Call for interest - IPA Traineeships 2026 - European Union Agency for Railways (Valenciennes)
About this position
The summary below is published by European Union Agency for Railways on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.
Who can apply?
The IPA traineeship programme is supported by funds of the European Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) and open to anyone who meets the following requirements:
- Be a national of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia or Turkey. - Have a university degree according to national classification of the Bologna process or equivalent (minimum 3 years of study) or previous work experience in railways. - Have a very good knowledge of the English language.
The applicant will have also to provide the following document:
- a recommendation letter by a national authority or a public university. - a certificate proving health insurance coverage.
Traineeships will be offered in priority to applicants who have not yet been a trainee in a European institution, agency or body.
- This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
What do we offer?
An IPA traineeship can last up to 6 months. A mentor will guide you during your traineeship. You will receive a monthly grant, reimbursement of travel expenses, paid leaves and…
Excerpt shown; read the full notice on the official page. The structured breakdown below covers the key facts.
Are you eligible?
Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:
- Education: University degree according to national classification of the Bologna process or equivalent (minimum 3 years of study)
- Experience: Previous work experience in railways
- Languages: English (very go…)
- Eligibility: Be a national of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia or Turkey. Have a university degree according to national classification of the Bologna process or equivalent (minimum 3 years of study) or previous work experience in railways. Have a very good knowledge of the English language. Must provide a recommendation letter by a national authority or a public un…
Selection process
The notice describes the following selection steps:
- Submit application form and supporting documents to [email protected] in PDF format
- If selected, apply for a visa within required time frame
Contract and working arrangements
Contract duration: up to 6 months.
Hiring unit: ERA.
Position overview
This is the official EU Careers listing for Call for interest - IPA Traineeships 2026 at ERA based in Valenciennes (Traineeship).
Who can apply?
The IPA traineeship programme is supported by funds of the European Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) and open to anyone who meets the following requirements:
- Be a national of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia or Turkey. - Have a university degree according to national classification of the Bologna process or equivalent (minimum 3 years of study) or previous work experience in railways. - Have a very good knowledge of the English language.
The applicant will have also to provide the following document:
- a recommendation letter by a national authority or a public university. - a certificate proving health insurance coverage.
Traineeships will be offered in priority to applicants who have not yet been a trainee in a European institution, agency or body.
- This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
What do we offer?
An IPA traineeship can last up to 6 months. A mentor will guide you during your traineeship. You will receive a monthly grant, reimbursement of travel expenses, paid leaves and training opportunities reserved for the staff.
How to apply?
You need to fill in the application form below and to send it to: [email protected] (only in a pdf format).
The applicant must submit all supporting documents mentioned above simultaneously with the application form.
If selected, the applicant will need to apply for a visa within the required time frame. Any costs incurred will be reimbursed.
For additional information please consult the “Rules Governing Traineeships at ERA - ED Decision” file in the related documents.
Application timeline
This vacancy was first listed on 28 May 2026, 140 days ago.
The deadline of 16 January 2026 has now passed and this position is no longer accepting applications. Browse other current openings via the links below.
Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 6 October 2026 (9 days ago).
Where to learn more
For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at ERA see the ERA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Valenciennes see our Valenciennes location page.
New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.
Career trajectory
Language profile
Application cadence
Visit the official European Union Agency for Railways website
Source: This job listing was sourced from the officialEU Careers portal (EPSO). First published: .