Since 2003, the NCRE and EUCN, in conjunction with Members of the European Parliament and the New Zealand Embassy in Brussels, have coordinated a programme allowing New Zealanders to work as interns for a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). Every year up to two postgraduate students from EUCN partner universities are funded to work as interns at the European Parliament. Additionally, funded domestic internships are available at the EU Delegation to New Zealand in Wellington and other places such as the NZIIA. There are also incoming internships.
This programme forms part of the EUCN’s wider objective to increase New Zealanders’ awareness and understanding of the EU. The internships are designed to provide post-graduates with an opportunity to experience working in a real-life setting, as well as to assist their own research.
In both internship categories, students work on a variety of projects, including but not limited to undertaking small research papers, helping to prepare documents, assisting with administrative tasks and event organisation. To gain the greatest benefits interns are expected and contribute in a significant way to the project they are attached to, interns are expected to work full-time (37.5 hours/week) during the internship. The exact starting dates will be negotiated with the hosting institution, however a preferred start date cannot be guaranteed.
After the closing date, all applications will be evaluated by an academic expert panel, and short-listed candidates will be interviewed.