mail address and write the e-mail address clearly on the application.
The duration of the Regular Internship can range from a minimum of three months to a maximum of six months. For the Office of the Prosecutor, preference is given to those who are available for a six month period. The duration of the Restricted Internship within the Office of the Prosecutor ranges from a minimum of two months up to a maximum of three months. Preference is given to those who are available for a three month period.
Candidates are advised to submit their fully completed application approximately six months before their intended start date. This applies for both programmes.
For candidates wishing to join the Regular Internship Programme at the Office of the Prosecutor, preference is given to applicants who are able to complete an internship for its maximum duration (six months). The following deadlines apply for 2011:
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Starting dates between:
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Application Deadline
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Decisions issued on or Before
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Jan – June 2011
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15 September 2010
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15 October 2010
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Jul – Dec 2011
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15 March 2011
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15 April 2011
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For candidates wishing to apply for the Restricted Internship Programme of the Office of the Prosecutor, the following deadlines apply for the 2010 and 2011:
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Starting dates between:
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Application Deadline
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Decisions Issued on or Before
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Jan – Mar 2011
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15 September 2010
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15 October 2010
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Apr – June 2011
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15 December 2010
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15 January 2011
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Jul – Sept 2011
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15 March 2011
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15 April 2011
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| Oct – Dec 2011 |
15 June 2011 |
15 July 2011 |
Important note: any applications which were incomplete at the time of the deadline will not be forwarded for selection. Applications received after the deadline will not be given preference.
Please note that deadlines are fixed and will be followed. The Tribunal does not operate with a “postmark” system accepting applications which are “posted” by the deadline; the applications need to be in our office by the deadline in order to be included in the selection rounds. A definite selection is made from candidates who have submitted their application before the deadline. Any applications which are received after the deadline will be kept on file for the next selection.
No. Candidates wishing to join the Registry or Chambers are not fixed to any cycles or deadlines. Applications are accepted all year round.
Yes. All internship positions offered by the Tribunal are based on a full-time basis only. In addition, selected interns are eligible for two and a half days leave per month, subject to their supervisor’s approval.
Yes. Upon completion of the Internship, a UN-ICTY certificate will be issued by the Human Resources Section, confirming the duration of the internship whilst at the Tribunal.
Nationals of a country within the European Union as well as nationals of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina Australia, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela and the United States of America, do not require a visa to enter the Netherlands. Nationals of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia who hold a biometric passport, with the exception holders of a Serbian passport issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (in Serbian: “Koordinaciona uprava”), do not require a visa to enter the Netherlands.
Nationals not mentioned above as qualifying for a visa-waiver require a visa to enter and to stay in the Netherlands. The Tribunal will assist you with the issuance of this type of visa. Note that you should not be initiating immigration proceedings to the Netherlands (the so-called “MVV” application).
No, you do not need a Dutch residence permit issued pursuant to the Aliens Act of the Netherlands.
If you are a non-EU/EEA national, then you will have to apply for a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) card to ensure your legal stay in the Netherlands if the internship, plus the maximum permissible 14 day departure period, goes beyond the period of validity of the three month multiple-entry visa. In this case you should bring one colour passport photograph. Upon arrival at the Tribunal, the Visa and Entitlements Unit (VEU) will apply for the MFA card on your behalf once you have completed the appropriate form and provided the colour passport photograph. This card will be valid for a maximum of six months. Once the card is returned to the VEU, you are obliged to leave the country within 14 days.
If you already have a valid temporary residence permit for the Netherlands (e.g., a student permit, working holiday permit), then the Tribunal may apply for a MFA card on your behalf if the permit is expiring. This can be discussed with the VEU after your arrival.
There should be no expectancy of employment by the United Nations following the completion of the internship. Interns cannot apply for employment at the Tribunal during the period of their internship and during the six months immediately thereafter.
This will depend on the university. Selected candidates will need to confirm with their university whether credit will be given, before departing for the Netherlands.
Although a majority of the internships offered within the Tribunal specifically require a legal background; however, there are internship positions available where a legal background is not a requirement. Sections that accept candidates with a non-legal background include the Communications Service, Conference and Language Services Section, Outreach Programme, Finance Section, Human Resources Section, Information Technology Support Services, Internal Audit, Leadership Research Team and Military Analysis Team.
An educational background in military studies, international relations, journalism, translation and interpretation, information technology, finance and accounting, or human resources may be more appropriate for non-legal internships. The Restricted Internship Programme also offers a limited number of non-legal candidates an internship within the Office of the Prosecutor.
It is our main concern that once interns arrive at the Tribunal they have adequate insurance. As long as we are assured of your intent to take out an insurance policy once offered an internship then this is fine. However, please make your intent clear on the application form (question 11 and attach supporting documentation or a statement of intent). The Tribunal must be very vigilant with regards to insurance as interns are not insured through the United Nations and if an illness or accident occurs, in or outside of work, then the intern is solely responsible for their own medical cover and the Tribunal / United Nations does not get involved.
No. Do not leave your country until you have adequate insurance. The insurance companies in the Netherlands will not cover you during an internship since you are foreign and only staying for a limited duration. Also demonstrated proof of insurance coverage may be required in order to get your visa for the Netherlands should you be a visa-national.
For the Regular Internship Programme, the Tribunal only accepts candidates who are at least in their final stages of education in the relevant field (i.e. final year). Candidates for the Restricted Internship Programme must be at least in their second year of their (relevant) degree. So therefore, first year (legal) students are never accepted for an internship under the Regular and/or Restricted Internship Programmes.
The Tribunal is located in The Hague, a pleasant, rather quiet city with approximately 400,000 inhabitants, centrally located in respect to other European capitals. In general, English is widely understood and spoken in the Netherlands. The Hague has an extensive public transport system and therefore, the Tribunal is very accessible. Prices for accommodation depend greatly on location within The Hague, although normally range between € 300 - 500 per month for a single room.
We encourage you to thoroughly read our web site. If your question is still unanswered, then you may contact the Human Resources Section at internshipoffice@icty.org
