Reach for the stars: gamers have a chance to secure a spot at the European Space Agency through its Student Internship Programme. Apply by 30 November – space is within reach!
The European Space Agency – ESA for short and probably one of the coolest employers you can find – is looking for the next generation of space professionals. It is well known that ESA is home to the brightest minds from various fields, and they recognize that gamers in particular are perfectly suited to contribute to the future of space exploration.
Cue: The Student Internship Programme! This is a fantastic opportunity for Master's students to gain practical experience at one of the largest space organizations in the world. We’ve got all the information here for you!
Who can apply?
The Student Internship Programme at ESA is for Master's students, preferably those who already see the light at the end of the tunnel and are in their final or second-to-last year of study.
Applicants must also be a national of an ESA Member State. Specifically, these are the following: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia as associate members or Canada as a Cooperating State can also apply, as can nationals from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta.
Why would an organization like ESA be looking for gamers, exactly?
Gaming and space exploration – how do they actually go together? Pretty much a match made in heaven, actually – ESA has also recognized this. Us gamers bring some key skills to the table that we have almost inadvertently acquired with a controller, mouse and keyboard, which fit perfectly into the European Space Agency's programmes.
Need examples? No problem at all. On our travels through Hyrule, Azeroth or the Mushroom Kingdom, we regularly demonstrate our thirst for adventure – this curiosity and enthusiasm are exactly the qualities that are also highly valued by ESA.
While your ESA job is unlikely to be about gaming itself, the classic, more practical skills acquired through the art of gaming are hugely valuable: we're stress-resistant (as boss fights in Elden Ring prove), tech-savvy (we build our own PCs and know how to get the console working again at the drop of a hat, come on!) and what's more, we're absolute masters of multitasking, having juggled thousands of quests over the years, we've simply conquered the concept of time management like any dungeon in Zelda. Need I say more?
It's time to reach for the stars and seize the opportunity of a student internship!
How do you apply?
Go directly to the ESA application page and take a look at the various positions offered by the Student Internship Programme. There are opportunities in a wide range of fields, including IT, science, engineering, but also communications and HR – so you don't have to be an actual rocket scientist in the making to take your chance at ESA. You can find more information about the jobs here.
As soon as you have found the job of your dreams, it's time to get down to business. You will need to create a profile, upload your CV and a cover letter and send your application via the portal. You can apply for two positions at the same time. The deadline is November 30.
Here are a few pro tips for your application: three things that make a good cover letter are motivation, interest and enthusiasm – if you have these three things and are also concise (highlight the most relevant information from your CV and try to keep it to one page), you are already doing a lot of things right. If you then take enough time to answer the questions in the application form, then space is within reach!
For all further questions and even more information, please attend the live webinar on November 12, 12:00 noon CET. The webinar is the best place to go to make sure you hit the mark with your application.
You will be informed in early 2025 whether your application has been successful and if you are on your way to gaining first-class experience at the space agency. You’ll decide together with your tutor about the starting date, which can be any time between February and October 2025. Internships are three to six months long.
So what are you waiting for? An opportunity like this must be seized! Click here to go directly to the application page, for more information click here and the FAQ about the internship programme can be found here. Good luck with your application!