Blue Book traineeship at the European Commission: next application window in 2027

• What the Blue Book traineeship is
• Application window for the October 2027 session
• Who can apply
• How selection works
• How to prepare
• In short

⇑What the Blue Book traineeship is

The European Commission runs traineeships twice a year, with sessions starting on 1 March and 1 October. Trainees work in the Commission’s Directorates-General and services for five months and take part in the daily work of EU policy-making. Candidates who pass pre-selection are placed in the Virtual Blue Book, which gave the programme its popular name.

There are three strands, and you can apply to only one of them per session:

• Administrative traineeship for university graduates (ADMIN UG);
• Administrative traineeship for Vocational Education and Training graduates (ADMIN VET);
• Translation traineeship (TRA), run by the Directorate-General for Translation.

⇑Application window for the October 2027 session

According to the official calendar of sessions, the dates are:

• Applications: from 15 February 2027, 10:00 a.m., to 12 March 2027, 10:00 a.m. (Brussels time);
• Pre-selection: April to May;
• Selection: June to July;
• Traineeship: 1 October 2027 to 29 February 2028.

The previous window, for the session starting on 1 March 2027, ran from 22 July to 4 September 2026 and is now closed. You can submit only one application per session and per type of traineeship, and each application is valid for one session only.

⇑Who can apply

The eligibility criteria for the administrative traineeship for university graduates include:

• a completed university degree of at least three years (EQF level 6) or equivalent, with the diploma obtained at the time of application;
• for EU nationals, very good knowledge of two official EU languages – English, French or German at C1 or C2 level (or mother tongue), and a second EU language at least at B2 level;
• no prior or ongoing professional experience in any EU institution, body or agency longer than six weeks (42 calendar days).

The traineeship is open mainly to nationals of EU Member States. A limited number of places, only in specific departments, are available to nationals of candidate countries benefiting from a pre-accession strategy. Non-EU applicants need C1 or C2 level in English, French or German. Applications that do not meet every mandatory criterion are rejected at the eligibility stage.

⇑How selection works

All supporting documents must be submitted with the application form, merged into one PDF file. Applications are assessed on academic background, language skills and other skills and experience. For EU candidates, national guiding rates apply, while non-EU nationals share a single quota.

A pre-selection committee then checks the documents against what candidates declared. Those who pass enter the Virtual Blue Book, which holds around three times as many candidates as there are places. From there, candidates can apply for up to three positions, and Commission departments may contact them or invite them for an interview.

The selection is final only when the Traineeships Office’s placement offer appears in the candidate’s account – informal contact does not count. Refusing an offer means you will not receive another one for that session.

⇑How to prepare

The four weeks between February and March pass quickly, so it makes sense to gather documents before the window opens:

• a scan of your diploma and transcripts;
• evidence of language levels, such as certificates;
• proof of any work experience, voluntary work or other skills you declare.

Every claim in the form should be backed by a document, because pre-selection compares the two. For broader advice on CVs, interviews and internships abroad, see our guide to working in Europe.

⇑In short

Registration for the March 2027 Blue Book session has closed. The next chance is the October 2027 session, with applications open from 15 February to 12 March 2027 (10:00 Brussels time). University graduates need a degree of at least three years, strong skills in two EU languages and no more than six weeks of previous work in EU institutions.