The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is inviting applications for the 2026 Internship with the Survey on Social and Emotional Skills (SSES) team in Paris, France. This exciting opportunity is ideal for Master’s and PhD students with strong quantitative research skills who are passionate about education policy, international development, survey research, and data analysis.
Hosted within the OECD Directorate for Education and Skills (EDU), the internship offers selected candidates the opportunity to contribute to one of the world’s leading international education surveys while working alongside experts in education research, psychometrics, and policy analysis.
The internship will begin in August or September 2026 and will run for six months in Paris, France.
About the OECD SSES Internship
The OECD Directorate for Education and Skills helps countries improve learning systems, skills policies, and educational outcomes through research, statistics, and policy guidance.
Within the directorate, the Innovation and Measuring Progress Division (IMEP) leads innovative education research initiatives and supports evidence-based policymaking. One of its flagship projects is the Survey on Social and Emotional Skills (SSES), an international assessment measuring students’ social and emotional competencies and their impact on learning and life outcomes.
As preparations continue for the 2026 Main Survey across approximately 20 education systems, the OECD is seeking an intern to support survey operations, data preparation, analysis, and reporting activities.
Internship Responsibilities
Selected interns will work closely with analysts and the SSES Project Manager on several important tasks, including:
- Supporting preparations for data processing and statistical analysis
- Checking and producing statistical code for data cleaning and scaling
- Assisting with measurement invariance testing
- Supporting survey operations and administration processes
- Coding open-ended survey responses using established coding guides
- Conducting literature reviews for future OECD reports
- Participating in meetings with international education systems and project partners
- Producing tables, figures, and summaries of quantitative findings
The internship provides hands-on exposure to international large-scale assessment projects and policy-relevant educational research.
Benefits of the OECD Internship
The OECD internship comes with several professional and financial benefits, including:
- Monthly living allowance of €1,000 for interns based in Paris
- Opportunity to work with leading international education researchers and policy experts
- Exposure to large-scale international survey operations and data analysis
- Professional networking within the OECD and global education sector
- Annual leave entitlement of 2.5 working days per month
- Access to an international and multicultural working environment in Paris
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the OECD SSES Internship 2026, applicants should meet the following requirements:
- Be currently enrolled in a Master’s or PhD programme
- Have strong quantitative research skills
- Possess experience working with survey or assessment data
- Have knowledge of R and/or Python
- Demonstrate the ability to conduct descriptive and inferential analyses
- Be capable of communicating quantitative findings clearly to non-technical audiences
- Be comfortable working independently and collaboratively
- Have proficiency in Microsoft Office tools
- Be fluent in English or French and willing to improve proficiency in the second OECD official language
Experience with GitHub, GitLab, or Algobank is considered an advantage.
Internship Location and Duration
- Location: Paris, France
- Duration: 6 months
- Start Date: August or September 2026
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for the OECD SSES Internship is 31 May 2026.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must submit the following materials:
- Updated CV
- One-page cover letter tailored to the internship
- Writing sample in English (500–1500 words) written within the last two years
The writing sample should demonstrate analytical and research skills.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should send your CV, a one-page cover letter and a short writing sample to SSES.contact@oecd.org,
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