Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI) - Traineeships in International Organizations

Traineeships in International Organizations (WBI)

You will receive a monthly lump-sum allowance of 1,400 EUR (either 1,200, 1,400 or 1,600 EUR, depending on where your placement takes place). The placement lasts for up to 6 months. You may also receive a travel allowance of up to 500 EUR, except for placements in Brussels. If your placement lasts longer than 6 months, you will still only receive 6 monthly payments. The grant is awarded by Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI), the agency for international relations of the French-speaking part of Belgium. It enables you to gain initial professional experience within an intergovernmental international organisation.

Who can apply

• Your studies: You hold a higher education qualification from an institution run or funded by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, awarded no more than 2 years before the start of the work placement. Alternatively, you are currently a Master’s student or in the final year of your Bachelor’s degree at such an institution.
• Age: At the start of the work placement, you must not be older than 30. The organisation may set its own age limit, which you must also meet.
• Where you intern: An intergovernmental organisation of public interest, such as the WHO, the ILO, the OECD, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, the EU or UN bodies. Organisations of significance to Wallonia-Brussels take precedence. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are not included.
• Field of study: Open to all disciplines.
• Nationality: Open to all nationalities. If you are not Belgian, you must show close ties to Wallonia-Brussels, such as living there for at least 1 year.
• Language: You meet the language requirements of the organisation you are applying to.
• No double funding: This grant cannot be combined with any other public funding, a scholarship from the organisation itself (including any internship allowance), Erasmus+ or a FAME grant. Furthermore, you must not have gained more than 6 weeks’ experience at the selected organisation.

How to apply

You should apply by email to the WBI’s International Scholarship Office using the French-language application form. For an internship that you have found yourself, the application deadline is 15 October for a start date between January and June, and 15 April for a start date between July and December. The WBI also publishes specific internship vacancies with their own application deadlines. A panel comprising WBI staff and external experts will assess your application. You will receive a response within one month of the decision being made.

If you are planning an international traineeship, our guide Scholarships in Belgium may point you to further funding opportunities in Belgium.