WIPO Internship Program in Switzerland for Students and Recent Graduates
Country: Switzerland
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Organization: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Category: Internship
Duration: 2 to 12 months
Funding: Monthly stipend of 1,645 to 2,170 Swiss francs
The WIPO Internship Program offers internship opportunities to students and recent graduates. According to the official WIPO internship page, interns work in a variety of roles at the forefront of innovation and creativity, and most internship positions are based at WIPO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Program Overview
WIPO states that the internship program is open to students completing a master’s degree, students in the last year of their bachelor’s degree, and recent graduates. The organization also notes that it welcomes applicants of diverse geographical backgrounds and all genders.
Fields
The official page says WIPO looks for students or recent graduates in various fields, including law, international relations, political science, economics, statistics, information technology, technical cooperation, project management, administration, translation, marketing, and communications.
Category I Eligibility
For Category I internships, applicants must meet one of the following conditions:
First-Level Degree Holders
Applicants may be holders of a first-level degree, meaning a bachelor’s degree, obtained within the last two years prior to the internship application date.
Undergraduate Students
Applicants may be undergraduate students in their third or fourth year of study, and/or students who need to complete an internship as part of their degree requirements.
Master’s Students
Applicants may also be students of a first advanced university degree, meaning a master’s degree, who have neither completed the coursework nor the final thesis.
Category II Eligibility
For Category II internships, applicants must meet one of the following conditions:
Advanced Degree Holders
Applicants may be holders of an advanced degree, meaning a master’s degree, obtained within the last two years prior to the internship application date.
Graduate Students
Applicants may be graduate students who have completed their coursework but have not yet completed their thesis.
Additional Degree Students
Applicants may also be graduate students who have obtained their first advanced university degree and are pursuing an additional degree.
Language
The official page requires professional written and spoken knowledge of English and/or French for both Category I and Category II internships.
Duration
WIPO states that internship opportunities range from 2 to 12 months overall. More specifically, Category I internships are between 2 and 6 months depending on the position, while Category II internships are between 2 and 12 months depending on the position.
Stipend
The internship page states that Category I interns receive a monthly stipend of 1,645 Swiss francs. Category II interns receive a monthly stipend of 2,170 Swiss francs. WIPO describes these amounts as contributions toward lodging, board, and local transportation.
Other Benefits
WIPO lists several additional benefits for both Category I and Category II interns:
Travel Support
Roundtrip travel expense reimbursement of up to 1,500 Swiss francs is available for interns who are nationals of developing, least developed, or transitioning countries and who are residing in their home country at the time of recruitment.
Visa Assistance
WIPO provides assistance with visa formalities for Switzerland, if necessary.
Leave
Interns receive 10 days of official holidays per year and 2.5 days of annual leave during each month.
Insurance
WIPO provides comprehensive medical and professional accident insurance coverage and pays the full insurance premium.
Application Process
The official internship page states that applicants should first explore the current Internship Roster on WIPO’s career page and make sure they meet the necessary requirements before submitting an application. It also notes that the Internship Roster has a generic character and is not linked with any internship position in particular, and that applications are shared with relevant areas at WIPO on a rolling basis.
Additional Note
According to WIPO’s FAQ page, there is no specific age limit for internships. The FAQ also states that applicants who graduated more than a year ago may still apply if they graduated within the last two years.
