New EPSO Competition | ICT Experts (AD7)

Applications open: key NoC information

A new EPSO specialist Notice of Competition has just been published: EPSO/AD/429/26, Administrators (AD 7) in the fields of ICT infrastructure, ICT project management, clouds and networks, and data science.

Successful candidates will be placed on reserve lists from which EU institutions, bodies and agencies may recruit new administrators at AD7 level. This is a sizeable specialist competition, with 782 successful candidates sought across four fields

For comparison, the last major ICT administrators competition was in 2022, with 350 places across five AD7 and AD8 fields. That competition was also combined with an ICT assistants competition, which added 205 places across four fields. A smaller ICT-related opportunity followed in 2024 within the Scientific Research Administrators AD7 competition, with 73 places.

So this new ICT Experts AD7 competition stands out. The reserve list target is significantly larger than the administrator competition four years ago, even though it covers fewer fields. For experienced professionals in ICT infrastructure, ICT project management, clouds and networks, or data science, this is a competition well worth taking seriously.

But it is still an EPSO competition: strong professional knowledge alone will not be enough. You will also need to handle reasoning tests, a ranked Field-Related MCQ and the EUFTE written test.

Considering applying? Start with the Notice of Competition

• Your first step should be to carefully read the official Notice of Competition. 
• It is the legally binding document for this competition and explains the eligibility rules, tests, scoring, language requirements, documents, and reserve list process.

To help candidates understand the Notice and prepare effectively, EU Training is hosting a dedicated free webcast presented by András Baneth, Europe’s No. 1 EU careers expert and a former EU permanent official himself.

Join a community of fellow EPSO candidates

It’s a practical space to ask questions, exchange insights, and keep up with the latest EPSO news - join the Facebook group here: ICT Assistants & Experts - EPSO Exams

Free EPSO Preparation Resources

If you are just getting started, EU Training offers a range of free resources to help you build a solid foundation

• Free practice questions for first-time account registrations on EU Training
• On-demand webinars, covering EPSO fundamentals.
• Tips & Tricks articles:
  • EPSO applications
  • EPSO Reasoning tests
  • EUFTE (written test)
  • Field-Related MCQ (FRMCQ) - coming soon...

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Competition Snapshot

• Open for Applications: 6 May 2026
• Application Deadline: 10 June 2026 at 12:00 (midday), Brussels time
  • ​Applications can be submitted in any of the 24 official EU languages
  • Supporting documents due on 1 October 2026
• EPSO reference number: EPSO/AD/428/26
• Grade: AD7
• Reserve list places: 782

Fields and reserve list places:

Candidates may apply to one field only.

What will ICT experts do in the EU institutions?

Successful candidates may work on a wide range of digital, technical and strategic tasks depending on the field chosen and the needs of the recruiting service. Here are just a few examples from each field.

Field 1: ICT infrastructure

• ICT enterprise infrastructure and corporate data centres
• ​DevSecOps, automation, business continuity and information security
• high-performance computing, quantum technology readiness and technical lifecycle management

Field 2: ICT project management

• managing ICT projects, programmes and portfolios
• allocating resources, monitoring risks, scope, timelines and deliverables
• stakeholder management between business teams and technical teams

Field 3: Clouds and networks

• Zero Trust architecture, firewalls, proxies, WAF, SIEM, SOAR and XDR
• cloud and network architecture, governance, documentation and compliance
• risk assessments, vulnerability management and stakeholder reporting

Field 4: Data science

• advanced statistical modelling and quantitative analysis
• high-performance computing for large-scale data processing
• MLOps, machine learning pipelines, model monitoring and automation

For the full list of duties, read Annex II of the Notice of Competition.

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ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

General criteria:

• Be an EU citizen
• Have fulfilled military obligations (if applicable)
• Meet the character requirements for the role

Language requirements 

You must know at least two official EU languages.

• Language 1: Minimum C1 level 
• Language 2: Minimum B2 level, different from Language 1)

The tests will use these languages as follows:

Qualifications & professional experience

Eligibility depends on the field you choose, so check the Notice of Competition for full details carefully before applying.

In general, candidates need a relevant university degree and professional experience in the chosen field. The required experience varies depending on the length and subject of your studies.

Relevant study areas include ICT, computer science, software engineering, cybersecurity, cloud computing, data science, artificial intelligence, telecommunications and related technical fields. For ICT project management and data science, the Notice includes some additional eligible study areas and evidence requirements, so do not rely on this summary alone - the NoC is the only official source of information.

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EPSO Selection Process | ICT Experts AD7

1. EPSO APPLICATION

• Candidates must apply via the Single Candidate Portal by 10 June 2026 at midday (Brussels time).
• By the same deadline, candidates must upload a scanned copy of a valid identity card or passport.
• Other supporting documents must be uploaded later, by 1 October 2026 at 12:00 midday, Brussels time

Candidates should make sure their My CV section in the EPSO candidate account is complete and up to date before submitting the application, as the information is attached to the application at submission.

2. EPSO SELECTION TESTS

All candidates who submit their application on time will be invited to sit the selection tests. The tests will be held and proctored remotely.

a) REASONING TESTS | Language 1

These tests are pass/fail. You need to reach the required pass marks to move forward.

b) FIELD-RELATED MCQ | Language 2

The Field-Related MCQ is specific to the field chosen by the candidate.

This test is not just pass/fail. You must:

• reach the pass mark of 15/30
• be among the highest-scoring candidates

Your Field-Related MCQ score determines whether your EUFTE script is marked and whether your eligibility is checked.

c) EUFTE | Language 2

The EUFTE is a written test assessing written communication skills.

• Duration: 40 minutes
• Pass mark: 5/10

Important details:

• The EUFTE is based on documentation related to EU matters.
• EPSO will publish the documentation before the test date.
• Candidates will receive the same documentation during the test.
• The assignment itself will be given during the test.
• The EUFTE is not a language test and not a factual knowledge test.

On exam day, you will need to write a clear, structured response based on the provided assignment and documentation.

3. SCORING + ELIGIBILITY CHECKS

The process is selective:

• Reasoning tests are scored first.
• Candidates who pass reasoning tests have their Field-Related MCQ scored.
• Candidates who pass the Field-Related MCQ are ranked by their MCQ score.
• Only the highest-scoring candidates have their EUFTE marked and eligibility checked.

The number of candidates assessed at this stage will, in principle, not exceed 1.5 times the number of successful candidates sought, although EPSO may increase this in case of tied scores.

4. RESERVE LIST

To be included on the reserve list, candidates must:

• pass all required tests
• rank among the highest-scoring candidates in the Field-Related MCQ
• pass the EUFTE
• meet all eligibility requirements

The reserve lists will be created separately for each field and names will be listed alphabetically. Being placed on a reserve list does not guarantee a job, but it makes you eligible for recruitment by EU institutions, bodies and agencies.

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How to Apply

1. Read the Notice of Competition carefully, it is the only legally binding document
2. Choose your field: ICT infrastructure, ICT project management, clouds and networks, or data science.
3. Check that you meet the education and professional experience requirements for that field.
4. Prepare your EPSO candidate account and update the My CV section.
5. Apply via the EPSO website before 10 June 2026 - don't leave it to the last minute!
6. Upload your valid ID or passport by the application deadline.
7. Upload your supporting documents by 1 October 2026
8. Monitor your candidate account regularly for updates

EU Training recommendation: do not wait for the test invitation before preparing. For AD7 specialist competitions, the Field-Related MCQ and EUFTE can decide who actually reaches the reserve list.

Final thoughts

This is a large-scale specialist ICT competition with 782 total reserve list places across four high-demand digital fields.

For experienced professionals in IT infrastructure, ICT project management, cloud, networks or data science, it is a serious opportunity to enter the EU system at AD7 level.

The trap is assuming that professional expertise alone will carry you through. It will not. The selection process also requires strong EPSO test technique, fast reasoning performance, precise field knowledge, and clear written communication.

Strong preparation — especially for the Field-Related MCQ and EUFTE — will make a real difference.

Wishing you all the best on your EPSO exam.

If you have any questions or need support along the way, contact the EU Training Customer Support Team and we will get back to you within 24 hours.