UNU-IIGH offers internships to bachelors and graduate-level students or young professionals with a keen interest to gain more experience in global health. The internship programme is UNU-IIGH’s initiative to cultivate and advance a new generation of global health scholars and professionals to extend research, policy and practice by enabling them to develop necessary capabilities and skills, expertise and perspectives.

Work placement internship is also available to those who wish to gain programme support experience in a UN agency.

A customised internship programme is organised depending on the ongoing programmes and supervisory/ mentorship availability at UNU-IIGH, and the time commitment, background and career interests of the intern.

The end goal is to provide interns with relevant exposure, experience and perspectives on global health policy, practice, and research through hands-on guidance, experience and learning, to develop a career and professional future in global health.

Interns will get to:

– participate in holistic real-world global health research, policy and practice-oriented projects within an international research and training organisation;

– be introduced and exposed to the work, structure and mission of UNU-IIGH, UNU and other UN bodies;

– prepare for future roles in global health and obtain a competitive edge for career initiation in international academic institutions, national government health institutions and regulatory agencies, health-focused non-profit, non-governmental organisations;

– interact and network with UNU-IIGH academics, staff and stakeholders at various levels of appointment

Interns are recruited through a competitive application process with no fixed closing date. 

The selected intern will be required to work onsite in the UNU-IIGH Kuala Lumpur office during the whole duration of the internship.

Selection criteria for candidates: 

– currently enrolled in, or have recently completed bachelor’s degree or postgraduate coursework or a research programme in global or public health, medicine, sustainable development, medical anthropology or a relevant interdisciplinary field;

– actively interested and/or engaged in global health research and practice, particularly in areas such as governance in global health, planetary change and health, universal health coverage;

– actively pursuing a career in global health or international development, and/or work at international agencies such as the United Nations;

– fluent in written and spoken English at advanced and technical levels;
possess advanced research, literature searching, writing, and analytical skills;

– have good interpersonal skills and are comfortable in establishing and maintaining effective working relations with people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds;

– proficient in standard ICT skills i.e. Internet use, Microsoft Office suite of programs (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher);

– a quick learner, team-player, a multi-tasker, resourceful, creative, and good at problem-solving;

– adaptable and able to self-navigate the local physical, cultural, social and built environment.

Other skills, background and social/ community participation that may be considered include:

– past work experience and history

– academic record

– samples of past written work

– other complementary and generic skills (i.e. social media and digital presence management, finance and accounting)

– international language proficiencies – written, verbal, understanding, social work and participation

Internship Application 

Applications will be accepted without a fixed closing date, but UNU-IIGH reserves the right to screen candidates for eligibility (outlined above).

Interested applicants are required to submit the following to iigh-internship@unu.edu:

1. A cover letter outlining your reasons and motivations for applying, as well as the following:

– Intended activities

– Learning or outcomes proposed for the internship programme

As a general rule, please keep your cover letters concisely written (less than 500 words), with proper heading, subject, salutation, date and punctuation.

2. Updated resume, with contact details, academic record, publications and past work experiences (if any);

3. Completed UNU-IIGH internship application form.