General Information for Applicants

You can also find the information provided on this page in our handbook for applicants which you can download here.

Application process and eligibility

The program is open to Master and PhD students from all academic fields who are interested in topics related to international cooperation, development, and the work of international organizations. Eligible candidates are invited to an interview in which they are assessed based on their competences and interest in the United Nation system, their research experience, and their personality. Applicants are required to show strong discipline, eagerness to learn, cultural openness, and other personality traits needed to perform with excellence in an international and multi-disciplinary environment

Applicants are required to fulfill the following criteria:
  • Be enrolled in a Master or PhD program (from all academic fields);
  • Have at least basic knowledge of and interest in the UN system and topics of the RAUN program;
  • Very good knowledge of English (written and spoken) and good knowledge in writing academic papers;
  • Ability and willingness to work and learn in a multinational and multicultural group; 
  • Be between 21 and 35 years of age by the time of applying;
  • Be able to combine the Academy’s program with their studies;
  • Be able to attend all three sessions and  invest sufficient time for the research projects.

Application procedure

All applicants are required to send the following documents when applying (strictly in this order!):
  • Completed expression of interest form;
  • Recent CV (2 pages) in English;
  • Motivation letter (one page) in English;
  • Transcript of records/overview of university grades in English. Please also attach a note that explains grading system in the country you are studying (e.g. in Germany grade 1 is A (the best mark), while in Poland grade 5 is A).
  • Sample of a written academic paper (preferably in English). This could be an extract from a BA or MA thesis, a module paper, a paper submitted for a conference, a proposal for a Masters or PhD thesis, etc. The sample should not be less than 1 page and longer than 20 pages;
  • 2 names and email addresses of professors or former employers as references. The listed persons may be contacted to obtain further information about the candidate.
Required documents should be sent to raun-communications@ra-un.org

Note: all documents should be put together and sent as one single PDF file. The name of the file should be named and sent as “Country_first name_last name_RAUN application.pdf”. This means, country where you are applying from (e.g. Austria or Slovakia), your first and last name, RAUN application. (e.g. Slovakia_Jana_Novakova_RAUN application.pdf)

Fees and scholarships

Please note that a non-refundable registration fee of 120€ is required from selected participants. RAUN Participants also need to cover all their costs of transportation to and from sessions, accommodation and meals, unless otherwise stated. Some sending universities provide funding for some or all of the costs. Students are encouraged to inform themselves about funding opportunities and apply for available grants at their universities, local governments and other institutions. The organizers of each session will facilitate budget accommodation and meals for participants. Homestays with other participants can be organized to further reduce the traveling costs.

For the 2022 Regional Academy a limited number of scholarships in a form of a tuition fee waiver are available. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please fill in a scholarship form and submit it together with your application. The form can be found on our application page. Please also state whether you are willing to participate in the Academy if you do not receive the scholarship. The scholarships are given based on merit. The Regional Academy is a non-profit organization operated by volunteers with very little funding, hence we can only provide limited financial support to our participants. Please only apply for a scholarship if you have really no other means to finance your participation in the Academy!

Selection of applicants

  • Phase one of the selection process involve a screening based on the participation requirements listed above. We advise applicants to read the requirements carefully and only apply when they are sure that they fulfill them. In case of doubt please contact us.
  • During phase two, applicants who fulfill the general requirements are evaluated based on their CVs, motivation letters, university grades, and the submitted research paper. During this phase, applicants are shortlisted and invited for personal interviews.
  • Phase three – the final part of the selection – involves a competency-based interview with applicants during which candidates’ credentials are assessed. After the interview, successful candidates are informed and provided with further information about the program.

Data privacy statement

Please note that, by submitting your application, personal information and relevant supporting documents as listed above, you are consenting to RAUN holding and processing the submitted data for the purpose of selecting suitable candidates for the respective RAUN admission year. The information which you submit will be stored and secured internally by the RAUN coordination team. We will only keep your personal information for as long as is necessary to conduct and finalize the selection process.