What is the main objective of the UN Young Professionals Programme?

It acts as a recruitment initiative to bring talented, highly qualified professionals into careers as international civil servants with the UN Secretariat.

How can candidates find exam-specific job openings?

Job openings specific to each exam area can be found through the Job Search function in Inspira or via the UN Careers Portal.

What languages are accepted for the application and examinations?

You must be fluent in either English or French.

UN Young Professionals Programme 2026: Eligibility And Exam

Job Opportunities-Opportunity HUB

October 19, 2026

Updated on 25 October 2026

The UN Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is an entry exam for people who want a career with the UN Secretariat. To be eligible you must be a national of a participating country, hold at least a first-level university degree relevant to the exam subject, be 32 or younger in the year of the exam, and be fluent in English or French. The 2026 closing date shown for this round is 30 November 2026. The list of participating countries changes each year, so Nigerian and other African applicants must check it before they apply.

Eligibility at a glance

Requirement	What it means
Nationality	National of a country participating in the YPP. The list is published every year and covers countries that are not represented or are under-represented in the UN
Education	At least a first-level university degree relevant to the exam subject
Age	32 or younger in the year of the exam
Language	Fluent in English or French

How the exam works

The exam is held once a year, and the subject areas change depending on UN staffing needs. Eligible candidates apply for a specific subject through Inspira, the UN staff selection system. If more than 40 eligible applicants from the same country apply for the same subject, they are ranked by highest education completed, knowledge of UN languages and relevant work experience, and only the top group goes forward.

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Editor’s Picks

Stage	What happens
1. Application	Apply for one exam subject through the UN Careers portal
2. Written exam	Online, in one or two stages. A General Paper tests skills needed in an international organization, in English or French. A Specialized Paper tests subject knowledge
3. Oral exam	A competency-based video interview with a panel for those who pass the written stage
4. Roster	Successful candidates join a roster valid for three years

What happens after you pass

Being on the roster does not guarantee a job offer. Candidates who are selected receive a two-year fixed-term contract at the P-1 or P-2 level and must be willing to work at any UN duty station, which means postings can be anywhere in the world.

Candidate checklist

Confirm your country is on this year’s participating list.
Check your degree is relevant to the exam subject you choose.
Confirm you will still be 32 or younger in the year of the exam.
Create or update your Inspira profile before the closing date.
Prepare for both a general paper on international organization skills and a specialized paper in your subject.
Be ready to relocate to any duty station if selected.

Apply and read the current notice on the UN Careers Young Professionals Programme page. Treat anyone who asks for payment to guarantee you a place as a scam risk.