Free Two-Week UN Geneva Fellowship 2026: Attend the 64th Graduate Study Programme on AI and Emerging Technologies (June 29–July 10)

If you are a graduate student who wants to see how the United Nations and International Geneva wrestle with AI, this two-week summer seminar is one of those rare, up-close experiences that can change how you think about policy, technology and ethics. The UN Geneva Graduate Study Programme (GSP) has been doing this since 1963 — 63 editions, almost 3,500 alumni from more than 120 countries. The 64th edition runs from 29 June to 10 July 2026 under the theme “AI and Emerging Technologies: Realities, Risks and Opportunities.”

Participation in the programme itself is free: no tuition or programme fee. That said, you’ll be covering your travel, visas, accommodation and meals. That detail matters — the UN doesn’t provide scholarships for travel — but if you can make the logistics work, you’ll get two weeks of intensive lectures, group work, site visits at the Palais des Nations, and direct exposure to how multilateral institutions confront fast-moving tech issues.

This guide walks you through everything you need: who should apply, what to prepare, how to make a short motivation video sing, and a realistic timeline so you don’t miss the 20 February 2026 deadline. Think of it as the survival kit and strategy manual you wish someone had handed you when you first considered Geneva.

At a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

This is not a lecture series you passively sit through. The GSP is a compact, high-density experience designed to give early-career academics and professionals a real sense of how policy and practice intersect in Geneva. Expect a mix of formats: plenary lectures by UN staff and guest experts, small-group discussions where you’ll have to argue your point, and field visits to agencies and missions. Those visits are the real gold — you’ll see how offices operate, which questions they wrestle with, and what evidence matters to negotiators and programme officers.

Academically, the programme provides a crash course in institutional processes, treaty mechanisms, human rights frameworks, humanitarian operations and technical policy on AI. It’s ideal if you want to move from theory to the messy realities of international governance: how legal norms meet technology, how ethical questions are operationalized, and what trade-offs officials juggle when deciding on standards or procurement.

Networking is another major payoff. You’ll be rubbing shoulders with peers from dozens of countries and with UN officials, researchers and diplomats who actively shape policy. For many alumni, those connections become the basis for research partnerships, internships, or even job referrals. Finally, the programme is a résumé enhancer: being able to say you participated in sessions at the Palais des Nations sends a clear signal to employers and scholarship panels that you understand international institutions.

Who Should Apply

This programme is aimed squarely at early-career graduates who are already committed to a field but want the institutional perspective. If you’re in a master’s or PhD programme studying AI ethics, computer science, public policy, international law, human rights, development studies, or a related area, this will sharpen your understanding of how those disciplines interact at the international level.

Concrete examples:

• A master’s student researching algorithmic bias who wants to understand how human rights bodies evaluate discriminatory outcomes.
• A PhD candidate in political science focused on international norm-building and wants to observe multilateral negotiation dynamics in person.
• An engineer enrolled in a policy-oriented graduate programme who seeks context on procurement standards and regulatory expectations.
• A public policy student from Africa examining governance frameworks for national AI strategies and seeking comparative perspectives.

Because the programme is competitive and participation requires arranging your own travel and accommodation, it’s best suited to candidates who can either self-fund those costs or secure university or departmental support. If you’re from a low-resource background, check with your university’s international office early — some departments allocate travel grants for short placements or summer seminars. Don’t assume Geneva is out of reach; creative funding and institutional backing can make it possible.

Eligibility (What the UN Requires)

The formal eligibility rules are crisp:

• Age: You must be between 22 and 32 years old at the time of application.
• Academic status: You must have completed a Bachelor’s degree and be currently enrolled in a graduate programme (master’s or PhD).
• Language: You must be fluent in English, both written and spoken.
• Employment: You must not be employed full time while attending the programme.

These requirements rule out recent undergraduates who haven’t yet begun graduate study, and mid-career professionals in full-time posts. They do, however, include a wide swath of graduate students — from taught master’s cohorts to doctoral researchers. If you’re borderline on any criterion (for example, completing a degree just after the application), check the official form and include a note explaining timelines and supporting documents.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

This programme is short and the application is compact — but that makes every element count. Here are seven concrete tactics that will lift your application from “fine” to “memorable.”

1. Treat the 60-second motivation video like your elevator pitch. One minute goes by faster than you think. Start with one crisp sentence that states who you are, what you study, and why the GSP topic matters to your project. Follow with one sentence about what you’d contribute to the group. Close with a quick, specific outcome you hope to achieve (e.g., “I want to learn how negotiators translate ethical principles on AI into operational guidance for humanitarian agencies.”).

2. Keep your CV to one page and precision-edit it. Highlight relevant research, courses, publications, internships, and languages. Use short bullets; name the specific technologies, methods or policy frameworks you’ve worked with (e.g., “Conducted mixed-methods study on automated decision-making in public benefits programs”).

3. Choose a recommender who can speak to your fit for an international forum. A supervisor who supervised your AI ethics thesis or a programme director who knows your policy experience is better than a generic academic who can only praise your character.

4. Show context in your documents. Because the theme is AI and emerging tech, briefly explain how your current work connects to governance, rights, or operations. You don’t need long methodology sections — one paragraph of clear relevance helps reviewers see fit.

5. Demonstrate curiosity and humility. Geneva panels fund people who will both learn and add value. Avoid asserting you’ll “solve” big problems; instead, show how the programme is a step in a broader plan (papers, dissertation chapters, policy briefs).

6. Mind the technicalities. Submit readable file formats, named files clearly (e.g., “Lastname_CV.pdf”), and make sure your passport copy is legible. Small poor-quality scans can create doubts about your attention to detail.

7. Plan finances and visas early. Geneva is in Schengen; depending on your nationality you may need time to obtain a visa. Even if the programme is free, missing a visa window is a hard stop. Think about budget or funding from your university now rather than after acceptance.

Application Timeline (Realistic, Workable)

Work backward from the deadline: 20 February 2026.

• 8–10 weeks before deadline (mid-December to mid-January): Decide to apply and notify your recommender. This gives them time to draft a helpful letter. If your university requires an internal sign-off for travel, start that conversation now.

• 6–8 weeks before (late January): Draft your one-page CV and script the motivation video. Shoot several takes of the video in different settings; choose the clearest audio and clean background. Have a colleague watch it for clarity and professionalism.

• 4–6 weeks before (late January–early February): Finalize documents. Request the recommender to upload or send the letter depending on the submission system. Confirm your passport is valid for at least six months beyond travel dates (a common requirement).

• 2 weeks before (early February): Run a final review of all files, check file sizes and formats, and ensure your proof of enrolment is current and signed if required.

• Submit at least 48 hours before the deadline. Technical glitches, last-minute scans, and upload errors happen. Early submission is the simplest way to avoid losing your shot over a preventable problem.

If you’re accepted, you’ll need to book travel and accommodation quickly; Geneva hotels can fill up during UN events. Ask your university about short-stay funding; departments often maintain small travel pots for high-impact experiences.

Required Materials (How to Prepare Each Element)

The application asks for a concise package — but polished matters more than long.

• One-page CV: Focus on relevance. List degrees, current enrolment, research topics, publications or conference presentations, relevant work or internships, and language skills. Keep formatting clean; use readable fonts.

• Motivation video (max 60 seconds): Record in a quiet room, use a decent microphone if available, and face the camera. Start with your name and institution. Structure the 60 seconds: problem — your interest — what you’ll bring. Avoid reading from a full script; natural but rehearsed is best.

• Recommendation letter (max one page): Choose someone who can speak to your scholarly potential and your suitability for an international programme. Provide them with a brief CV and a 2–3 sentence summary of points you’d like emphasized.

• Passport/national ID copy: Ensure photo pages are legible and expiration dates are visible. EU/EFTA nationals can upload national ID if preferred.

• Bachelor’s diploma and proof of current graduate enrolment: Scans must be clear. If your diploma hasn’t arrived yet, include an official transcript or a university letter confirming completion.

Prepare all files as PDF or JPG as required. Name files clearly. Save a zipped copy of everything for your records.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Because the packet is short, reviewers judge fit and potential quickly. A standout application does three things:

1. Shows clear intellectual focus. Tell reviewers the specific angle you’re exploring (e.g., algorithmic transparency in social services, cross-border data governance, or AI in humanitarian logistics). Vague statements about “interested in AI” won’t do.

2. Connects your work to policy or institutional practice. Describe how your research maps onto questions the UN or international agencies face. If you can point to a concrete question — how to operationalize a rights-based impact assessment for AI procurement — that’s powerful.

3. Demonstrates engagement and collegiality. The programme values people who will actively participate and contribute to group learning. Use your video and CV to show collaborative projects, workshop experience, or prior diplomacy/policy exposure.

4. Presents readiness. Confirm you can attend (visa, funding plan) and are available full-time for those two weeks. A candidate who looks like they’ll withdraw last minute is a risk reviewers don’t want to take.

5. Balances expertise with openness. You don’t need to be a finished scholar. Show strong direction, curiosity, and the capacity to translate your academic skills into policy-relevant contributions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (and How to Fix Them)

1. Submitting a blurry or incomplete passport/ID. Fix: scan at high resolution, check legibility, and preview uploads before hitting submit.

2. Treating the video like an afterthought. Fix: write a tight 3-sentence script, practice, and record multiple takes. Audio matters more than fancy visuals.

3. A sprawling CV with irrelevant details. Fix: edit ruthlessly. One page means one page — prioritize activities that relate to research, policy, or international engagement.

4. Picking a recommender who knows you socially but not academically. Fix: ask someone who can speak concretely about your analytical skills and potential contribution to a policy-focused seminar.

5. Ignoring the logistics of travel and visa. Fix: check Schengen visa rules for your nationality now. If you need a visa, prepare documents and allow several weeks for processing.

6. Applying at the last minute. Fix: build in buffer time for technical glitches and recommenders’ delays. Submit at least two days early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the programme funded?
A: The programme itself is free; there is no tuition fee. However, participants are responsible for travel, visa, accommodation and meals. The UN does not provide travel scholarships or sponsorships.

Q: Can non-English speakers apply?
A: No. Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required because sessions and materials are in English.

Q: Can recent graduates apply if they are not enrolled in a graduate programme?
A: No. You must be enrolled in a graduate programme at the time of application and have completed a Bachelor’s degree.

Q: Can I attend if I’m employed part time?
A: The requirement is that you are not employed full time. Part-time employment may be acceptable, but the programme expects participants to be present full-time during the two weeks.

Q: How competitive is selection?
A: The GSP attracts applicants worldwide and selection is competitive. Exact acceptance rates aren’t published, but the programme aims for a diverse cohort.

Q: What happens after the programme?
A: Participants receive exposure to UN offices and experts and may use contacts to pursue internships, research partnerships, or collaborative projects. There’s no automatic placement into UN jobs, but the experience is a strong credential.

Q: I’m from Africa (or another underrepresented region). Is there support?
A: The programme values geographic diversity. While the UN doesn’t provide travel grants, many universities, ministries, or NGOs offer small travel funds for students from underrepresented regions. Apply for institutional funding early.

Q: Will I receive a certificate?
A: Participants typically receive confirmation of attendance; details are provided by the programme organizers.

Next Steps — How to Apply

Ready to go? Here’s a step-by-step sprint plan you can finish in one month if you move fast:

1. Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria: age, degree, graduate enrolment, English proficiency, and not being full-time employed.
2. Line up a recommender and request their letter now — give them at least three weeks.
3. Draft and polish your one-page CV. Focus it on relevance to AI, policy, international institutions.
4. Script and record your 60-second motivation video; aim for clarity and sincerity.
5. Scan your passport/national ID and your degree and enrolment proof in high quality.
6. Upload everything to the official application form before 20 February 2026.

Ready to apply? Visit the official UN Geneva application form and submit your package: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/656PQFD

If you want help with your CV or motivation video script, send a draft and I’ll give targeted feedback — a quick edit can raise your odds substantially. Good luck; Geneva is expensive, but the experience? Priceless for someone serious about shaping how AI meets global policy.