An AST grade is the salary and seniority band for Assistants in the EU civil service. AST grades run from AST 1 to AST 11 and cover technical, administrative and executive support work that keeps the institutions running day to day.
Typical AST profiles include policy assistants, IT administrators, financial assistants, project officers, building managers, security officers and human-resources support staff. The minimum educational requirement is a post-secondary diploma or a secondary diploma plus relevant professional experience, depending on the grade. AST 1 to AST 4 are entry-level roles for candidates fresh out of vocational training or with limited experience; AST 5 to AST 9 are mid-career, with growing responsibility for files, contracts or small teams; AST 10 and AST 11 cover senior expert roles. Recruitment happens through EPSO open competitions and, for fixed-term assignments, through the CAST Permanent database. The AST function group also has an AST-SC sub-track (Secretaries and Clerks) graded SC 1 to SC 6 for clerical roles. Salary follows the same five-step structure as AD grades, with automatic two-yearly step increases and merit-based promotion between grades. AST staff are eligible for the full set of EU benefits: expatriation allowance, household allowance, education allowances and the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme.
Frequently asked questions
- What qualifications do I need for an AST job?
- For most AST grades you need either a post-secondary diploma (typically 2-3 years after secondary school) or a secondary diploma plus several years of relevant professional experience. The exact requirement is set out in each EPSO notice of competition.
- Can an AST be promoted to AD?
- Yes. The Staff Regulations provide for "certification": AST staff who pass an internal programme can be promoted to the AD function group. There is also the option of sitting an open EPSO competition for AD posts while already employed as an AST.