Call for intern: EU external relations
Located in the heart of The Hague, the International City of Peace, Justice and Security, the Asser Institute is a leading inter-university research centre in the field of international and European law with a high public and international profile. The institute conducts fundamental and independent policy-oriented research, provides training and education, organises seminars, conferences, and other public events and has its own publishing house, Asser Press. The institute is affiliated with the University of Amsterdam.
The T.M.C. Asser Instituut offers law students the opportunity to enrich their knowledge with practical experience of working in the fields of international and European law.
The Institute is currently offering one internship position to assist with research projects in the field of EU External Relations Law (research strand ‘Transnational public interests: constituting public interest beyond and below the state’).
Time commitment: Part-time (3 days per week) for a period of 6 months (could be extended up to a max. of 9 months on the basis of inter alia performance, budget and need)
- Starting date: 01 May 2026
- Period: Six months
- Location: The Hague (in person – this is not a remote working opportunity)
- In order to accelerate the selection process, please include relevant visa status or residence permit information in your application.
Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment? Do you have an interest in international law and international relations? Do you feel at ease working on multiple and diverse projects simultaneously? Then join the Transnational public interests: constituting public interest beyond and below the state’ strand at the Asser Institute in The Hague!
Key responsibilities
- The intern will have the opportunity to contribute:
- To research and publication projects of the researchers of the Global Europe project and of CLEER;
- To the organisation of events
- To the work of researchers within the research strand ‘Transnational Public Interests: Constituting Public Interest beyond and below the State’
Profile
Applicants must:
- Be enrolled in – or recently graduated from - a bachelor or master programme in a relevant field (e.g. EU Law with specialisation in EU External Relations Law);
- Have a demonstrable interest in and an academic background in EU external relations law and have the willingness to contribute to the work of researchers within the research strand ‘Transnational Public Interests: Constituting Public Interest beyond and below the State’;
- Have strong legal analysis and writing skills;
- Have strong communication skills (social media proficiency is an advantage);
- Fluency in written and spoken English;
- Be able to draft different types of documents (from academic pieces to project proposals and reports);
- Have experience in the organisation of events and conferences;
- Be motivated and interested in the aims of our organisation;
- Have good team spirit but also be able to work independently.
Conditions
- Part-time (3 days per week) for a period of 6 months (renewable up to max. of 9 months);
- A stipend of €441 gross per month.
Internships at Asser are for students only. This means that you must be registered as a student at a university or a school, and must be eligible to live and work in the Netherlands (either through EU citizenship or a student visa from a Dutch university). Recent graduates (bachelor and master) may apply only within the first year of graduation, when ‘learning through interning’ may still add to your education.
The internship is an opportunity to learn in an active and dynamic research environment. Therefore, we expect interns to be present at the Institute in The Hague. It is not a remote working opportunity.
Regretfully, the Asser Institute cannot hire students without EU citizenship for internships, unless they already have a Dutch residence permit and work permit. Please make sure to read this page on internships at the T.M.C. Asser Instituut to make sure you are eligible to apply.
How to apply
Interested candidates are requested to submit their application via email only (preferably submitted in a single PDF file) mentioning your name ‘application internship EU External Relations Law’ in the subject line to PO@asser.nl . Complete application must consist of:
- Curriculum vitae including nationality and relevant visa/residency status
- Motivation letter in English
- Writing sample in English, 8000 words max
The closing date for applications is 29 March 2026, 23:59 CET. Interviews will take place in the week of 6 April 2026. The envisaged start date of the 6-month internship is 01 May 2026. Applications received after the deadline, or not including the required three components (letter of motivation, a CV, and a writing sample) will not be considered eligible.
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