Deadline: November 2025
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 who are successful start their career with the UN.
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.
Eligibility
- Nationality: You need to be a national of a participating country.
- Education: You will need at least a first-level university degree relevant for the exam (at least a relevant Bachelor’s degree or a 3- year equivalent degree).
- Age: You need to be 32 years or younger in the year of the examination.
- Language: You need to be fluent in either English or French.
- Participating countries
A – K
Andorra, Angola, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait
L – R
Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar
S – Z
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Viet Nam
Application Process
1. Confirm your eligibility
Carefully review basic application criteria on this page.
2. Review the Job Opening
The YPP application period typically opens each June. The job openings, specific to each exam area, will be found through the Job Search function in Inspira or the UN Careers Portal. Read carefully to determine if you meet the requirements.
3. Prepare an application
Watch the YPP Application Guide Videos (Part 1 and Part 2) prior to applying! A general UN ‘Applicant Guide’ is available in Inspira by logging in and clicking on the “Manuals’’ link inside the Main Menu.
For more information.