ESA opens doors to a new generation of experts: preparations for the 2026 Graduate Trainee programme applications are in full swing
The European Space Agency (ESA), ahead of the new cycle of announcements for the Graduate Trainee (EGT) programme, is once again attracting the attention of students and recent graduates who want to build a career in the space sector. The EGT is, according to the Agency's official description, envisioned as a one-year entry-level programme that introduces participants to the development and operations of space missions, within international teams that combine engineering, science, IT, and business functions. Although space is most often associated in the public eye with launches and photos of planets, in the background there are thousands of people solving very concrete problems: from software reliability and data processing to testing, logistics, procurement, and risk management. This is precisely why the EGT has become one of the most recognizable "gateways" into the European space ecosystem, especially for young people who want to work on projects with long timelines, high quality standards, and clear responsibility.
For interested candidates, the most important fact is the timing: ESA states that EGT opportunities are published every year in February, and that the selection process then extends through the spring, with work most commonly starting in September or October. Given that today is January 19, 2026, this means that this is the period when it pays to seriously prepare documentation, check the competition conditions, and decide in advance which maximum of three advertisements are worth applying for. In practice, candidates often lose points not because they "don't know enough," but because they do not clearly show what they have done, how they reached results, and why they are specifically a good choice for a certain team. Therefore, good preparation in January and early February is often just as important as the professional background itself.
What is EGT and why has it become the "entry point" into the European space sector
The EGT (ESA Graduate Trainee Programme) is a work and training programme lasting one year, with the possibility of extension for a second year. ESA positions it as gaining practical experience in the development and operations of space missions, in an international and multicultural environment. In practice, this means that the participant is not an observer, but part of the team: they receive tasks, deadlines, and responsibility, along with mentors and a structure intended to accelerate learning. Unlike classic student internships, the EGT takes place through an employment contract and implies a continuous contribution to the project. In such an environment, both technical knowledge and the ability to work within the system are important: documentation, tracking changes, quality verification, communication, and coordination with other teams.
At the same time, the programme reflects the change in the sector itself. Today, space missions increasingly rely on software, data, automation, and security, rather than just hardware. ESA indirectly confirms this by the fact that EGT positions are published in a wide range of areas – from science and engineering to IT and business roles – with an emphasis that this is work where disciplines overlap. A candidate coming from IT can thus work on mission planning tools, telemetry processing, or data analytics, while candidates from business services can find themselves in roles related to organization, processes, and support for large programmes. Ultimately, the EGT is an "entry" into a system where technical excellence is a prerequisite, but reliability in daily work is equally valued.
Who can apply: education, experience, and citizenship
Official ESA guidelines state that an EGT candidate can be someone who is in the final year of a Master's degree or has recently completed such a degree in relevant fields, such as engineering, science, IT, or business services. It is crucial that the candidate has completed their degree by the start of the engagement and can provide proof of completion within the deadline stipulated by the competition. This emphasizes that the EGT is not an "extension of studies," but a transition into a professional work regime, with the expectation that the participant can keep up with the team's pace from day one. Advertisements often ask for a combination of fundamental knowledge and specific skills, for example, experience with programming, modeling, data processing, or project management. What is considered "relevant" is best read through the description of the specific job position, because some positions target narrowly technical profiles, while others seek a wider range of competencies.
An important criterion is also work experience: the EGT is intended for candidates with a maximum of one year of professional experience after graduation. The limitation is a clear message that the Agency wants people at the very beginning of their careers, but mature enough to get involved in complex projects. In practice, experience gained through student projects, laboratories, internships, competitions, open source, or work on a thesis is therefore often valued, especially if the candidate could show results, collaboration, and the ability to learn. In other words, formal employment is not the only way for a candidate to show readiness for the job: project trails that prove they know how to deliver a solution and explain how they arrived at it are also important. ESA teams work under strict procedures, so habits such as note-taking, testing, quality checks, and working according to a plan are appreciated. Such skills are also recognized in civil projects, from software applications and automation to engineering prototypes and analytical studies.
The third criterion is citizenship. ESA states that citizens of ESA Member States can apply, as well as citizens of Associate Members, European Cooperating States, and Canada as a Cooperating State, with the exact list of eligible countries being published with each individual advertisement. In publicly available lists among European Cooperating States, Croatia is also mentioned, which is important information for domestic candidates, but checking at the level of the specific competition is recommended because details depend on the country's status and the rules of the individual position. Such a check is not a formality: in practice, it prevents a candidate from investing time in an application that will be automatically rejected due to an administrative condition. Additionally, ESA often uses pre-selection questions in the application form, so basic criteria are checked already at the level of the online application.
What the programme offers: contract, paid leave, and relocation conditions
The EGT is set up as a work engagement with clear rights and obligations. ESA states a one-year contract, with the possibility of extension, and 2.5 days of paid leave per month. Among the benefits, it highlights a monthly salary exempt from national income tax in ESA Member States, as well as inclusion in ESA's social and healthcare security system. Documents and programme descriptions also mention reimbursement of travel expenses at the beginning and end of the contract, and allowances related to relocation, depending on whether the candidate comes from another country. Although details may vary from case to case, the message is that the EGT is treated as a serious professional engagement, and not a temporary internship without full support.
This part of the story is often decisive for young experts because many positions open in different ESA centres, and relocation means handling housing, administration, and daily life in a new country. Therefore, along with the professional interest itself, candidates are recommended to realistically assess the logistics: where the workplace is, what the costs of living are, what the support upon arrival is like, and how quickly they can adapt. ESA's work model is based on multinational teams, so the experience of living and working in an international environment is part of the professional growth that the programme offers. In practice, this also includes understanding work habits in international organizations: meetings are frequent, documentation is detailed, and changes are tracked through formal procedures. Candidates who have already worked on projects with multiple stakeholders – for example through university teams, associations, or internships – often find it easier to navigate such a rhythm. For many, precisely this combination of technical work and an international environment is the greatest value of the EGT, because it opens doors to the wider European labour market.
- One-year contract, with the possibility of extension for a second year
- 2.5 days of paid leave per month
- Monthly salary exempt from national income tax in ESA Member States
- Reimbursement of travel expenses at the beginning and end of the contract
- Relocation allowances (depending on the case) and health and social coverage through ESA's system
What the application looks like: digital profile and limitation to three applications
The application is submitted via ESA's official recruitment portal. The candidate selects positions that correspond to their education and interest, creates a user profile, and attaches a CV and a motivation letter. One detail that is particularly important – and which ESA explicitly emphasizes – is the limitation on the number of applications: each candidate can send a maximum of three applications in one cycle. This imposes discipline and requires a thoughtful approach, because "shooting blindly" at three advertisements that do not match experience rarely gives a good result. ESA also emphasizes in published instructions that the status of the application can be tracked through the user profile, which makes it easier for candidates to navigate the process. Those who thoroughly read the description of tasks before applying and show that they understand the wider context of the team, and not just their own interests, benefit the most.
In practice, it is therefore crucial that the candidate understands what is actually being sought before sending the application. If the advertisement asks for analytics and work with data, the motivation must show how the candidate has already worked with data and what they learned from it. If systems engineering is sought, it is essential to explain how the candidate thinks about complex systems and risks, even if the experience comes from a student project. ESA teams work in an environment of high quality standards, so the ability to document work, work according to procedures, and clearly communicate ambiguities and risks is appreciated. This is precisely where applications often break: a technically strong candidate without a clear explanation of "what they did" can leave a weaker impression than a candidate who is slightly less experienced but structures their experience extremely well and shows maturity in their approach.
Deadlines and selection: from announcement in February to start of work in September or October
ESA states an approximate timeline in the programme description: vacancy notices are usually published in the period February – March, pre-selection and interviews with the shortlist of candidates are conducted between March and May, and final decisions are made in June. The start of work is most often in September or October. Although individual dates may differ depending on the position, this framework allows candidates to plan the completion of studies, obligations at the university, possible exams, as well as relocation. This is precisely why January and early February are not just "waiting for the competition," but a period in which candidates prepare so that at the moment the advertisement is published, they can react quickly and with quality. Otherwise, the risk is that the application is sent in a rush, without clear adaptation to the position, which is rarely forgiven in such competition.
Information sessions and the community of young professionals: where to get answers before applying
Ahead of the opening of the competition, ESA has in previous years organized online information sessions where entry-level programmes are explained and candidates' questions are answered. Recordings of two sessions held on February 5 and 12 are available on the official EGT page, in which, along with a general overview of the programme, the experiences of participants and practical tips for application are heard. Such meetings are often the most useful precisely because they bust myths: the candidate learns firsthand what is really done in the team, what the selection process looks like, and what is considered convincing in a motivation letter. In addition, a clearer insight is gained into how much work discipline and communication are valued at ESA, especially in an environment where a mistake can have a high cost. Information sessions often reveal "little things" that are decisive, such as the way of structuring motivation or typical questions in interviews.
Communications about the EGT also mention the activities of young professional communities within ESA, which organize professional networking, initiatives, and social events. Although the format and timing of such events can vary, the logic is clear: ESA tries to connect young people across disciplines and locations, because large projects rarely take place within one room or one centre. For an EGT candidate, this means that, along with technical work, a network of contacts opens up which can be equally important for further career development. In such communities, it is easier to learn how the Agency functions, where the opportunities for development are, and how the needs of other teams are recognized. Ultimately, this is also an integration mechanism: young professionals find their way faster when they have colleagues who have traveled a similar path.
YPSat and Ariane 6: when the "young team" gets a chance to do something real
When ESA talks about the experience of young professionals, it often highlights examples of projects that offer "learning by doing." One such project is YPSat (Young Professionals Satellite), an initiative launched by young professionals within ESA with the ambition to design, build, and operate a real space system alongside their regular job. ESA states in the programme description that the idea began with the goal of placing a suitable instrument/payload on the first flight of the new European rocket Ariane 6, which eventually became YPSat-1. Subsequently, YPSat-2 is described as a more mature step, with a larger structure and continuity, which shows that the initiative was not a one-off "experiment," but a direction intended to be maintained. For understanding the EGT, this is important because it demonstrates a culture where young people are encouraged to take initiative, but with clear technical responsibility.
The concrete time point that made YPSat known to the wider public is the inaugural flight of Ariane 6, launched on July 9, 2024. ESA announced that YPSat recorded key flight phases, including the moment of fairing separation, which provided a rare "inside look" at an event that is otherwise monitored only by rocket sensors. For the EGT programme, this is more than an attractive story: it is an example of a culture where initiative, teamwork, and taking responsibility are expected from young people, and the reward is a real result that becomes part of European space history. Such examples help the candidate understand what ESA wants to see in an application: the ability to work systematically, to go from idea to testing, and to take responsibility for quality. This is not a romantic image, but a daily professional standard.
For domestic readers thinking about applying, the message of YPSat is simple. ESA does not only look for perfect averages and theoretical knowledge, but evidence that the candidate can work in a team, under pressure, with clear documentation and quality discipline. Projects outside of classes – software applications, process automation, work with data, student laboratories, competitions, or open-source contributions – are often the best "evidence material," because they show how the candidate works when there is no script and when decisions need to be made. A candidate who can describe their contribution, the risks they recognized, and the way they verified the result, generally leaves a better impression than a candidate who lists technologies without context. In ESA's environment, "how you work" is often just as important as "what you know."
The bigger picture for 2026: security of access to space and demand for new profiles
EGT 2026 comes at a time when Europe is striving to consolidate autonomous access to space, and ESA emphasizes in its reviews the importance of reliable and competitive launch systems. In this context, Ariane 6 and Vega-C are cited as key parts of European launch capabilities, alongside the parallel development of technologies and modernization of operational processes. Such a direction increases the demand for people who understand complex systems, but also for experts who know how to manage data, security, risks, and processes at the organizational level. In other words, the space sector is no longer just "hardware" and "rockets": it is about infrastructure that relies on cyber-resilience, data quality, and reliable operational procedures. This explains why computer scientists, analysts, and business systems experts are also entering EGT profiles today.
This is precisely why the EGT is not reserved only for classic engineering majors. ESA highlights that opportunities are also published in IT and business services, which is a signal that the space sector today is also a sector of digital platforms, cyber resilience, and organizational management. For candidates from Croatia, this is also an opportunity to translate their own skills – whether focused on programming, analytics, process management, or communications – into the language of space projects, where precision, documentation, and responsibility are sought. Many teams work with large amounts of data, long system lifecycles, and strict requirements, so an "engineering" way of thinking is appreciated even when dealing with software or business processes. In this sense, the EGT is a window into a world where technology, science, and industrial policy intersect in a very practical way.
How to best prepare: what to emphasize in the CV and motivation letter
In a successful application, clarity most often decides. The CV should quickly explain who the candidate is, what they know how to do, and where they showed it. Instead of listing technologies without context, it is better to describe two to four projects that demonstrate problem-solving, measuring results, and collaboration with others. The motivation letter needs to be adapted to that exact position: why the candidate wants that exact team and that task, and what specifically they bring. General phrases about "love for space" are not enough; ESA seeks people who can work on real systems and remain disciplined in the process. A candidate who shows that they understand what the team does and why it is important is usually a step ahead.
The limitation to three applications additionally emphasizes the need for strategy. A candidate dealing with data can, for example, target three positions that differ in content but build upon the same foundation: analytics in a science team, support for mission operations, and business intelligence in the organization. Each of those applications must have its own justification and its own examples. And the simplest step that prevents missing deadlines is setting up job alerts and regularly monitoring official announcements, because positions can additionally appear outside the main wave. Ultimately, the best candidates are not necessarily those with the "most impressive" titles, but those who show consistency, focus, and the ability to draw clear, verifiable conclusions from real experience.
Given the selection calendar that ESA states, the next few weeks can be decisive for those aiming for EGT 2026. Competitions fill up quickly with applications, and the difference is often made by details: a neat CV, motivation that hits the team's need, and concrete evidence of work. For candidates who have the discipline to prepare on time, the EGT remains one of the most direct routes towards European space projects – and not as a romantic idea, but as a real job in which something is built every day that will end up in missions, systems, and operations that Europe uses for years.
Sources:- European Space Agency (ESA) – official page of the ESA Graduate Trainees (EGT) programme: conditions, benefits and selection framework (link)- European Space Agency (ESA) – official FAQ for ESA Graduate Traineeship: clarification of conditions (including Croatia as a European Cooperating State), experiences and applications (link)- ESA Jobs – official portal for applications and vacancy announcements (link)- European Space Agency (ESA) – YPSat Programme: project description and development of YPSat-1/YPSat-2 (link)- European Space Agency (ESA) – YPSat footage and description of the payload role on the inaugural Ariane 6 flight, with the stated date July 9, 2024 (link)- European Space Agency (ESA) – overview of the European policy of "autonomous access to space" and the role of Ariane 6 and Vega-C (link)
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