The 2026 United Nations Intensive Summer Programme will be held from 8 to 12 June near UN Headquarters in New York City. Seton Hall University, a UNAI member institution in the United States, delivers the one-week course through its School of Diplomacy and International Relations in collaboration with the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA). The programme provides participants with a genuine immersion in the dynamics of the United Nations, featuring a series of off-the-record conversations with UN practitioners and representatives of government and civil society. Applications close on 1 April 2026.

Designed for advanced undergraduates, graduate students and mid-career professionals, the curriculum addresses multilateral diplomacy and key United Nations agenda topics, including peacekeeping and peacebuilding initiatives, the environment, human rights, refugees, women and children, and the UN’s perspectives on future global challenges.

June 2025 marked the 26th anniversary of the programme, which featured more than twenty briefing sessions, including an official visit to UN Headquarters. Led by Courtney Smith, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, and Troy Wolfe, Senior Director for Partnerships & Special Initiatives at UNA-USA, the seminar brought current global challenges to the forefront of discussion. Topics included the protection of rights in the digital era, the use of artificial intelligence, and the Pact for the Future adopted in 2024.

Participants had the opportunity to hear from, interact with and ask questions of officials from UN agencies, including UN Women, UN-Water, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the United Nations Population Fund. Representatives from the private sector, such as Deloitte and Microsoft, as well as civil society initiatives connected to the UN system, also contributed to the discussions. High-level experts and Permanent Representatives to the United Nations joined the seminar last year, including Ambassador Fergal Mythen of Ireland, Ambassador Brian Wallace of Jamaica, and Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications.

Reflecting on the 2025 seminar, Dean Smith underscored the diversity and engagement of participants from across the United States and abroad. “All of them left with a deeper understanding of the UN and the important work it does to address some of the world’s most difficult problems,” he said. Mr. Wolfe highlighted the programme’s emphasis on critical thinking and innovation, encouraging students to reimagine the future, propose ideas outside the box, and make meaningful contributions to the world.

By the end of the week, participants not only develop a deeper understanding of the inner workings of the United Nations and gain an analytical perspective, but also experience the excitement of engaging with practical challenges. The programme enables them to envision themselves contributing to multilateral efforts in the future as internationalists.

The seminar brings together a wide range of professionals — from students aiming to better understand the UN and explore potential career paths after graduate school, to established professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge and expand their international networks. Open to participants beyond Seton Hall University, the programme supports the formation of a new generation of leaders equipped with a strong understanding of diplomacy and international political dynamics.

Applications for the 2026 UN Intensive Summer Programme are now open. The deadline to apply is 1 April. Detailed information and application materials are available at: https://www.shu.edu/academics/united-nations-summer-program.html.

 

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