Are you interested in pursuing a career in the cultural heritage sector? Are you currently undertaking a postgraduate degree and need to carry out a compulsory internship? Have you recently completed a degree and would like to gain exposure to the work of an international organization? Do you work well in multidisciplinary teams? Do you have strong interpersonal and organizational skills? Are you a national of an ICCROM Member State?   

If the answer to the above questions is "yes," then an internship at ICCROM may be for you.

An ICCROM internship gives you the unique opportunity to assist our staff on international projects, meet other interns and research fellows, interact with heritage professionals from all over the world and stimulate your intellectual curiosity. Through this experience, you will gain insight into the working environment of an intergovernmental organization and the multifaceted dimensions of cultural heritage conservation.

Since the creation of our Internship and Fellows programme in 2002, more than 150 individuals have benefitted from the experience of undertaking an internship with ICCROM. This could now include you!

Available internships

Internships are conducted in association with one of the thematic or regional programmes at ICCROM or may be carried out at ICCROM Library and Archives, with units dedicated to Strategic Planning, Partnerships and Communications, the Office of the Director-General and Administration, as well as with the ICCROM-Sharjah Regional Office. 

Currently, internships are offered in the following areas:

Location

Internships are available either at ICCROM headquarters in Rome or the ICCROM-Sharjah Regional Office in the United Arab Emirates.

Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it may be necessary to carry out the internships online.

Length

Internships are generally offered for three months; however, other periods may be considered, for example, to accommodate a university prerequisite.

Dates

Internship applications can be submitted online from the beginning of each year until the deadline indicated below. Selected candidates will undertake their internship the following year, i.e., applications received in 2023 will be for internships in 2024. Other periods could be taken into consideration if required by the prospective intern and when proven to be beneficial to the chosen programme.

Funding

ICCROM internships are free of charge. If funding is available at the time of the internship, a contribution toward living costs for a period not exceeding three months may be awarded to selected candidates. 

ICCROM is not responsible for overall living expenses, including accommodation, travel costs, insurance, visas (where applicable) or other related costs. These conditions apply to internships at both ICCROM headquarters and the Sharjah Regional Office.

Thanks to the generous support of Dr Nicholas Stanley-Price, former Director-General of ICCROM, the funds available to ICCROM to support living costs for internships have been increased. In exceptional cases, assistance with travel costs may also be possible for applicants from less developed countries.

Visa, Travel and Medical Insurance

ICCROM will assist interns requiring a visa and provide the necessary documents to facilitate entry into Italy or the UAE. Interns are responsible for arranging their travel, accommodation and personal insurance. Valid major global medical and accident insurance coverage for the full period of the internship is compulsory. 

Academic Background

Candidates must hold a first degree or higher in an area related to cultural heritage, for example (but not limited to) archaeology, architecture, art history, conservation/restoration, engineering, library/archival science, museology, public administration or urban planning. Other disciplines may be considered if relevant to the chosen programme.

Languages

ICCROM's working languages are English and French. Candidates are expected to have an excellent written and spoken command of at least one of these languages. For the ICCROM-Sharjah Regional Office in the UAE, Arabic is an asset.

Application Deadline

ICCROM will be accepting applications for 2024 internships until 9 April 2023

Applications

ICCROM internships are awarded through a competitive selection process. To apply for an internship, please fill in the online form. To finalize your application, the following digital file will be required (allowed formats: pdf, doc, docx, jpg, jpeg, png, tif, tiff, with a maximum file size of 1.5 MB): 

  • A one-page, up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV) 

If you are unable to submit your application using the online form, please get in touch with the Internship Programme at: internships@iccrom.org

Selection

A Selection Committee will assess each application. All candidates will be informed of the Committee's decision in writing as soon as results are available. The timeframe for receiving notification varies depending on the number of requests received. The applicant's academic background, interests and career plans are taken into consideration, as well as their statement justifying the request. Kindly note that the number of internship requests far exceeds the opportunities available. For additional information about internships, see our frequently asked questions.

General Remarks

ICCROM staff members supervise interns, assign tasks in consultation with the intern and monitor interns' progress. Before the end of the internship, interns are asked to present their results and achievements to all staff. Every intern who completes an internship receives a certificate of attendance and a letter of reference outlining the tasks undertaken.