FAQ
100 frequently asked questions
Types of traineeship
1) Q: What is the difference between the traineeships for university graduates and training placements (apart from the scholarship)?
2) Q: What is the duration of the different types of traineeship offered at Parliament?
3) Q: What is the difference between the general and the journalism option? Can I apply for both?
4) Q: Are ‘journalism option’ tasks different from ‘general option’ tasks?
5) Q: What is the ‘programme of traineeships for people with disabilities’ and what kind of tasks are involved?
6) Q: Can I apply for both a university graduate traineeship and a training placement?
7) Q: Can I apply both for a university graduate traineeship (general or journalism option) and for the programme for people with disabilities?
8) Q: Can I apply both for a training placement and for the programme for people with disabilities?
Applications
9) Q: How do I apply for a traineeship?
10) Q: What are the general conditions for admission?
11) Q: Who can apply for a traineeship at the European Parliament?
12) Q: Can I apply for a traineeship at the European Parliament if I have already completed a traineeship for university graduates or a paid training placement at a European institution?
13) Q: I am not a national of a Member State of the European Union or of an applicant country. Can I apply for Parliament’s traineeships programme?
14) Q: What is the application procedure for third-country nationals from non-applicant countries?
15) Q: Is there a maximum age limit for applicants?
16) Q: I have completed my studies (minimum three years’ duration) but have not yet received my diploma. Can I nonetheless apply for a university graduate traineeship?
17) Q: What are the deadlines for applying?
18) Q: Is it necessary to go through the official procedure or are unsolicited applications also possible?
19) Q: Can I send the application by post?
20) Q: Do I need to send any supporting documents when applying?
21) Q: How will I know that the Traineeships Office has received my application?
22) Q: What should I do if I have not received a confirmation message?
23) Q: How can I trace a lost registration number?
24) Q: Should I contact the Traineeships Office to check the status of my application?
25) Q: Can I change my application?
26) Q: Can the Traineeships Office inform me earlier to enable me to make any necessary preparations (finding accommodation, university approval, visa application)?
Online application form
27) Q: What should I bear in mind when applying online?
28) Q: Where can I find more details about traineeships and the conditions for admission?
29) Q: Is the online application sufficient at the first stage of the procedure?
30) Q: Is the application form available in all the EU languages?
31) Q: What is meant by an ‘undergraduate course’?
32) Q: What type of education should I include in the ‘postgraduate studies’ field?
33) Q: How will I know which departments to choose?
34) Q: How should I apply for a traineeship in one of the European Parliament's Information Offices?
35) Q: Are preferences regarding places of work taken into consideration?
36) Q: Can I submit more than one application to increase my chances of being selected?
37) Q: What should I do if I have made a mistake in my application?
38) Q: How many times can I reapply for future traineeship periods? Is there any limit?
Selection procedure
39) Q: How are trainees selected?
40) Q: What are the stages of the procedure?
41) Q: If my application is rejected, will it be possible to find out why? Do you compile lists of applicants’ scores?
42) Q: Can I obtain feedback on my application to increase my chances for the next round?
43) Q: Could my application be reconsidered by departments other than the two for which I expressed a preference?
44) Q: I have been placed on a waiting list. What are my chances of being offered a traineeship?
45) Q: What is the next stage in the procedure if I am preselected?
46) Q: When should I send supporting documents?
47) Q: Can I postpone the start of my traineeship until a later date?
48) Q: Can I defer my acceptance of the traineeship to a future intake? In other words, if I am selected can I wait until a later period before doing the traineeship?
49) Q: Will the results of the selection procedure be published?
Recruitment procedure
50) Q: Will I receive an official letter of admission?
51) Q: Do the copies of supporting documents need to be certified as authentic copies of the originals?
52) Q: I have not yet received my postgraduate diploma. Should I send it at a later stage?
53) Q: Do I have to send copies of certificates concerning my language skills?
54) Q: I have been selected for the journalism option and have a diploma in journalism. Do I also need to send published articles to prove my journalistic skills?
55) Q: Do I have to provide translations of supporting documents?
56) Q: Do supporting documents have to be sent by registered mail?
57) Q: Will I be sent confirmation that the Traineeships Office has received my documents?
58) Q: I no longer have the application form or the confirmation message. Could the Traineeships Office locate my application form and send me a copy to sign?
59) Q: I have got married since I submitted my application for a traineeship for university graduates. Will that be relevant if I am selected?
60) Q: My place of residence has changed since I applied for a traineeship. Will that be relevant if I am selected?
61) Q: Will I sign a contract with the European Parliament?
62) Q: Can my traineeship be extended? If so, for how long?
The traineeship
63) Q: Are all trainees based in Brussels or Luxembourg?
64) Q: What are the working hours?
65) Q: Can I do a part-time traineeship?
66) Q: Who will be responsible for me during my traineeship?
67) Q: I would like to know more about the tasks involved in my traineeship programme. Who should I contact?
68) Q: Can you provide me with names and addresses of other trainees who will be doing their traineeship at the same time as me?
69) Q: Does the European Parliament provide any kind of accommodation?
70) Q: Where can I stay during my traineeship? How much a month will I have to spend on accommodation?
71) Q: Is there a dress code at the European Parliament?
72) Q: Will I need a visa?
73) Q: How many days’ leave am I entitled to?
74) Q: What is meant by ‘special leave’?
75) Q: What should I do if I fall ill during my traineeship?
76) Q: Will my traineeship involve any duty travel?
Financial aspects
77) Q: Are trainees insured?
78) Q: Am I entitled to allowances if I am offered a training placement?
79) Q: Does the European Parliament cover the cost of travel from my place of residence to the place where I am to do my traineeship?
80) Q: Will Parliament cover the costs of my daily commuting to and from work?
81) Q: Do I have to have a bank account in the country of assignment?
82) Q: Is it possible to obtain an advance on the scholarship on arrival?
83) Q: Under what circumstances would I be entitled to the household allowance during my traineeship?
84) Q: Will I be entitled to unemployment benefit after I have completed my traineeship in the European Parliament?
85) Q: What is the amount of the scholarship paid by the European Parliament?
86) Q: Is a traineeship considered to be employment? Will I be exempted from paying social security contributions in my home country?
87) Q: Is the scholarship subject to taxation?
88) Q: Will my traineeship period count towards my pension calculation?
89) Q: Do I have to terminate my current employment for the duration of the traineeship?
90) Q: Is any other grant, e.g. from a university, or an orphan’s allowance considered income?
91) Q: What is the procedure for going on ‘mission’?
92) Q: What is the procedure for claiming reimbursement of mission expenses?
Career prospects
93) Q: What are my prospects of securing employment at the European Parliament after the traineeship?
Some statistics
94) Q: How many applications does the European Parliament receive each year and how many are accepted?
95) Q: Which countries do the trainees come from?
96) Q: Where are trainees usually based?
97) Q: Is it easier to get a traineeship in some places than in others?
98) Q: Are there more university graduate traineeship opportunities or more training placements?
Study visits
99) Q: What is the purpose of study visits?
100) Q: What is the procedure for study visits?
1
FAQ
Types of traineeship
1) Q: What is the difference between the traineeships for university graduates and training placements (apart from the scholarship)?
A: The traineeships for university graduates are open only to graduates from universities or from other colleges regarded as equivalent. Their purpose is to enable trainees to supplement the knowledge which they acquired during their studies and to familiarise themselves with the activities of the European Union and, in particular, the European Parliament.
Training placements are intended for young people who have gained the post-secondary school diploma corresponding to university entrance level, e.g. the Abitur (DE), the baccalauréat (FR, LT), the matura (PL, AT), or have reached an equivalent level of higher or technical education. Priority is given to young people who are required to complete a traineeship as part of their course of study.
2) Q: What is the duration of the different types of traineeship offered at Parliament?
A: Traineeships for university graduates and on the traineeship programme for people with disabilities last five months. This period cannot be extended. There are two set periods: 1 March - 31 July and 1 October - 28 February.
Training placements last between one and four months if they are not compulsory and may begin on 1 January, 1 May or 1 September.
If the traineeship is compulsory, its duration and dates correspond to those indicated by the educational establishment. These traineeships may be extended by a maximum of two months.
Different hours may be worked by trainees involved in childcare activities (crèche traineeships).
The periods of work are indicated in Article 26 of the Internal Rules Governing Traineeships and Study Visits.
3) Q: What is the difference between the general and the journalism option? Can I apply for both?
A: The journalism option has been designed for those who have studied, or acquired experience in, journalism. They must be able to demonstrate their professional experience as evidenced either by works published, or by membership of a journalists’ association in an EU Member State, or by a journalism qualification recognised in EU Member States or in applicant countries.
Yes, you can apply for both options, if you fulfil the requirements.
4) Q: Are ‘journalism option’ tasks different from ‘general option’ tasks?
A: Some departments expect people with a background in journalism to perform typical journalistic tasks such as editing.
5) Q: What is the ‘programme of traineeships for people with disabilities’ and what kind of tasks are involved?
A: These traineeships are open both to graduates of universities or equivalent institutions and to people whose qualifications are below university level. To be eligible you must be able to certify that you have one or more disabilities. This programme is aimed especially at people with a disability and offers extra facilities such as reasonable accommodation at work and information concerning possible options for accessible housing and transport and assistance. Moreover, trainees’ additional expenses arising directly from disability may be covered up to 50% of the amount of their monthly scholarship provided that they submit substantiating documents.
The tasks involved vary depending on the nature of potential host administrative units and range from internal or external policies to communication, human resources, infrastructure, translation, interpreting, finance, law or IT.
6) Q: Can I apply for both a university graduate traineeship and a training placement?
A: Yes, if you satisfy the conditions.
7) Q: Can I apply both for a university graduate traineeship (general or journalism option) and for the programme for people with disabilities?
A: Yes, if you satisfy the conditions.
8) Q: Can I apply both for a training placement and for the programme for people with disabilities?
A: Yes, if you satisfy the conditions.
Applications
9) Q: How do I apply for a traineeship?
A: To apply for a traineeship, you must complete the online application form available at: oparl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/007cecd1cc/Traineeships.html, specifying your choice of traineeship.
As applications must be submitted using the online application form, we would advise you not to wait till the last day before applying, in order to avoid overloading the system.
10) Q: What are the general conditions for admission?
A: Trainees must:
(a) be nationals of a Member State of the European Union or of an applicant country;
(b) be aged 18 or over on the traineeship starting date;
(c) have a thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the European Union;
(d) not have been awarded any other traineeship or have been in paid employment for more than four consecutive weeks at the expense of the European Union budget;
(e) for trainees in the field of childcare, a declaration proving no criminal record, issued in the last year at their most recent place of residence. A declaration specifically issued to individuals having contact with children is required if such a document exists in the country in question.
11) Q: Who can apply for a traineeship at the European Parliament?
A: Traineeships for university graduates:
You may apply for a Robert Schuman traineeship (general option) if you have completed a course of study of at least three years’ duration at a university or equivalent college and obtained a degree or equivalent certificate there.
If you have professional experience as evidenced either by works published, or by membership of a journalists’ association in an EU Member State, or by a journalism qualification recognised in EU Member States or in candidate countries for membership of the EU, you may apply for a Robert Schuman traineeship (journalism option).
Traineeships for university graduates are also open to people with disabilities who are graduates of universities or equivalent institutions and people whose qualifications are below university level.
12) Q: Can I apply for a traineeship at the European Parliament if I have already completed a traineeship for university graduates or a paid training placement at a European institution?
A: No. You may apply only if you have not completed a university graduate traineeship or a paid training placement and have not been in paid employment for more than four consecutive weeks at the expense of the European Union budget.