EPSO AD5 2026: 174,922 Apply for 1,490 Spots (Full Notice)

The EPSO AD5 2026 competition notice (reference EPSO/AD/427/26) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 5 February 2026. It is the most significant EPSO competition in years — both in scale and in format changes. If you applied, here is a clear breakdown of what the notice says, what has changed, and what it means for your preparation.

The Numbers: A Record-Breaking Competition

Competition EPSO/AD/427/26 attracted 174,922 applicants for 1,490 reserve-list spots. That puts the success rate below 1%.

To put this in perspective: the previous AD5 competition in 2019 had 22,644 applicants. This cycle has more than triple that number.

Italy leads with 79,450 candidates (45.4% of the total), followed by Spain (13,796), Germany (11,705), and France (10,939). The sheer volume of Italian applicants means Italian candidates face particularly intense internal competition.

Eligibility Requirements

The notice specifies four eligibility conditions:

1. Education: A bachelor's degree (at least 3 years of university-level studies) completed by 30 September 2026. No work experience is required — AD5 is an entry-level administrator grade.

1. Nationality: Citizenship of an EU Member State. UK nationals are no longer eligible following Brexit.

1. Languages: Knowledge of at least 2 official EU languages — Language 1 at C1 level and Language 2 at B2 level. Major change: L2 is no longer restricted to English, French, or German. You can now choose any official EU language as your second language.

1. Other: No age limit. Candidates must enjoy full civic rights and have fulfilled military service obligations where applicable.

The New Test Format: No More Assessment Centre

This is the most significant structural change. The traditional Assessment Centre — where candidates travelled to Brussels or another city for a day of in-person exercises — has been eliminated entirely.

Instead, all Phase 1 tests take place in a single online, remotely proctored session. You take them from home with a computer, webcam, and stable internet connection.

Phase 1 — Five Multiple-Choice Tests

All five tests are administered in one session:

• Verbal Reasoning: 20 questions in 35 minutes — 35% of your final ranking
• Numerical Reasoning: 10 questions in 20 minutes — eliminatory only (pass/fail)
• Abstract Reasoning: 10 questions in 10 minutes — eliminatory only (pass/fail)
• EU Knowledge: 30 questions in 40 minutes — 25% of your final ranking
• Digital Skills: 40 questions in 30 minutes — 25% of your final ranking

Reasoning tests (verbal, numerical, abstract) are taken in your Language 1. EU knowledge and digital skills tests are taken in your Language 2.

Phase 2 — Written Test (EUFTE)

The top 2,235 candidates from Phase 1 qualify for the written test. This is a 40-minute essay on general European issues, written in Language 2. EPSO provides a reference document two weeks before the test. The essay accounts for 15% of your final ranking.

How Scoring Works

Your final score is the weighted sum of four components:

• Verbal reasoning: 35% — the single most impactful test
• EU knowledge: 25%
• Digital skills: 25%
• EUFTE essay: 15%

Numerical and abstract reasoning are eliminatory only. You must achieve a combined minimum of 10/20 across both tests, but scoring higher earns you no additional ranking points.

To advance to the written test, you must score at least 50% in each ranking test (verbal, EU knowledge, digital skills). The 1,490 candidates with the highest overall scores are placed on the reserve list in alphabetical order (unranked).

Key Deadlines

• 10 March 2026 — Application deadline (expired)
• Coming months (date TBD) — Online MCQ tests. Check your EPSO account regularly
• 7 October 2026 — Deadline to upload supporting documents (diplomas, certificates)
• By end of 2026 — Reserve list publication expected

What This Means for Your Preparation

With a success rate below 1%, there is no room for a casual approach. Every fraction of a point matters.

Focus on what counts for the ranking. Verbal reasoning alone is worth 35% of your final score. EU knowledge and digital skills together are worth 50%. These three tests determine whether you make the reserve list.

Treat numerical and abstract reasoning as checkboxes. You need to pass them (combined 10/20), but there is no benefit to scoring higher. Allocate your preparation time accordingly.

Prepare for the online proctored environment. Taking five tests in a single session from home requires a different kind of stamina and focus than showing up at a test centre. Practise under realistic conditions: full-length timed sessions, webcam on, no distractions.

Start the EUFTE essay early. The top 2,235 candidates will face a written test worth 15% of their final score. This is where candidates with strong analytical writing in their Language 2 can gain an edge — or where weaker writers can lose their ranking advantage.

The competition notice has set the rules. The rest is preparation.