EU Tech Policy Fellowship
FAQ
What is the EU Tech Policy Fellowship?
The EU Tech Policy Fellowship is an 8-month programme for early-career policy makers intent on improving the world. The goal of this fellowship is to prepare a new generation of policy makers with the highest standards of technical expertise.
How long is the fellowship?
This depends on the Track fellows follow.
When will the fellowship start?
The fellowship starts annually in September. The 2023 fellowship will begin at the end of June 2023 (exact dates tbd).
Is the fellowship paid?
Fellows receive stipends up to €2,250 per month during the full-time period of the fellowship. Placements in Track 1 last for 4-6 months, while application support lasts one month.
What do Track 1 and 2 mean?
Track 1 is the track that includes placements at leading Brussels think tanks lasting 4-6 months (September 2023 - February 2024). Track 2 includes one month of application support instead, enabling you to apply for roles within the European Commission or other relevant organisations
Is the fellowship full time?
The two weeks in Brussels (last week of June, first week in September) are full time, just as the full placement period (September - February). The summer period (July/August) is part time and will consume ~5hours per week including one meeting. Due to the holiday season, participants are allowed to miss one session during the summer period.
Is the fellowship remote?
We strive for all placements to be in person, in addition to the in person training weeks in Brussels. The reading group and guest lectures during summer are fully remote.
Will costs be covered for the Brussels training weeks?
Yes, all travel, accommodation, breakfast and lunch costs will be fully covered.
What is Training For Good’s track record organising this Fellowship?
We recently organised the first edition of the EU Tech Policy Fellowship. The average score fellows gave to our week in Brussels was a 9.9/10. We arranged internships for all 6 Track 1 fellows and even for one Track 2 fellow. You can find testimonials from our 2022 cohort in the testimonial section on the website.
Will I get to know the other Tech Fellows?
Yes. In addition to the Brussels weeks, you will interact with your cohort on a weekly basis over summer. Fellows will attend interactive learning sessions, speaker events and may also work together on assignments. During the placement months (September 2023 - February 2024) we meet on a monthly basis and we encourage contact after the program
Will I attend professional conferences?
We encourage fellows to attend professional conferences during the year, such as the Politico Tech Summit, EA Global, European Forum Alpbach and more
Who is running the EU Tech Policy Fellowship?
The fellowship is a project of Training for Good, an impact-focused career organisation. Training for Good runs fellowships that enable talented young professionals to enter careers in policy and journalism tackling the most pressing global problems.
Who is funding the EU Tech Policy Fellowship?
The fellowship is supported by a grant from Effective Altruism Funds. If you would like to support our work, you can make a gift here.
What are placement organisations?
All placements are at well-respected and prestigious think tanks active in EU tech policy. Examples include the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) and The Future Society (TFS).
Why are you favouring the EU and EU citizens?
We do so because (with some exceptions) only EU citizens can work for official EU organisations. The goal of this programme is to build up a relevant network within Brussels, which is only useful if you have plenty of chances for a career there.
When do applications open for the fellowship?
Applications open annually in November
When do applications close for the fellowship?
Applications for the second edition (2023) close on December 11th 2022.
When will I hear back about my application?
All applicants should expect to hear whether they have progressed to the second stage of the application process within ten days of the application deadline.
When will I know if I've been accepted?
Fellows will be chosen by early March 2023.
Can I give my preference for Track 1 or Track 2?
Yes, in the application form we ask for your preference regarding the two tracks. Applying for both tracks doesn’t limit your chances to get in Track 1.
Is there an age limit for the fellowship?
There is no age limit for applying.
I'm based in ______, can I apply?
Your current place of living doesn’t matter, as long as you:
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Would be open moving to Brussels or your national capital for tech policy work
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Have EU-citizenship
Do I need to have a specific degree to apply?
We expect you to at least have an undergraduate degree, preferably related to AI/computer science and/or public policy or European law
Can I go back to university after the program?
We expect you to finish your studies within 18 months after finishing the program (July 2025 latest). This enables you to leverage the network you’ve built during your participation in the EU Tech Policy Fellowship. We prefer candidates that finished university and want to start working full time right after the program finishes
Do I need to prepare for the program?
The first number of weeks will include 4hrs of readings and 1hr of group discussion in the lead up to the 1 week in person bootcamp. No other preparation is required. Once we finalise your particular placement, you may decide to do some preparation in advance of starting on site, to hit the ground running.
How can I prepare for the test task and interview?
You can already start developing your understanding of EU institutions and the career path of AI Policy.
What if I don’t know if I want to go into Tech Policy?
One of the major purposes of this programme is to help people, who are unsure, decide whether or not they want to pursue a career in Tech Policy. We will encourage you to look at a broad range of options and to test you fit where possible. You don’t have to be certain that a career in Tech Policy is the right fit for you, you just need to be confident that it’s worth robustly exploring this path. However, it would be good if you already did some career research before you apply to this programme.
Can I find my own placement?
This is not necessary since we have arranged some placements for you. However, if you can arrange your own, that fits with the intentions of the programme, we will consider to support you in that in Track 2. An example could be if you are interested in roles within the European Commission or politics.
How do I know if I’d be a good fit for the programme?
If you are interested in exploring a career in policy and want to robustly test out your fit, explore key topics and meet relevant stakeholders, this programme could be a good fit for you.
What will I be able to put on my CV at the end of this programme?
That you completed Training For Good’s EU Technology Policy Fellowship.
Where appropriate you’ll also be able to include that you undertook a 4-6 month placement in a renowned institute and details of what you accomplished while there. You can ask your hosts for letters of recommendation and reference where possible.
What if I don’t pass the interview round at the placement organisation? What then?
In that case you can still be admitted to the application support track (Track 2) for other institutions.
How do I know that the placement/internship will be beneficial and not just a junior “coffee-run” role?
We tried to agree with the placement institutions for you to work on relevant and interesting topics. We strive for placements to be the right mix between placements, contact with EU institutions (for networking) and some operational activities.
How are applications processed? Who will view my application?
Applications will be visible to the members of the Training for Good team and may in some cases be shared with a very limited number of advisors. With your permission we may also share with your host organization for their assessment.
What is the test task in Round 3 of the interview stage and how long will it all take?
The entire application process will take not more than 6 hours for those who make it all the way to the final rounds. The test task in Round 3 will take roughly 3 hours and require you to demonstrate basic understanding of AI Policy, writing skills and logical thinking.
Who are the experts / guests during the bootcamp? What’s included?
We are currently working hard on the exact programme for the bootcamp week. You can expect a mix of people working on Tech policy at think tanks, European institutions and experts in writing policy related documents.
How many fellows do you plan to have in the cohort?
We aim to have 10 to 15 people in the cohort depending on the quality of applications.
Employment: Will I officially be an employee? Is the stipend taxable? When do I receive the stipend?
You will not be an official employee When you file your taxes you need to provide information on all your taxable income. Keep in mind that in some countries scholarships (including grants, stipends and fellowships) are also taxable income. Stipends will be received on a monthly basis during the fellowship, the first tranche at the end of August 2023.
Can the placements turn into real jobs? If so, when?
We very much hope that the placements will turn into real jobs. Obviously this depends on the fit, on whether or not the host organisation is impressed and whether or not they have the capacity or need to take you on. Be aware that placements also offer you a network and valuable career paths for work within the EU’s institutions.
Diversity and Inclusion: This area is notoriously lacking in diversity. What will you do to support diverse fellows?
We recognise the unique challenges that people from underrepresented backgrounds face in fields such as this. We strongly encourage individuals from these groups to apply, and we will work hard to ensure they match with a suitable host organization and receive tailored mentorship and support that will enable them to succeed in their fellowship.