Internship applications, whether coming through the National Military Representatives or directly from candidates, must be submitted using the enclosed application form. The candidate's CV must be attached to the application form. In addition, all interns have to submit a one-page essay giving details on their motivation for an internship at SHAPE and on their expectations during the internship. 

Following an initial screening by SHAPE Civilian Human Resources Management Branch (CHRM), applications are sent to Divisions/Offices, which are responsible for the selection of interns. In addition to verifying that applicants meet the required criteria for the programme, the initial screening ensures a fair distribution of the internships among all member states that provide interns. Final selection is made in May - June (for the internship starting in either January or September of the following year). Once a candidate has been selected, the start date of the internship is determined taking into account divisional needs, the availability of the selected candidate, and the security requirements.

Only selected candidates will be informed of the outcome of their application.