Internship at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), Vienna Office, Austria (April-June 2027 Term; Self-funded; Apply by 1 December 2026)

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) is an intergovernmental organisation headquartered at the Peace Palace in The Hague that provides dispute resolution services. Through the opening of its Vienna Office in April 2022, the PCA seeks to expand access to its dispute resolution services in Europe and promote Vienna as a location for international arbitration. The Vienna Office is located in the Hofburg Palace at Heldenplatz in the first district of Vienna.

Internships are offered by the PCA Vienna Office to law students and recent graduates who wish to gain experience at an international arbitration institution. Internships offer a balance of legal and administrative assignments, allowing interns to gain insight into both the legal and practical aspects of international arbitration.

PCA internships last for three months and start at the beginning of January, April, July and October. This post covers Term 2 (April to June 2027), for which the application deadline is 1 December 2026. Although interns are not formally considered staff members of the PCA, they participate in the PCA's activities as members of the International Bureau.

• Successful candidates are usually those who have recently graduated law school with top marks.
• Applications are also accepted from law students entering their final year of law school, and from recent graduates who have some professional experience or are engaging in advanced law studies.
• Fluency in either French or English is essential. Additional language skills are a strong advantage, especially Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish; knowledge of German is also an asset.
• Candidates need not specialise in international dispute resolution or public international law, but should at least have demonstrated an interest in these fields.
• If you are selected and require a travel visa to take up the internship, the PCA will provide documentation in support of your application.

Non-native speakers must provide proof of proficiency in English or French. The PCA accepts:

• English: a score of 7 or above on IELTS; or 600 or higher on TOEFL (above 250 for computer-based tests, minimum 100 for internet-based tests).
• French: a score above 850 on the Test de francais international (TFI); or a certificate in Business French B2.4 from the Alliance Francaise.

Internships are self-funded. An intern must have adequate financial resources and health insurance for the term to be eligible.

Send an email to internships-stages@pca-cpa.org with "PCA Vienna Internship" and the desired start date in the subject line, attaching a single PDF comprising an application package with:

• A carefully written cover letter indicating (a) how you expect to benefit from the program, (b) how you can contribute to the PCA, and (c) a brief description of your areas of interest and knowledge of law;
• A curriculum vitae;
• A letter of recommendation from a professor or senior professional;
• Copies of academic transcripts (scans or photos are sufficient);
• Proof of proficiency in English or French (for non-native speakers).

Applications must reach the PCA at least four months before the starting date: for the April to June 2027 term, by 1 December 2026.

The PCA is selective about admissions. There are a limited number of places each year, so not all qualified applicants can be offered internships. Internships are awarded to individuals with outstanding academic and/or professional records who meet the qualifications and are motivated to gain experience at an international arbitration institution. An official of the PCA may contact an applicant if further information or clarification is required. The PCA informs successful applicants of the outcome three months in advance of the internship.

The PCA runs four terms a year with fixed deadlines: January to March (deadline 1 September), April to June (deadline 1 December), July to September (deadline 1 March) and October to December (deadline 1 June).