Call for intern: International law
The T.M.C. Asser Instituut is an internationally renowned research institute in the fields of international law and European law based in The Hague. The institute is affiliated with the University of Amsterdam.
Our values
The Asser community is a public-spirited community that is committed to excellence, integrity, inclusivity, and public values.
Our vision
We envision a world in which local, national and transnational public interests are protected and promoted by international and European public and private law. This is supported by critical reflection conducive to perspectives for action to confront our global challenges.
Our mission
The Asser institute aims to contribute to the development of international and European public and private law by independently conducting fundamental, policy-oriented and applied legal research, as well as by initiating and facilitating academic and expert meetings, (professional) education, and public events that aim to disseminate knowledge of international and European law.
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 an internship position to assist with research projects in the field of international law (research strand In the Public Interest: Accountability of the State and the Prosecution of Crimes (ASPC)).
The main tasks of the internship include:
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Editing work for the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law (YIHL) and drafting the YIHL's Year in Review 2025;
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Assisting with our International Crimes Database (ICD) and our Asser Nexus on Conflict and Crime, including providing ICD updates on international humanitarian law and international criminal law and working on the Nexus’ correspondents’ reports; and
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Providing ad hoc research assistance to the members of the research strand ASPC.
What we offer
A part-time (0.6 FTE / 3 days a week) internship with an expense allowance of € 441 a month, for a period of six months. You will have the possibility to spend some time on your own research and will be actively encouraged to deliver a publication before the end of the internship.
The envisaged starting date of the internship is 15 February 2026.
Interested candidates should
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Be enrolled as a student in international law;
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Have a demonstrable interest in international humanitarian law and/or international criminal law;
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Have very strong editorial skills. Prior copy-editing experience is a strong asset;
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Have strong English language skills;
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Have full computer proficiency (experience in maintaining websites and in social media is an advantage); and
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Be motivated and able to work independently and within a team.
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 through either EU citizenship or a student visa from a Dutch university. Recent graduates (bachelor's and master's) may apply, but 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, in principle, 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 residency and work permit. In order to accelerate the selection process, please include relevant information on your nationality, visa status or residence permit in your application.
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:
Students who are interested in applying should send their letter of motivation, a CV, and a writing sample of around 1500 words in English (preferably submitted in a single PDF file) to po@asser.nl by 11 January 2026 at 14:59 CET at the latest, indicating ‘Application ASPC Internship IL and YIHL’ on the subject line. Individual interviews will take place as soon as possible after the deadline for submitting the applications.
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.