Ever wondered what it is like to work for the European Space Agency? ESA's Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor, Lucy van der Tas, will introduce you to the ESA Entry-Level Programmes, targeting students and recent graduates, and their related selection processes. She will also talk about the types of profiles that ESA is looking for. ESA Graduate Trainee, Auni Siukosaari, will join Lucy to discuss her own experiences as an ESA trainee.

1. Who can apply?

Students and graduates from ESA Member States, Associate Members, European Cooperating States, and Canada (as a Cooperating State) may be eligible for internships and ESA Graduate Trainee positions.

The 31 eligible countries are:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

2. ESA is growing!

ESA’s budget has increased from €14.4 billion in 2019 to €22.3 billion in 2025, reflecting growing investment in Europe’s space ambitions and creating an exciting context in which to explore career opportunities at the agency.

3. Internships: applications open in November

ESA’s internship programme offers opportunities for current university students to gain hands-on experience at the agency. The next application window is expected to run from 1 to 30 November, with more than 200 internship opportunities published.

4. Graduate Trainee positions: February 2027

ESA’s Graduate Trainee programme offers recent graduates the opportunity to launch their careers in the space sector. The next application period is expected to run from 1 to 28 February 2027.

5. Junior Professional opportunities: April/May 2027

For candidates with a few years of professional experience, ESA’s Junior Professional opportunities offer another potential entry point. The next positions are expected to be published in April or May 2027.