Opportunities 3 August 2026

You no longer need a degree to apply for a paid European Commission traineeship

Blue Book traineeships now accept vocational education and training graduates. Applications close on 4 September for a five-month placement running March to July 2027.

Deadline: 4 September 2026

Apply / Learn more

For years, the answer to “can I apply for a European Commission traineeship?” started with the same condition: you need a university degree. Not any more. The Blue Book programme now accepts graduates of vocational education and training too, and it is the most consequential change the scheme has made in a long time.

Applications for the next round are open until 4 September 2026. Placements selected in this call run from March to July 2027.

Who can apply

The baseline is short. You need to be at least 18 and a citizen of an EU member state or of a candidate country covered by a pre-accession strategy. And you need to have completed a degree or, now, a vocational education and training qualification. Your field of study is not restricted.

Each round places around a thousand trainees, which makes Blue Book one of the largest schemes of its kind in Europe. Placements last five months and can be based in Brussels, Luxembourg or other cities where the Commission has offices.

What it pays

The traineeship is paid. The monthly grant varies with where you are posted and sits at roughly €1,500, and the Commission has flagged improved financial conditions for trainees in this edition. On top of the grant, travel, meal and transport allowances may apply depending on individual circumstances.

One point worth noting about the timing: the Commission has said the new traineeship rules start applying from March 2027, which is precisely the round now open.

If you are weighing up what comes after secondary school or a vocational course, this changes the maths. Anyone still working through the academic route should also check the deadlines and places in the second university admissions round. The application form and full rules are on the European Commission traineeships portal.

By Miguel Sarmento

Image: almathias / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

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