Young Professionals Programme

The YPP list of successful candidates is valid for a period of three (3) years. We hope to place all successful candidates within this time frame, but if you are not placed you will be removed from the list. Should you remain interested in the Young Professionals Programme, you will be required to retake and successfully pass the YPP examination.

I was invited to take last year’s YPP examination, but I did not take it. May I take this year’s examination?

In order to take this year’s examination, you must submit a new application, meet all eligibility requirements, and be convoked to take the examination.

I passed the written part of the YPP examination but failed the oral examination. Do I need to repeat both parts of the examination at a subsequent examination?

Yes, you will have to go through the entire examination process again, starting with the submission of your application. The YPP examination is comprised of both a written and oral examination, and results from one examination year do not carry over to another examination year.

Is there a different passing threshold for internal and external candidates?

The passing threshold is consistent across internal and external candidates.

How is the written examination evaluated?

Examinees' responses are marked anonymously by a panel of markers for the General Paper and by the Specialised Board Members for the Specialised Paper. They are marked according to pre-determined scoring criteria, established during exam creation. The Central Examinations Boards has oversight of the recommendations and decisions across all exam areas.

How is the written examination created?

The Specialised Board of Examiners, which consists of current UN Secretariat staff within the relevant substantive Department, develops the exam questions with guidance from the Examinations and Tests Section. Exam content changes from exam to exam, and is based on the current and anticipated needs of the Organization.

Can/should NCREs placed within the UN now refer to themselves as being YPPs in their PHP and other documents, or should they continue to use the term NCRE?

For clarity, the term NCRE should still be used.

I am a staff member with dual nationality. Can I apply for the YPP examination with either nationality, or do I have to apply according to what the UN currently recognizes as my nationality?

Secretariat staff from the General Service and related categories and Field Service staff on FS-5 and below who are applying to the YPP examination as a staff member, or through the route referred to as ‘G to N’, should apply using the nationality that is already officially recognized by the United Nations in official documents received when joining the Organization.