Heading Into the New and Unexpected - My Communications Internship at the Permanent Mission of Finland in Geneva
When I decided to apply for a university internship abroad, it was very clear to me that my first choice would be to do an internship at some Finnish Mission. In the fall of 2025, I applied to several different internships, but the one that particularly caught my attention was an announcement from the Permanent Mission of Finland in Geneva regarding a communications internship. Text & Pictures: Irja-Ulriikka Valta
When I decided to apply for a university internship abroad, it was very clear to me that my first choice would be to do an internship at some Finnish Mission. In the fall of 2025, I applied to several different internships, but the one that particularly caught my attention was an announcement from the Permanent Mission of Finland in Geneva regarding a communications internship.
After an efficient application process in March 2025, I was selected for this position. Ahead of me was a three-month internship in Geneva, Switzerland, in a city surrounded by mountains and teeming with international organizations.
Expectations for the internship
I had been thinking about doing an internship abroad for a long time before I applied. I specifically wanted to do an internship because it could open opportunities that a student exchange program, for example, might not necessarily offer. One such opportunity I had in mind was getting to know international organizations more closely.
I was particularly interested in the role of a communications intern because of my own background. I’m currently studying in the master’s program in Journalism at the University of Tampere, and I completed my bachelor’s degree in political science. In my view, given this academic background, the position of communications intern was more than a natural choice for me.
The Flag Alley of Palais de Nations is probably one of the most photographed sights.
From the internship, I hoped to deepen my skills and grow as a communications professional. I also wanted to learn more about the operations of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. Additionally, I saw the internship as a great opportunity to combine a regular daily routine with the benefits of living abroad, such as traveling and getting to know new places and people.
Everyday life
Once I was accepted for the internship, I completed various paperwork, including signing the internship agreement and submitting the required notification to the tax authorities.
In addition to this, I started looking for an apartment where I could live during my internship. I received helpful tips for this process directly from our Mission as well as from previous interns. I was prepared for the fact that rent prices would be higher in Switzerland than in Finland, and that sharing an apartment is quite common, especially among interns.
I finally found an apartment through a local Facebook group, which is a very common way to find and advertise both apartments and rooms. However, there are also risks involved, as scams are becoming increasingly common.
In my free time, I had the chance to explore Geneva and Switzerland in general. One of my first trips was to the International Balloon Festival in Château-d'Oex. Geneva, on the other hand, offered plenty of opportunities to see animals.
My best advice for finding an apartment would be to make a video call to the landlord or a potential future roommate. This way, you can verify their identity and get to know them. You can also look for an apartment or room through various providers, such as Airbnb and local student housing organizations.
During my internship, I lived in Ferney-Voltaire, France, with two roommates. Ferney-Voltaire is located right on the border between France and Switzerland. It took me about half an hour to get to the Mission by public transportation. I found living on the French side to be an excellent solution for me in many ways, as the cost of living is, for example, slightly lower than in Geneva.
Were my expectations met?
When I began my internship, I didn’t really have any expectations. Yet during those three months, I ended up doing far more than I could have ever imagined.
My internship began at full speed with intense coverage of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos. After that, alongside communications work, my internship also involved, for example, participating in Universal Periodic Review (UPR) sessions and assisting the disarmament team by reporting on meetings.
While my main tasks focused on producing videos for our Mission’s social media channels, I was able to take on additional responsibilities whenever my schedule allowed. As an intern, I was also entrusted with important responsibilities, such as drafting the communication plan for the WTO’s Ministerial Conference, MC14.
During the first weeks of my internship, I had the opportunity to attend a UPR session in the United Nations’ Assembly Hall.
In my free time, I also got to enjoy unique experiences, such as trips around Switzerland, a trip to Milan and Lyon, and many fun moments with other interns working in Geneva. One of the best things about doing my internship in Geneva was the international atmosphere and the many interns with whom we spent time outside of work as well.
Closing thoughts
Although I had been considering an internship abroad for quite some time, it was never a certainty. However, soon after my internship began, I realized it was an experience I truly needed, and now I can look back on it fondly.
In my free time, I just loved to enjoy the mountain views and spend time outdoors.
Perhaps the best part of my internship was that I ended up in Geneva and in Switzerland somewhat by chance. Because of that, I hadn’t set any overly specific expectations for what I hoped to gain from the experience. Every moment has turned out to be meaningful and truly unforgettable.
Also, in terms of my future and professional development, this internship helped me better articulate my own skills, improved my language skills in English and French, and provided me with valuable experience in international work.