In addition to the ESA Young Graduate Trainee programme, there are several National trainee programmes through which you can increase your chances of becoming a trainee at ESA. You may apply to both programmes separately. Please note, that if you have already benefited from one programme, you may not subsequently participate in another. National trainee programmes have been set up for Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Greece through bilateral agreements between ESA and the following entities:
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Portugal: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
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Germany: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)
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Switzerland: Swiss Space Center
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Luxembourg: Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche
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Belgium: Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO)
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Spain: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Secretaría de Estado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación
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Greece: Greek State Scholarships Foundation (IKY, 'dµa Ka o)
Please note that the Spanish and Greek programmes are currently inactive.
These programmes offer recent university graduates the opportunity to gain practical hands-on experience at ESA in a variety of space-related disciplines. Traineeships are offered in such fields as space science, Earth observation, telecommunications, navigation, mission control and human spaceflight.
Selected candidates receive on-the-job training under the supervision and guidance of a tutor at one of the ESA Establishments. Traineeships last for 12 months and can be extended for up to 12 more.