Dreaming of starting a career with the United Nations? Today at Opportunities Radar, we are sharing an exciting opportunity that could make your dream come true. The United Nations has officially opened applications for its 2026 UN Young Professionals Programme. As the name suggests, this program is for young professionals. If you are not familiar with the program, the UN YPP is a flagship early-career recruitment initiative designed for talented, highly qualified young professionals from selected participating countries to begin an international career as civil servants with the United Nations Secretariat.
YPP is not a traditional scholarship or internship. It’s an entrance examination. Successful applicants will begin their professional careers with the UN. Applicants aged 32 or younger with a first university degree (Bachelor’s) or an equivalent degree relevant to the exam are invited to apply. No application fee is required. Learn more about UN YPP 2026 below.
United Nations YPP 2026 – Overview
- Programme: UN Young Professionals Programme
- Offered by: United Nations
- Employment Level: P-1 or P-2
- Aimed at: Young Professionals
- Contract Duration: 2 Years
- Application Period: October – November 2026
About UN Young Professional Programme (YPP)
The United Nations YPP is an entry examination designed to bring talented young professionals into the United Nations Secretariat. The program consists of a competitive examination process. Successful applicants will be placed on a recruitment roster. Once suitable vacancies become available, candidates from the roster will be selected for the position.
Quick Glance
- YPP Exam in the area of development and sustainability
- Successful applicants placed on the UN roster
- When a suitable position becomes available, candidates on the roster will be selected
Eligiblity Criteria
Applicants meeting the following criteria are invited to apply for YPP:
- Be a citizen of one of the participating countries
- Be 32 years old or younger at the time of application
- Hold a bachelor’s or equivalent degree relevant to the exam area
- Be fluent in English or French
List of Eligible Participating Countries
Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, and Vanuatu.
YPP 2026 Examination Area
For the 2026 cycle, the United Nations is conducting an exam in Development and Sustainability
Selection Process
The selection process consists of several stages:
- Application Submission
- Online application submission through UN Inspira
- Application Reviews
- UN reviews the application
- Written Examination
- Candidates will go through a written test
- Video Interview
- Applicants who pass the written exam will now go through a video interview
- Recruitment
- Successful applicants will be placed on the roster
Position Location
Positions are offered at various UN duty stations and field offices, including New York, Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi, Bangkok, Addis Ababa, Beirut, and Santiago.
Why Apply?
- Start your career at the United Nations as a civil servant
- Receive a competitive base salary
- P-1: approximately US$46,000+ per year
- P-2: approximately US$59,000+ per year
- Work on global sustainability issues
- Gain valuable insights into the work of the United Nations
- Work alongside UN professionals on real projects
- Build an international career
Also, Check:
- World Bank Young Professionals Program 2027 in USA
- CRG Research Training Program 2027 in Barcelona, Spain
How to Apply?
Applicants who meet the required criteria must submit an online application through UN Inspira; All applications must be submitted during the application period. The application period opens on October 15th, 2026.
Right now, UN is hosting six virtual sessions on: 29 September | 1 October | 5 October | 8 October | 13 October | 15 October for a better understanding of the programme
