 is ongoing and applications invited from all interested){kind=link}
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 successful start their career with the UN.
Program Type: Young Professionals Programme (YPP)
Program Location: Various
Program Duration: Not Specified
Available Slot: Not specified
Basic Qualifications: a first-level university degree or diploma
Nationality: Countries that are un- or under-represented in the United Nations
What to Expect in the United Nations Young Professionals Programme (YPP)
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.
It consists of an entrance examination process and professional development once those successful start their career with the UN.
The application period typically opens in June each year.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for United Nations Young Professionals Programme (YPP), you are expected to meet the following conditions:
- Nationality: Applicants must be a national of a participating country
- Education: Applicants must hold at least a first-level university degree relevant to the exam(at least a relevant Bachelor’s degree or a 3-year equivalent degree)
- Age: Applicants must be 32 years old or younger in the year of the examination
- Language: Applicants must be fluent in either English or French
Application Procedures
How-to-Apply: Interested applicants seeking the United Nations Young Professionals Programme (YPP) are to follow these steps:
- Those interested can apply via Inspira.
- Confirm Your Eligibility
- Carefully review basic application criteria on the YPP Home page.
- Review The Job Opening
- The job openings, specific to each exam area, will be found through Inspira or the UN Careers Portal.
- Read carefully to determine if you meet the requirements.
- If more than 40 applicants from the same country are eligible for an exam area, those applicants will be screened and ranked based on the highest level of education completed, knowledge of official UN languages, and relevant work experience.
- If the exam occurs in two stages, then 60 applicants per country/per exam area may be invited to the first exam stage, with a maximum of 40 per country/per exam area proceeding to the second stage.
Application Deadline: Application period typically opens in June each year
Visit the Official Website for Further Details
FAQs
1. Who is eligible to apply for the UN Young Professionals Programme (YPP) 2026?
The YPP 2026 is open to young professionals who are nationals of UN member states. Applicants must be under 32 years of age at the end of the calendar year of the examination. They must hold at least a first-level university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) and demonstrate proficiency in English or French, which are the working languages of the UN. Some positions may require knowledge of a second UN official language such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish.
2. What are the key steps to apply for the YPP 2026?
To apply:
Check your eligibility: Confirm age, nationality, education, and language requirements.
Create a UN Careers profile: Visit the UN Careers Portal and register your account.
Submit your application online: Fill out the application form, upload your CV/resume, and provide supporting documents.
Take the written examination: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the online or in-person test.
Attend the interview stage: Successful candidates from the written exam will proceed to competency-based interviews.
3. What types of roles can YPP candidates expect?
YPP candidates are recruited into entry-level professional positions (P-1/P-2 level) across various UN departments. Roles may include:
Political Affairs and Peacekeeping
Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs
Economic and Social Development
Administration, Finance, and Legal Affairs
Selected candidates are placed on a roster of eligible professionals for two years and can be deployed to duty stations worldwide depending on the UN’s operational needs.
4. When is the application period for YPP 2026 and how competitive is it?
The application window usually opens in early 2026, with exact dates published on the UN Careers website. The program is highly competitive, with thousands of applicants from around the world, so candidates are encouraged to submit well-prepared applications and meet all eligibility criteria. Early preparation, especially in UN language proficiency and exam practice, increases the chances of success.