EPSO IT Experts AD7 2026 Competition: fields, dates and preparation
Applications for the EPSO IT Experts AD7 competition (EPSO/AD/429/26) closed on 10 June 2026 at 12:00 (Brussels time). It is aimed at highly qualified ICT professionals who want to join the institutions, bodies and agencies of the European Union as AD7-grade Administrators. EU Careers Single Candidate Portal
Current status: supporting documents (degrees and proof of experience) were due by 1 October 2026 at 12:00 (Brussels). EPSO has not yet announced the testing dates; candidates will receive them through their EPSO account. This guide explains the profile, the tests and how to prepare for them. EUR-Lex
What is an AD7 IT Expert in the European Union
An AD7 IT Expert is a senior Administrator in the European civil service specialising in one of the four ICT fields (infrastructure, project management, clouds and networks, or data science). Unlike the generalist competitions (AD5), here EPSO is looking for technical profiles with proven experience in ICT infrastructure, ICT project management, clouds and networks, or data science. The AD7 grade corresponds to a senior administrator category, with leadership, coordination and team-supervision responsibilities.
Successful candidates may be recruited by institutions such as the European Commission (DG DIGIT and other ICT directorates), the European Parliament, the Council, the European Central Bank, the EU agencies or other bodies needing technology profiles. The 2026 competition (EPSO/AD/429/26) creates reserve lists with a total of 782 places (204 in ICT infrastructure, 228 in project management, 166 in clouds and networks and 184 in data science) for the EU institutions.
Preparing for IT Experts AD7 at EU Campus
Preparation for the IT Experts AD7 competition covers the three assessed blocks of the EPSO process: reasoning, the field-specific ICT test (FRMCQ) and the EUFTE essay. At EU Campus these blocks are prepared module by module:
IT Experts AD7 competition at a glance
- Opening: 6 May 2026
- Closing: 10 June 2026 (12:00 Brussels)
- Notice of Competition (NoC) published: EPSO/AD/429/26
- Grade: AD7
- Profile: Administrators in the Field of ICT (four fields: ICT infrastructure, ICT project management, clouds and networks, data science)
- Reserve-list places: 782 in total (204 ICT infrastructure, 228 project management, 166 clouds and networks, 184 data science)
- Tests expected: autumn 2026 (exact dates announced after applications close)
- Application language: any of the 24 official languages
- Test languages: two official EU languages of your choice
Key dates (realistic timeline)
- Application opens: 6 May 2026 — EU Careers — Apply
- Application closes: 10 June 2026 (12:00 Brussels)
- Mandatory ID card/passport upload: until 10 June 2026 (12:00 Brussels)
- Supporting-documents upload (university degrees, proof of work experience): until 1 October 2026 (12:00 Brussels)
- Online tests: autumn 2026 (dates to be announced after closing)
- Testing: dates not yet announced by EPSO
Note: the entire process is handled via the Single Candidate Portal linked to EU Login. It is best to create and verify your account well before the deadline.
Eligibility requirements for the AD7 IT Experts competition
Entry requirements
- Citizenship. National of a European Union Member State.
- Qualification and experience. A university degree relevant to the chosen ICT field plus professional experience, according to one of these combinations: 3 years of study + 7 of experience, 4 years + 6, or 5 years + 5. With a degree unrelated to the field, 9 years of experience are required (8 in Data science).
- Field. The experience must correspond to the ICT field the candidate applies for (you can only choose one).
Languages
- Language 1: thorough knowledge (minimum C1) of one official EU language.
- Language 2: satisfactory knowledge (minimum B2) of a different official language.
Important: it is not only which languages you know, but which language you sit each test in. Later recruitment interviews are usually held in English and/or French.
Duties of an AD7 IT Expert (Annex II of the Notice)
- Design, develop and maintain ICT systems, infrastructure and services for the EU institutions.
- Manage technology projects and programmes, coordinating teams and suppliers and controlling timelines, costs and quality.
- Define and operate cloud architectures, networks and secure communications, ensuring availability and performance.
- Apply data science: processing, analysing and exploiting data to support decision-making.
- Ensure cybersecurity, data protection and compliance with EU ICT rules and policies.
- Provide technical advice, draft specifications and contribute to ICT strategic planning.
EPSO AD7 tests: structure and details
The selection process for IT Experts AD7 consists of three blocks, all online and webcam-proctored:
- Online reasoning tests (verbal, numerical and abstract)
- Field-Related Test (FRMCQ) — field-specific knowledge test for the chosen ICT field
- EUFTE — free-text essay on European Union affairs
All the tests may be sat on the same day or on different days; EPSO will announce the exact dates after applications close.
AD7 tests summary table
| Block | Language | Format | What it assesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal reasoning | Language 1 | MCQ | Reading comprehension and logical reasoning |
| Numerical reasoning | Language 1 | MCQ | Calculation, ratios, data interpretation |
| Abstract reasoning | Language 1 | MCQ | Logical series and patterns |
| Field-Related (FRMCQ) | Language 2 | Field-specific MCQ | Technical knowledge of the chosen ICT field |
| EUFTE (essay) | Language 2 | Free text (~40 min) | Analysis of an EU topic using supplied documentation |
Keys to the Field-Related Test (FRMCQ) for IT Experts
The FRMCQ is what sets this competition apart from other EPSO competitions. It tests technical knowledge of the chosen ICT field applied to the context of the EU institutions. Depending on the field, the topics that come up most often:
- ICT infrastructure: systems, servers, virtualisation, storage, service management (ITIL).
- ICT project management: methodologies (PM², Agile, PRINCE2), risk management, timelines and budget.
- Clouds and networks: cloud computing, network architectures, communications, cybersecurity.
- Data science: data processing and analysis, statistics, machine learning, visualisation and exploitation of information.
- Security and compliance: cybersecurity, data protection (GDPR), EU ICT rules and policies.
- Key institutions: European Commission (DG DIGIT), Parliament, Council, ECB and EU agencies.
The typical traps in an EPSO field-specific MCQ are nearly identical options where a single word changes (“shall” vs “may”; “encrypt” vs “hash”), and questions that test not memorisation but applying the concept to a case.
How to prepare the EUFTE (written essay) for AD7
The EUFTE is neither a language test nor a factual exam: it is a timed essay (about 40 minutes) on a current EU topic, where documentation is provided along with the question. It is marked using anchors (criteria published by EPSO) that measure:
- Critical analysis of the topic.
- Structure and coherence of the argument.
- Correct use of the supplied documentation.
- Clarity, accuracy and linguistic correctness in Language 2.
Practising with realistic 40-minute mock tests and getting feedback against the official anchors is the most efficient way to raise your score.
7 common mistakes when applying to the IT Experts AD7 competition
- Leaving submission to the last day and failing over an EU Login or Single Candidate Portal glitch.
- Not uploading your ID card or passport in time (same deadline as the application: 10 June).
- Failing to properly document the required qualification and experience (ambiguous certificates, missing stamps or dates).
- Choosing the wrong Language 2 (sitting the FRMCQ + EUFTE in a language you are weaker in).
- Underestimating the FRMCQ by assuming “experience is enough” — the EPSO format has its own traps.
- Not practising the EUFTE under real time pressure and without using the official anchors.
- Putting off the supporting-document upload until October without having them ready and translated.
Get ready with EU Campus: recommended path
The application window lasts five weeks (6 May – 10 June 2026). The three assessed blocks of the process (reasoning, the field-specific ICT FRMCQ and EUFTE) each call for specific practice and preparation time.
Frequently asked questions about IT Experts AD7 2026
COMPETITION · IT EXPERTS AD7 2026
When was the IT Experts AD7 2026 application period?
From 6 May to 10 June 2026 (12:00 Brussels time). Applications are closed and EPSO has not yet announced the testing dates.
How many years of experience are required?
Between 5 and 7 years of professional experience depending on your qualification (3 years of degree + 7 of experience, 4 + 6, or 5 + 5). A degree from another field requires 9 years, or 8 in Data science.
What language level is required for AD7 IT Experts?
C1 in one official EU language (Language 1) and B2 in a different official language (Language 2).
What tests does the selection process include?
Three blocks: online reasoning tests (verbal, numerical, abstract) in Language 1; a field-specific ICT test (Field-Related MCQ) in Language 2; and a EUFTE essay on EU affairs in Language 2.
Are the tests in person or online?
Online, webcam-proctored. You can sit them from home or anywhere with a stable connection.
What is the minimum qualification required?
A degree of at least 3 years certified by a diploma. With a 3-year degree you need 7 years of relevant experience (6 with 4 years, 5 with 5 years). If your degree is in an unrelated field, you need 9 years (8 in Data science).
Do IT certifications such as ITIL, PMP, CISSP or AWS/Azure help?
They are not required to apply, but they strengthen your application during the document-verification stage and in the later recruitment interviews.
Where can I prepare for the IT Experts AD7 competition in English?
At EU Campus you have the Complete IT Experts AD7 Programme , with dedicated Reasoning, FRMCQ and EUFTE modules designed specifically for this competition.
Official sources
Last updated: 7 June 2026. This article is updated as soon as official news is published in the Notice of Competition.