Will my travel expenses be reimbursed if I am invited for an interview?
All candidates who attend an interview and have their official residence 150 km or more from Cologne are reimbursed according to EASA rules on travel reimbursement.
May I submit an open/unsolicited/spontaneous application?
EASA does not consider open/unsolicited/spontaneous applications. Only applications for published vacancies can be taken into consideration. The Agency will publish all vacancies as and when they become available on the EASA ‘Recruitment page’.
What is a Temporary Agent?
Information concerning temporary staff within the meaning of Article 2 of the ‘Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities’ can be found on the website of the European Commission's Directorate General of Personnel and Administration at: http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/job/temp/index_en.htm
Typically, future EASA staff will be offered initially a Temporary Agent post which is normally for a renewable 5 years’ fixed period. If the contract is renewed, it will become an indefinite contract without an end date.
Traineeships and Study Placements
I have sent my application but I discovered that I made a mistake when filling out the application form. How can I correct the mistake?
Graduate Traineeship Programme:
Submitting an application more than once before the closing date is possible, it will result in the latest submission being taken as the final, authoritative version. Also, deleting the account after submitting an application will leave the application untouched. If you would like to withdraw your application, please send an email to: recruit [at] easa [dot] europa [dot] eu
Study Placement Scheme:
Please inform us by re-submitting your application to traineeship_info [at] easa [dot] europa [dot] eu.
How will I know that EASA has received my application?
Graduate Traineeship Programme:
After submission of your application you will receive by email an automatic acknowledgement of receipt from the e-recruitment tool confirming that your application has been successfully submitted.
Study Placement Scheme:
We will get back to you as soon as your application has been reviewed and we can inform you about the outcome. Kindly be patient as the evaluation process may take some time.
Will I be informed about the outcome of my application in any case?
Graduate Traineeship Programme:
All applicants can follow the status of the call for expression of interest for traineeships on the EASA website. Only successful candidates will be notified via email.
Study Placement Scheme:
All applicants will be notified via email about the outcome of their application.
I have been offered a traineeship. Can I postpone the starting date to a later period?
To ensure a smooth management of the Graduate Traineeship Programme, all participants should start the programme at the same time, i.e. the date indicated in your offer letter.
In duly justified cases it may be possible to postpone the starting date for approximately 1 month subject to individual arrangements and negotiation.
Can the traineeship period be extended?
The traineeship period cannot be extended beyond the maximum period defined for each traineeship programme.
The maximum duration of traineeships is 12 months.
Can I have a part-time traineeship/study placement?
No. All candidates who are accepted for a traineeship/study placement must work full time, which at EASA means 40 h/week and 8h/day.
Does EASA provide any kind of accommodation?
No. Finding and paying for accommodation is entirely your responsibility. If you are offered a traineeship/study placement we will provide you with a Welcome Pack including information on accommodation.
What is the amount of traineeship grant paid by EASA?
The amount of the traineeship grant paid by EASA is defined in the call for expression of interest for traineeships published every year.
As described in the applicable traineeship rules, trainees who benefit from any grant from another source or another subsistence allowance shall only be admitted to a financial contribution from EASA, if the sum received is less than the amount of the traineeship grant. In that case, they shall receive the difference.
Note: EASA does not provide any financial contribution for Study Placement Scheme.
Is the training grant paid by EASA subject to national or EU tax?
Trainees have the sole responsibility for complying with the tax regulation of their home state, which may apply to grants received from EASA. Traineeship grants are not governed by the tax regulation applicable to EASA staff members. To this purpose, if requested, a certificate might be provided at the end of the traineeship period. This certificate will state the amount of grants received and confirm that tax and social security payments have not been made.
Are trainees/students insured?
EASA does not provide health insurance. Prior to the start date, trainees/students must provide proof that they are covered by a sickness insurance scheme for the entire duration of their stay at the Agency (e.g., through the European Health Insurance Card or through private insurance). If a trainee/student fails to provide proof of the insurance, the traineeship/ study placement shall be terminated.
During the traineeship, trainees shall be covered by EASA against the risk of accident according to the relevant EASA insurance contract.
EASA does not provide accident insurance to students.
Students must provide proof that they are insured against accident risks either privately or under the terms of their University’s insurance.
Is there a closing date for sending in applications?
Graduate Traineeship Programme:
Yes. The closing date for sending applications is indicated in each traineeship notice. Applications received after the closing date are automatically rejected.
Study Placement Scheme:
There is no closing date: students can apply throughout the year. However, only a limited number of requests can be accommodated, based on internal needs and resources.
May I submit an open/unsolicited/spontaneous application?
Graduate Traineeship Programme:
No. EASA does not consider open/unsolicited/spontaneous applications for paid traineeships. Only applications for published traineeships can be taken into consideration. The online application form submitted via the eRecruitment tool is the only acceptable means of applying for a paid traineeship in EASA. Please do not forget to include in your application all required documents.
Study Placement Scheme:
Yes, we welcome spontaneous applications for study placements. The online application form available in the Download section of the Traineeships and Study Placements webpage is the only acceptable means of applying for a study placement in EASA. Please do not forget to include in your application all required documents.
I have applied before and was rejected. Should I try again?
Yes, you may reapply for a subsequent training period. However, you must submit a new application, together with all requested documents.
Are all applications and applicants that come to the Agency treated in the same way?
EASA applies a policy of equal opportunities and accepts applications without bias on the grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation.
Is there an age limitation for applying for a traineeship or a study placement at EASA?
There is no official age limit for applying for a traineeship or a study placement. However, EASA’s traineeships and study placements are aimed respectively at young university graduates and students and present an opportunity to gain initial work experience.
I come from a country that is not a Member State of the European Union; may I apply for a traineeship or a study placement advertised by the Agency?
To apply for a traineeship or a study placement, you must be national of one of the EASA Member States or of a country with observer status in the EASA Management Board (more info). In exceptional cases and when in the interest of the service, nationals of other third countries may be considered.
I have a degree from a country that is not a Member State of the European Union; am I eligible for a traineeship advertised by the Agency?
If studies took place outside the European Union, your qualification must have been recognised by a body officially delegated for this purpose by one of the European Union Member States (such as a national Ministry of Education) and a document attesting so must also be submitted with your application.
I have completed the first three years of a course lasting more than three years but will not receive my diploma until the end of my studies. Can I still apply for the graduate traineeship programme?
No. For the graduate programme you must have obtained your final diploma by the start of the traineeship period. ECTS points are not accepted as equivalent degree, proof of completion of the full university degree needs to be provided by the start date of the traineeship.
Which type of University degree diploma is taken into account for the Graduate Traineeship Programme?
In order to be eligible for the Graduate Traineeship Programme you must have obtained by the start of the traineeship period a University degree which corresponds to at least 3-year studies (e.g. Bachelor).
The University degree to be obtained in the specific period indicated in the traineeship notice shall be relevant to the profile and it can be any academic degree (e.g. Bachelor, Master, PhD).
What language should I use in my application for a traineeship/study placement at the Agency?
A very good knowledge of the English language is an essential requirement to do a traineeship/study placement at EASA. Applications must therefore be submitted in English. For the same reason, the documents concerning traineeships and study placements at EASA are only available in English.
Do I need to send supporting documents when I submit my application?
Graduate Traineeship Programme:
You have to submit via the eRecruitment tool: the completed electronic EASA Traineeship application form, a motivation letter of no more than one page briefly explaining why you are applying for the EASA GTP and to the specific profile of your choice, together with scanned copies giving evidence of all the information provided on your application form, i.e. studies (University diploma, proof of official length of studies, academic track records), professional experience (if applicable), and any other proof evidencing the information provided in your application form.
Study Placement Scheme:
You have to submit to traineeship_info [at] easa [dot] europa [dot] eu: the application form for the EASA Study Placement Scheme - SPS (you can find it in the Download section of the related webpage), completed, dated and signed; an official proof that you are required by your University to complete a mandatory internship or to write a final thesis; your updated CV; a motivation letter briefly explaining why you are applying for a study placement and the reasons why you have given priority to the Department/s of your choice.
Do I need to send certified translations of my supporting documents?
No, this is not necessary. Diplomas (and other supporting documents) in an official language of the EU do not need to be translated (certified translations are required only in the case of non-EU languages).
Does EASA cover the cost of travel from my place of residence to Cologne?
Trainees are entitled to a contribution towards the cost of travel between their place of residence and their place of traineeship (Cologne) at the beginning and end of their traineeship if they have completed at least a 3 months traineeship. Travel allowances are paid at the end of the traineeship.
Note: EASA does not provide any financial contribution for Study Placement Scheme.
What are my prospects of securing employment at EASA after the traineeship/study placement?
Admission to a traineeship/study placement does not confer on trainees/students the status of temporary agents or other servants of the European Communities nor does it entail any right or priority with regard to future engagement in the Agency. Trainees/students cannot benefit from any privileges and immunities granted by the host country to Temporary Agents or other servants of the European Aviation Safety Agency.
Temporary and Contract Agents are recruited on the basis of vacancy notices. For further information on employment, please check the EASA Recruitment page.
Is it possible to undertake a traineeship or an internship at EASA?
Unfortunately, at the moment EASA is not in the position to offer internships or traineeships. It may be that in the course of this year the Agency will establish an internship/traineeship programme. Therefore, we suggest regularly consulting the Agency’s website, where any internship or traineeship opportunities will be published.
What do I do if I encounter technical problems while submitting my online application form?
In case of technical problems it is your responsibility to notify EASA as soon as possible, by sending an e-mail to recruit [at] easa [dot] europa [dot] eu and by providing a description of the problem and a screenshot.
How long do the tests and interview take?
The tests usually take from 45 minutes up to an hour and include competency test and EU knowledge test. The interviews can take from 45 minutes up to an hour depending on the vacancy notice applied for and the complexity of the questions. For more information please consult Recruitment Procedure, Section B.4.
How are trainees selected?
We establish a list of eligible and suitable applicants whose applications, and in particular, educational background, qualifications, competences, motivations and preferences suit best the identified needs in accordance with the availability of places.
Before a final decision is taken candidates are tested over the phone/Skype to check availability, suitability, linguistic knowledge and to discuss reciprocal expectations. The phone/Skype interview is held in English. Finally, the Agency’s Executive Director selects the trainees based on the list of suitable applicants and on the number of places available.
When will the next vacancy notices be published?
Anyone interested in working for the Agency is advised to consult the ‘Recruitment page’ of the Agency’s website at regular intervals in order to find further information.
Is the Agency a European Union institution?
The European Aviation Safety Agency is an independent Community agency, that is to say a body under European public law but distinct from Community institutions such as the Council, Parliament, Commission, etc., and which possesses its own legal personality. The Agency became operational on 28th September 2003.
How many people work at the Agency?
The Agency currently employs around 700 staff members.
Where is the Agency's permanent seat located?
The European Aviation Safety Agency headquarters is located in Cologne, Germany.
What does the recruitment procedure consist of?
The selection procedure and the conditions of recruitment will be clearly set out in all of the Agency's vacancy notices. Staff members of EASA will be engaged by the Executive Director on the basis of short lists established by the selection committees. Any applications which do not meet the requirements specified in a vacancy notice (i.e. incomplete applications, applications submitted after the deadline or which do not meet the detailed criteria listed under ‘the eligibility criteria’) will be rejected.
For more detailed information on the recruitment procedure please consult Recruitment Procedure and eRecruitment: User Guide.
What selection criteria will be applied?
Applicants will be selected on the basis of the eligibility criteria and specific competences and skills specified in each vacancy notice. Applicants must meet the required eligibility criteria and essential requirements (for example concerning the required educational qualifications or years of experience) by the application closing date mentioned in each vacancy notice.
I come from a country that is not a Member State of the European Union; may I apply for a vacancy advertised by the Agency?
To apply for a position at the Agency it is mandatory to be a citizen of a Member State of the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.
Are all applications and applicants that come to the Agency treated in the same way?
EASA applies a policy of equal opportunities and accepts applications without bias on the grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation.
I have a degree from a country that is not a Member State of the European Union; am I eligible for a vacancy advertised by the Agency?
Holders of university diplomas and degrees received in a country that is not a Member State of the EU should have the degree officially recognized in one of the Member States of the European Union or Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland in order to be eligible to apply for a position at EASA. For more information please consult Recruitment Procedure, Section A.1.
What is the age limitation for applying for a post at EASA?
The staff regulations stipulate a mandatory retirement age of 66. Candidates who have not reached this age yet are still free to apply for any suitable position at EASA.
What language should I use in my application for a post at the Agency?
Applicants may use any of the official languages of the European Union when applying for a post advertised by the Agency. However, in order to speed up the selection process and to reduce the amount of the translations needed, applicants are invited to use English. Nevertheless, applicants will not be disadvantaged in any way even if they use other official languages of the European Union.
How long does the recruitment procedure take?
As a rough guide only, the recruitment procedure can take up to 6 months from the date on which a position is first advertised to the final offer being made. An extensive need for translations into the working languages of the selection panel may cause delays even beyond the above estimate.
Will I receive an acknowledgement that my application for a post at the Agency has been received?
When submitting an application via the eRecruitment tool, a new screen appears confirming that your application has been successfully submitted. Subsequently, applicants will receive an e-mail containing a record of all the data entered. Please note that applications submitted after 23:55 (Cologne time) on the closing date are automatically rejected.
Considering the typically high number of applications, EASA does not inform applicants if their application has been rejected or made it through to the further stages of the selection procedures. Only applicants invited for an interview will be informed by e-mail. Experience has shown that e-mails sent by the Agency might be classified as ‘Junk e-mails'. Hence, applicants are also advised to check their ‘Junk e-mail folder’ for any communication sent by the Agency.
What do I do if I encounter technical problems while submitting an application via the eRecruitment tool?
Please note that eRecruitment tool does not support all features of all Internet browsers. If you experience problems we suggest you try another
browser. Should you encounter a technical problem while trying to submit an application via the eRecrutiment tool, please try to submit the application one more time. If the problem persists you are advised to try the following: first check your Internet security levels in “Tools” then “Internet Options” and if this security option is too high, put it on “medium”. Should you face a problem with the login, please first try the “Forgot my password” option to reset the password.
If the error message appears again the applicant is responsible to notify EASA as soon as possible, by sending an e-mail to the recruit [at] easa [dot] europa [dot] eu and by providing a screenshot of the error message.
When may I expect an invitation for an interview?
The time taken to invite applicants for an interview depends on the number of applications received for the particular vacancy notice. It is important to bear in mind that we often publish a considerable number of vacancies simultaneously. Therefore, it may take up to 8 weeks from the closing date of the vacancy notice before the invitations for interviews can be sent out. This is in part attributable to diligent observance of the strict recruitment rules applied at EASA, which require detailed scrutiny of every application, notwithstanding the number of vacancies or applications per vacancy.
When will the interviews and written tests take place?
Applicants short-listed for an interview will be informed once all applications have been examined. The interview and test date will be set within a reasonable time after the closing date for applications. For more information please consult Recruitment Procedure, Section B.4.
Where are vacancy notices for the Agency published?
Vacancy notices for the Agency are regularly published on:
- recruitment page
- EPSO’s website - (under ‘Apply Today - Temporary Agents’)
Where can I find more information related to grades and salary?
For more information regarding grades and salary please consult the
following link: http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/job/official/index_en.htm#4
For more information please consult Working for EASA.
What is a Contract Agent?
Information concerning contract agents as contract staff members under the provisions of title IV, Article 80 of the ‘Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities’ can be found on the website of the European Commission's Directorate General of Personnel and Administration at: http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/job/contract/index_en.htm
The duration of contracts for Contract Agents varies according to the needs of the Agency (from three months up to 3 years). At the Agency most Contract Agents have a contract duration of 3 years. The contract can be renewed for a second fixed-term period, and upon its second renewal converted into a contract of indefinite duration. For more information please consult Working for EASA.
Which are possible recruitment procedures for Contract Agents?
EASA launches recruitment procedures for Contract Agents through the announcement of vacant posts on the recruitment website. The notice of the selection procedure will provide information on the conditions and essential requirements needed for the post. The Agency may also recruit Contract Agents from the European Personnel Selection Office - EPSO's CAST reserve lists.