OPPORTUNITY: Apply now for the 2025 ESA Graduate Trainee Programme
The 2025 ESA Graduate Trainee opportunities are now open! If you’re passionate about engineering, science, IT or business, this is your chance to turn your dreams into reality. This opportunity is open also to graduates from Latvia because Latvia is an ESA Associate Member state.
If you’re in the final year of a Master’s degree—or recently graduated—in engineering, science, IT or business, the ESA Graduate Trainee Programme (formerly the Young Graduate Trainee Programme) is your chance to work on cutting-edge missions alongside Europe’s top space professionals. EGTs join us for one year, with the possibility of a second year, and the programme puts you right at the centre of Europe’s thriving space activities. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape the future of space exploration!
Step into a unique role where you’ll contribute to inspiring space missions and work alongside leading scientists, engineers and professionals from across Europe through ESA's Graduate Trainee Programme (formerly the Young Graduate Trainee Programme). At ESA, you’ll be part of a diverse and supportive international team, united by one shared mission: the peaceful exploration and use of space for the benefit of humanity.
Ready to open your eyes to a career in space? Discover more and apply today! Your future in space starts here.
Become an EGT! Browse our EGT opportunities here.
1. How to apply?
- Explore our ESA Graduate Trainee opportunities here.
- Select the opportunity that interests you the most and fits best with your academic background and aspirations. As of 2024, each candidate can submit up to three applications so it is worthwhile taking the time to read each opportunity to ensure you don't miss the one(s) that could be a match.
- Register and create your candidate profile with your CV and motivation letter.
- Apply! You will be able to track the status of your application throughout the process by logging into your candidate profile.
2. Who can apply?
To be eligible for the EGT Programme, you must be:
- within one year of having graduated with a Master in engineering, science, IT or business services. You can of course apply (and we encourage you to do so) while you are still studying if you are in the final year of your Master, but you must have graduated by the time your traineeship starts. You will be asked to provide us with your Master’s diploma at the very latest within three months of starting at ESA.
- a citizen of one of the following ESA Member States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia, as Associate Members, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta as European Cooperating States.
3. What the EGT Programme offers
- A unique professional experience as part of a team of scientists, engineers and business professionals from all over Europe, working together on inspiring space missions in an international environment.
- A great opportunity to gain extensive experience that could open doors to a long-term career within Europe’s space sector.
- A one-year contract (with possible extension to a second year) with 2.5 days' paid leave per month.
- Excellent employment conditions, including a monthly salary exempt from national income tax in ESA Member States.
- Reimbursement of travel expenses at the beginning and end of the contract.
- Expatriation allowance and/or an installation allowance on arrival if you move from another country.
- Affiliation to ESA’s comprehensive social security scheme and pension scheme.
4. Join ESA live information sessions
We have two online information sessions in which you can learn more about the EGT Programme and submit any questions you may have. These sessions are free and open to all, so save the date and join us!
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5 February
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Hosted on CareerFairy This information session will explain the various entry-level programmes available at ESA with a focus on the EGT Programme. This online event will also include a Q&A session. |
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12 February |
Hosted on YouTube Join former ESA Research Fellow and host, Maggie Lieu, along with current EGTs as they share the work they do on ESA projects, their own personal experience of the application process and the tips and tricks they learned when applying to ESA. |
5. What is the timeline of the selection process?
The pre-selection and interview of shortlisted candidates will take place between March and May 2025, with the final selection made by ESA in June. The date of the take-up of duty is mutually agreed upon by ESA and the successful candidate and usually takes place in September or October.
Want to learn more?
Find detailed information on the EGT Programme and answers to your most common questions on the dedicated FAQ page. Learn more about life at ESA and what we offer, or visit our ESA establishment pages to learn more about our working life.