Work on the world’s toughest problems at the European Commission
Support for AD5 applicants
Expression of interest and programme information
The opportunity: The European Commission has just opened applications for AD5 Administrator positions in February 2026. The last such competition was in 2019, making this a rare opportunity to work on some of the world's most pressing problems on a massive scale.
What we offer: We provide free support through all stages of the AD5 competition for mission-aligned candidates, including guidance on applications and test preparation. We will also run an intensive October programme in Brussels focused on global health and development policy careers. You can join the waitlist below.
(Note: We also run an animal welfare-focused programme in March. This year's cohort is full, but if that's your priority area, you should still apply to AD5 now and plan to apply for our March 2027 cohort.)
Who this is for: People who want to use their careers to tackle the world's most pressing problems and are eligible for EU civil service roles.
The AD5 timeline:
Before 10 March 2026 - Apply to the AD5 Generalist Competition & upload your ID/passport (this is primarily a CV and proof of eligibility; details here)
April/May/June (tbc) 2026 - EPSO assessment tests (details here – note that these are extremely difficult and require significant preparation time in order to pass)
October 2026: make it to the Reserve-List of 1490 pre-selected candidates
October 2026: Our intensive programme to help you succeed in interviews and navigate a high-impact career in the European Commission
End of / Late 2026 - get recruited by EU institutions
Fill out the short form below (5 minutes) to express your interest. We'll review responses and reach out to candidates we think are strong fits for AD5 and our programme. Selected candidates will receive guidance on applications, test preparation resources, and programme details.