Eligibility

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The Language and Communications Training Unit (LCTU) is the local language programme in New York. Eligible participants based in New York can register for courses offered in the NY-based brochure.

The Global brochure lists some language courses that are open globally for which eligible participants based outside New York can register.

Prospective course participants are responsible for:

- Registering using their official email address. 

- Certifying their eligibility and requisite compliance when registering.

- Understanding the "Terms and Conditions of Service"

Please click on the category below to check your eligibility.

UN Secretariat Staff Members

  • Eligible and free of charge: UN Secretariat staff members with temporary, continuous, or permanent contracts; and UN Secretariat staff members with WAE ("when actually employed") contracts. ​
  • When registering for the class you will be required to upload your contract, which should be valid until the last day of classes. Participants may register for a maximum of four courses per term or 50 hours of instruction.
  • JIU, CEB, ICSC staff members may contact dos-cdots-lctu@un.org.
  • Consult the United Nations System Chart​

Delegates and Permanent Mission Personnel

  • ​Eligible and free of charge for delegates of Permanent Missions with a red, gold, or silver D on their badge, and delegates of Non-Member states (Holy See and Palestine) with a letter O on their badge.
  • Eligible with a course fee for local staff of Permanent Missions (white D on their badge), experts of Permanent Missions (white D with a red strap), and delegates of Intergovernmental Organizations (letter O in any color on their badge). It must be paid by the individual participant at the time of registration (see rates, fees and information on how to pay). 
  • Delegates and Permanent Mission personnel are considered "external learners". Please use elearning.un.org to register: use your organizational email address and upload a scan of your badge, which should be valid until the last day of classes. Participants may register for a maximum of 4 courses per term or 50 hours of instruction.
  • Not eligible: police personnel, and military personnel. Please see Online Language Learning for other resources and opportunities.

Agencies, Funds, and Programmes Staff Members

  • Eligible with a course fee (paid by the entity) for: UNDP, UNCDF, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNOPS, and UN Women staff members. You are required to obtain internal clearance and/or approval by your entity (see rates, fees and information on how to pay). UNDP personnel are required to obtain internal clearance from ilearn@undp.org prior to registration. Note: only staff members and regular PSA contract holders are eligible.
  • Agencies, Funds, and Programmes staff members are considered "external learners". Please use elearning.un.org to register: use your organizational email address and upload a scan of your UN badge, which should be valid until the last day of classes. Participants may register for a maximum of 4 courses per term or 50 hours of instruction (internal restrictions from your entity might apply).
  • Not eligible: staff members from other agencies, funds, and programmes. Please see Online Language Learning for other resources and opportunities.

Spouses/partners, retirees, associated press.​

  • ​Eligible and free of charge for UN retiress (Secretariat, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNOPS, and UN Women).
  • Eligible with a course fee for UN recognized spouses/partners of staff members; spouses of delegates of Permanent Missions to the United Nations; and UN accredited press (both white and green P on their badge). It must be paid by the individual participant at the time of registration (see rates, fees and information on how to pay).
  • Spouses/partners, retirees, and associated press are considered "external learners". To register, please go to elearning.un.org and upload a scan of your UN badge, which should be valid until the last day of classes. Participants may register for a maximum of 4 courses per term or 50 hours of instruction.
  • Not eligible: retirees from other entities. Please see Online Language Learning for other resources and opportunities.

UN Volunteers

  • Eligible and free of charge for UN volunteers at the UN Secretariat. Participants can take ONE instructor-led course per-term, no restrictions apply for self-study courses. 
  • UN volunteers at the Secretariat are considered "external learners". To register, please go to elearning.un.org and upload a scan of your UN letter of appointment, which should be valid until the last day of classes. Note: Only UN volunteers at the Secretariat are eligible. 
  • Not eligible: UN online volunteers and UN volunteers at non-Secretariat entities (such as volunteers serving in agencies, funds and programmes). Please see Online Language Learning for other resources and opportunities.

Personnel not eligible for LCTU language courses

  • Interns
  • Individual contractors, consultants and/or affiliates 
  • UN volunteers at non-Secretariat entities 
  • NGO staff
  • Fellows
  • United Nations Child Care Centre staff, UN International Computing Centre (UNICC) staff, United Nations International School (UNIS) teachers
  • Children of all United Nations staff
  • Children of delegates of Permanent Missions and Observer Missions to the United Nations
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  • Note: Please see Online Language Learning for other resources and opportunities.