European Maritime Safety Agency - EMSA Traineeships

EMSA Traineeship

You will receive a monthly grant of about 924 EUR for a 12-month internship at the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) in Lisbon, Portugal. The 2025–2026 round runs from 1. September 2025 until 31 August 2026. If you have a disability, you may receive up to 50% in addition to the grant. Your travel expenses to and from Lisbon may also be reimbursed, subject to the Agency’s budget. In this round, 16 places are being offered in various teams dealing with topics such as maritime safety and security law, combating marine pollution, sustainability, communications, IT and human resources. EMSA is an EU agency dedicated to maritime safety and the prevention and control of pollution caused by ships.

Who can apply

• Degree: You completed your first higher education qualification no more than three years before the application deadline.
• Where your degree is from: You obtained your qualification in an EU country, or you hold a certificate of equivalence. British qualifications are recognised provided they were completed by 31 December 2020.
• Nationality: You are a national of an EU country, Iceland or Norway.
• English: You speak and write English well, at least at level B2.
• Field of study: There are many possible fields of study, but each team requires a specific background, such as marine sciences, computer science, communication studies, environmental sciences, law, human resources or finance.

How to apply

You apply online via the EMSA application website, where you first create a profile. In your application, you specify a first and second choice of team. The application deadline for the 2025-2026 round is 26 May 2025, 12:00 Lisbon time. Applications submitted outside the annual call for applications will not be considered.

How realistic are your chances?

With just 16 places available to graduates from across the EU, Iceland and Norway, this is a highly competitive internship. Your chances will improve significantly if your degree is a clear match for the specialist area a team is looking for and you have completed your degree within the last three years. A compelling application tailored to the right team counts for more than a generic one.