United Nations Young Professionals Programme

Applications are now open for the United Nations Young Professionals Programme (YPP), a yearly recruitment programme that helps talented young people start a career as international civil servants with the UN Secretariat. The 2026 exam area is Development and Sustainability, covering Economics, Statistics, Social Affairs, Environment and Sustainable Development.

The application deadline is Nov 2026. Please note this is not a scholarship. It is a paid career opportunity, and successful candidates are offered a two year fixed term contract with UN salary and benefits. There is no application fee. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

• Programme Type: United Nations Young Professionals Programme (YPP)
• Organization: United Nations Secretariat
• Funding Type: Paid career opportunity
• Host Country: Various UN duty stations, including New York, Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Beirut and Santiago
• Application Deadline: Nov 2026
• Open to All Nationalities: No. Only nationals of participating countries can apply, and the list changes every year
• Language Requirement: Fluency in English or French
• Application Fee: None

What This Opportunity Offers

The YPP gives successful candidates a direct route into a professional UN career. Here is what you receive and gain:

• You become eligible to be selected for suitable vacancies across the UN Secretariat without competing in every individual job process.
• Selected candidates start their career with job security for the first two years.
• Pay for international Professional staff is set by reference to the highest paying national civil service.
• Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and no experience start at P1. Those with a Master’s degree, or a Bachelor’s degree plus two years of experience, start at P2.
• After two years, and subject to satisfactory performance, you may be granted a continuing contract.
• The programme includes development support once you join the UN.
• You can be placed at UN offices and field operations around the world.
• After two years, you can join the Managed Reassignment Programme and move to a new role, usually in a different department or duty station, to build new skills.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Be a national of a participating country. Only the “Country of Nationality” field counts. “Nationality at Birth” and “Other Nationalities” are not considered.
• Hold at least a first level university degree relevant to the exam area, meaning a Bachelor’s degree or a three year equivalent.
• Be 32 years old or younger in the year of the exam. [Verify the exact birth date cutoff for this cycle.]
• Be fluent in English or French, with at least “UN Level II” in speaking, reading, writing and understanding.
• Meet the requirements listed in the official job opening.

Participating Countries

• Afghanistan
• Andorra
• Angola
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Belize
• Brunei Darussalam
• China
• Cuba
• Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
• Dominica
• Equatorial Guinea
• Grenada
• Iceland
• Indonesia
• Israel
• Japan
• Kiribati
• Kuwait
• Lao People’s Democratic Republic
• Liberia
• Libya
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia (Federated States of)
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Nauru
• Oman
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay
• Qatar
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• San Marino
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• Slovenia
• Solomon Islands
• Timor Leste
• Turkmenistan
• Tuvalu
• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America
• Vanuatu

YPP Exam Process:

Exam Preparation

Invited candidates get access to the UN Online Examinations and Tests System. There you can learn how the testing platform works and review preparation materials, which may include a suggested reading list, sample or previous questions and other tips.

Stage One: Online Multiple Choice Exam

• Includes both general and specialized multiple choice questions
• Lasts about 2 hours
• Questions are available in English or French
• Successful candidates are invited to stage two

Stage Two: Written Exam

• Consists of specialized, open ended questions
• Lasts about 2 to 2.5 hours
• Questions can be viewed in English or French
• Some questions must be answered in English or French, while others can be answered in any of the six official UN languages
• Each question has a suggested word limit
• May be proctored remotely using a webcam and monitoring software

Stage Three: Interview

Candidates who pass the written exam are invited to a competency based interview held by video conference. Your performance or identity may be verified at any point during the exam process.

What Happens After You Pass?

Placement on the Roster

Successful candidates are placed on a roster used to fill suitable vacancies across the UN Secretariat. The roster is valid for three years. Being on the roster does not guarantee a job offer.

Contract and Level

Selected candidates are offered a two year fixed term contract. After two years, and subject to good performance, they may be granted a continuing contract. Placement is at one of two levels:

• P1 level: For candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and no work experience
• P2 level: For candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and two years of work experience, or a Master’s degree and no work experience

Where Will You Work?

YPP staff are expected to serve at least two years in their first position. Positions may be available in offices such as Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Beirut, Geneva, Nairobi, New York, Santiago and Vienna. Successful candidates must be willing to work at any UN duty station or field operation.

Managed Reassignment Programme

Once a year, junior professionals with at least two years in their first role are invited to join the Managed Reassignment Programme (MRP). They can choose other positions of interest and move to a new role, usually in a different department or duty station. The goal is to help staff build new skills and strengthen their career foundation.

Estimated Timeline:

• Application period: October to November
• Screening: December to January
• Online exams: February to May
• Interviews and results: June to August

How to Apply:

• Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility
• Step 2: Read the Job Opening
• Step 3: Prepare Your Documents
  • A government issued photo ID that shows your nationality
  • Documents that prove your degrees
• Step 4: Complete Your Application on Inspira
• Step 5: Submit Before the Deadline