HCSS General Internship open for applications (start date July/August 2026)

Starting period: Earliest end of July – latest mid-August 2026

Deadline application: Sunday July 5, 2026 at 12pm

The HCSS internship offers an excellent springboard for future careers in a wide range of fields, interns are involved as full-fledged team members in research-projects. Activities can range from conducting background research, data collection and analysis, co-writing reports and papers, administrative support, to being involved in the organisation of workshops and conferences. This way, interns gain valuable work experience in a professional environment, which helps them in their future development and careers in both the public and private sector. Also, the HCSS internship offers the opportunity to build and expand your professional network.

Want to know more about the experience of HCSS general interns? Look out for the HCSS Internship Blogs entries from our current interns!

Requirements

Candidates should have a first-rate academic background, strong transferable skills, and a keen interest in the topics covered by HCSS research.

Further requirements include:

• A strong basis of analytical, writing and synthesising skills
• Ability to think creatively and out-of-the-box
• Very good communication skills in English, both orally and in writing
• Knowledge of advanced internet search strategies
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Flexibility and ability to multi-task
• Positive professional attitude
• Strong work ethic and willingness to learn
• Some quantitative research skills (preferable)

The following attributes are considered a strong asset:

• Prior work or internship experience
• Proficiency in Dutch or other languages
• Being a native English speaker
• Quantitative research skills. If you have a background in data science (specifically R or Python) you may also be interested in our Data Internship.

Eligibility 

• Candidates must be enrolled as a student at a university during the whole internship period.
• An internship period of six months is highly preferred, although shorter periods can be discussed. Please indicate your availability in your cover letter. Interns should be able to commit to working 40 hours a week, in person at our The Hague office.
• If successful in obtaining a position, candidates are asked to provide a certificate of good conduct (‘Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag’), available from the Dutch Ministry of Justice. Candidates residing outside of the Netherlands should provide a certificate from their country of residence.
• Must already be in possession of the necessary documentation to study or work in the Netherlands before applying to the internship. HCSS is not able to provide VISA sponsorship and other related required immigration documents.

You are not eligible for HCSS internships when

• You are not a registered student at the time of the internship’s start and for the entire duration of the internship  
• You do not already possess the necessary documentation to study or work in the Netherlands before applying to the internship.
• You have ongoing classes at your university for more than 4h a week during the duration of the internship.

Frequently asked questions:

Can I apply if I am no longer a student (recently graduated)?
HCSS internships are only available to enrolled students. Without proof of enrolment valid for the entire duration of the internship, you are not eligible. Your application will not be considered.

Is it possible to do a part-time internship?
HCSS does not offer part-time data internships. If you have class during the week, that might result in the exclusion of your profile from the selection.

Can non-EU citizens apply to the internship?

Non-EU citizens can apply for internships at HCSS. However, you must already be in possession of the necessary documentation to study or work in the Netherlands before applying to the internship. We are unfortunately unable to provide assistance with obtaining a visa. In order to check your eligibility, please refer to this government website: “Intern or apprentice in the Netherlands”.

Application Procedure

To apply, send the following items in a single PDF document to internship@hcss.nl using ‘General Internship /2026’ as the subject line.

• A curriculum vitae, including a list of references
• A cover letter
• Proof of university enrollment, valid for the entire duration of the internship
• Copy of official transcript of academic grades (Bachelor transcripts mandatory, Masters if applicable)
• A one-page writing sample (excluding bibliography if relevant) answering one of the following questions:
• Consider a trend which could affect the security of the Netherlands in the next decade. What is being done to address the issue? What more could be done?
• Consider a way in which the Netherlands could exercise more effective foreign policy without increasing military expenditure. What are the advantages and limitations of this approach?
• Consider a trend in the military industrialisation of Europe that will allow the EU to increase its geopolitical influence abroad. What are the instruments this could be achieve through? What are pros and cons?

Notes regarding the application procedure:

• Please ensure that your application is complete before sending it in. Providing a list of references with contact details as part of your CV (at least two) is a mandatory requirement- we will not request them at a later stage. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• The whole application should be written in English, including the writing sample and CV.
• Please apply only if you are available for the above-mentioned start date. HCSS recruits interns on a bi-annual basis; later start dates will be announced in due time. 
• All the documents should be submitted in one single PDF file, titled Name Surname_HCSS General Internship Application.

Practical Information

The HCSS internship is paid: € 675,- per month. Our internships take place in person at our offices in The Hague.

HCSS only considers candidates that submit a complete application and fulfill all eligibility requirements. Successful applicants will be invited for an interview. The interviews will take place 2-3 weeks after the closing of the vacancy. Applications are NOT reviewed on a rolling basis, but all together after the vacancy has closed. You will know the results of your application around one month after the closing date of the vacancy.

At HCSS, we firmly believe in prioritising qualifications and skills when making hiring decisions, without any discrimination based on personal characteristics such as race, religion, gender, age, disability, and sexual orientation.