Maxi competition to work in EU institutions: 1490 places for graduates, including three-year graduates, in any field

EPSO AD5 2026 competition, role and requirements

But what is the role of AD5 administrators? In summary, administrators are responsible for assisting policy makers in fulfilling the mission of their institution or body, contributing to policies and programs that impact millions of people across Europe. Suitable candidates generally work in a multicultural team in areas such as: policy development and formulation, policy implementation and operational interventions, resource management.

To participate in the EPSO AD5 2026 Competition – which expires on 10 March 2026 at 12:00 (midday), Brussels time – it is necessary to meet general requirements (be citizens of an EU Member State, enjoy civil rights, be in compliance with military obligations and offer guarantees of morality appropriate to the functions) and specific requirements:

• Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree or old-school degree diploma, in any field. The qualification can also be obtained after making the application, but must necessarily be obtained by 30 September 2026.
• Language skills: knowledge of at least two official EU languages:
• Language 1 (at least C1): One of the 24 official languages ​​(e.g. Italian). It will be used for reasoning tests.
• Language 2 (at least B2): One of the remaining 23 languages, different from Language 1 (e.g. English or French). It will be the language of the digital knowledge tests and the written test.

It is not necessary to attach linguistic certificates. Candidates declare “on honour” their level of competence (at least C1 for language 1, and at least B2 for language 2) in the application form. The real knowledge of the languages ​​will be verified by carrying out the competition tests.

We remind you that the reserve list covered by the call is a database of suitable candidates from which EU institutions and agencies draw for recruitment based on their needs: once included in the list, candidates can be contacted for specific recruitment interviews. On average, approximately 50% of those eligible are hired within the first seven months of the list being published.

EPSO AD5 2026 competition, notice and application

The application is exclusively electronic, via the EU Careers portal which can be reached here, by 10 March 2026 at 12:00 (midday), Brussels time. Things to remember:

1. EU Login Account: it is essential to create or use an account associated with a personal email that remains valid over time;
2. Identity documents: a scan of a valid identity document must be uploaded by the deadline of March 10, 2026;
3. Supporting documents: qualifications and any other certifications can be uploaded by 7 October 2026.

EPSO AD5 2026 competition, selection tests

All tests of the EPSO AD5 2026 Competition will take place remotely (online proctored) via the TAO platform di Open Assessment Technology (OAT). The tests will be as follows:

1. Reasoning Test (Language 1): 40 questions that evaluate pure logic, divided as follows:

• Report: 20 questions (decisive for the final ranking)
• Numeric: 10 questions
• Abstract: 10 questions

2. EU Knowledge Test (Language 2): 30 multiple choice questions on institutions, policies and legislative procedures (PLO, budget, etc.).

3. Digital Skills (Language 2): 40 questions based on the DigComp 2.2 framework (security, data literacy, content creation).

4. EUFTE written test (Language 2): It is not an academic essay, but an institutional communication test. Candidates will be provided with a set of documents on which to base the drafting of a text (e.g. an information note or a press release). Evaluation criteria: logical flow, ability to summarize, clarity of presentation, adaptation to the recipient, targeted use of information.

AD5 administrators, how much do they earn

Although the announcement does not explicitly report specific figures, the EU financial regulations for 2026 clearly define the salary: the basic salary for an AD 5 profile (step 1) is approximately 6,152.64 euros gross per month. To this figure must be added:

• Expatriation allowance (16%): if you move to a country other than your own (around 980 euros);
• Family allowances: allowance for dependent children and household allowance if married;
• Correction coefficient: the salary is re-measured based on the cost of living of the location. For Italy (locations such as Ispra or Parma), the coefficient is set at 87.6%.

The salary is not subject to local taxation (or the country of residence), but to European taxation and contributions.

We specify that approximately 80% of jobs are located in Brussels and Luxembourg, but opportunities exist in European Union agencies located in all member states, including Italy. Once a job offer has been accepted, the institutions’ services also provide logistical assistance for the relocation, which includes support for finding accommodation and family integration.