Starting period: Earliest mid February – latest beginning of March 2026 

Deadline application: Sunday January 4, 2026 at 12pm 

HCSS is looking for new interns to start in February 2026! 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 and previous 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, Arabic 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 (minimum is 5 months). Please indicate your availability in your cover letter. Interns should be able to commit to working 40 hours a week, in person at our office in The Hague.
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.

You are not eligible for HCSS internships when

You are not a registered student at the time of the intership’s start and for the entire duration of the internship
You are not eligible if you have more than 8 hours of class per week to attend during the internship

Frequently asked questions:

Can I apply if I am no longer a student (recently graduated)? HCSS internships are for enrolled students. Without a proof of enrollment, 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 internships within the General Internship Program for a work week under 32 hours.

Can HCSS provide me with a permit/visa? HCSS does not offer the option to sponsor your Dutch permit or visa. The applicant needs to already be in possession of a valid permit/visa.

Application Procedure

To apply, send the following items 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
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 policy which could help the eurozone improve its competitiveness. What are the advantages and limitations of this policy?

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.
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 office 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. 

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.