# EPSO/AST/158/26: data, library and archives assistants (AST3)

URL: https://epsometro.com/guias/epso-ast-158-26 · Updated 2026-10-07

EPSO/AST/158/26 is an open competition for 964 assistants at grade AST3 in three fields: data processing, analytics and statistics (423 places), librarianship and information science (243) and records and archives management (298). Applications close on 11 November 2026 at 12:00 Brussels time, and you may apply to one field only. No university degree is required: a two-year post-secondary diploma in the field plus three years of experience, or secondary education plus six years, is enough. The tests are remote: verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning, a 30-question field test that alone ranks candidates, and a 40-minute essay.

- Reference: EPSO/AST/158/26, Official Journal C/2026/4963 of 6 October 2026
- Places: 964: data and statistics 423 · librarianship 243 · records and archives 298
- Applications: Until 11 November 2026, 12:00 Brussels time; one field only
- Eligibility: Post-secondary diploma of 2 years or more in the field and 3 years of experience, or secondary diploma and 6 years of experience
- Languages: Language 1 at C1 for reasoning; language 2 at B2 for the field test and the essay
- Tests: Verbal 20 q in 35 min · numerical 10 in 20 · abstract 10 in 10 · field test 30 in 40 · essay 40 min
- Pass marks: Verbal 10/20 · numerical and abstract 10/20 combined · field test 15/30 · essay 5/10
- What ranks you: The field test only
- Supporting documents: Identity document by 11 November 2026; the rest by 11 March 2027

## What is EPSO/AST/158/26?

An open competition published on 6 October 2026 in the C series of the Official Journal (C/2026/4963) to build reserve lists of **assistants at grade AST3**. The institutions, bodies and agencies of the EU recruit from those lists. It covers three fields, and a candidate may apply to only one:

| Field | Places | What the job is about |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Data processing, analytics and statistics | 423 | Collecting, cleaning and validating data, statistical outputs, dashboards, scripts in Python, R or SQL, data protection |
| 2. Librarianship and information science | 243 | Acquisitions, cataloguing and metadata, library systems, lending, electronic resources and licences, controlled vocabularies |
| 3. Records and archives management | 298 | Classification schemes and retention, the records lifecycle, digital preservation, archival description, access and security |

964 places is more than twice the 435 of the previous AST3 competition, EPSO/AST/157/25. Annex II of the notice lists the typical duties of each field: 17 in data, 12 in librarianship and 12 in records and archives.

## Who is eligible?

On 11 November 2026 you need to be an EU citizen with full rights, have two EU languages (one at C1, a different one at B2) and meet **one** of these two routes for your field:

- **Post-secondary studies of at least two years** with a diploma in one of the areas the notice lists for the field, followed by **at least three years** of relevant professional experience. A postgraduate diploma or master's in one of those areas, taken after a bachelor's in anything, also counts.
- **Secondary education giving access to post-secondary studies,** followed by **at least six years** of relevant professional experience.

The listed areas are broad. For data they include mathematics and statistics, computer science, any engineering, economics, geography, physics, chemistry and biology, and social sciences or linguistics with a quantitative specialisation. For librarianship: librarianship, information science, documentation, media studies and book or heritage studies. For records and archives: archival science, information science, digital humanities, history and heritage, or law, business or social sciences with a specialisation in those areas.

Experience only counts if it was acquired **after** the diploma that makes you eligible, and if it matches the duties of your field in Annex II (for data, the notice also accepts a list of areas such as programming, data engineering, applied statistics or GIS). If you rely on the post-secondary route, you also need a letter from the institution stating the standard length of the programme.

## What are the tests?

All the tests are remote and proctored, on dates EPSO sets in the invitation. Everyone who applies on time is invited.

| Test | Language | Questions and time | Pass mark | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Verbal reasoning | Language 1 | 20 in 35 min | 10/20 | Pass or fail |
| Numerical reasoning | Language 1 | 10 in 20 min | 10/20 combined with abstract | Pass or fail |
| Abstract reasoning | Language 1 | 10 in 10 min | 10/20 combined with numerical | Pass or fail |
| Field test | Language 2 | 30 in 40 min | 15/30 | Ranks candidates |
| EUFTE essay | Language 2 | 40 min | 5/10 | Pass or fail |

The field test is specific to the field you choose. The essay is marked on written communication, not on knowledge: EPSO publishes the EU documentation it is based on before the test, and you receive it again during the test. There is no EU knowledge test and no digital skills test, which belong to the AD5 graduate competition. See the [guide to the reasoning tests](/guias/razonamiento-epso) and the [guide to the EUFTE](/guias/eufte).

## How is the reserve list decided?

Table 6 of the notice gives each test its job. The reasoning tests and the essay only have to be passed; the field test score **is the ranking**.

1. **Reasoning first.** It is marked only for candidates who completed every test. Miss one and your participation ends.
2. **Field test for those who passed reasoning.** Those who reach 15/30 are ranked by their score.
3. **Essay and eligibility for the top of the ranking.** EPSO marks the essay and checks the documents of a limited number of candidates, in principle no more than **1.5 times the places** of the field: about 634 in data, 364 in librarianship and 447 in records and archives.
4. **Reserve list** in ranking order, among those who passed everything and are eligible, until the places are filled. Ties for the last place all go in.

Results arrive at the end of the procedure, whatever stage you reached. See [how EPSO scores its tests](/guias/como-puntua-epso).

## Key dates

| Date | What |
| --- | --- |
| 6 October 2026 | Notice published in the Official Journal (C/2026/4963) |
| **11 November 2026, 12:00** | Application deadline, and deadline to upload your identity card or passport |
| 11 March 2027, 12:00 | Deadline to upload the other supporting documents |

The notice does not give the test dates: EPSO announces them in the invitation. After the deadline you can no longer change your application, so the field and the two languages you choose then are final. See the [guide to supporting documents](/guias/documentos-justificativos-epso).

## How to prepare

- **Do not underestimate reasoning.** It is the first filter, it is pass or fail, and for candidates who have been working for years it is usually the least practised part. Numerical and abstract share one pass mark, so a strong numerical can carry a weak abstract.
- **Put most of your time into the field test,** duty by duty from Annex II, in your language 2. It is the only score that ranks you.
- **Choose language 2 with care.** The field test and the essay are both in it: pick the one you read and write best at B2 or above.
- **Gather proof of your experience now,** matched to the duties of your field. It is checked after the tests, and only for the best-ranked candidates.
- **Get used to the screen.** EPSO's tests run on [TAO](/guias/tao), with an on-screen calculator and notepad: paper is not allowed.

## Frequently asked questions

**When is the deadline for EPSO/AST/158/26?**

11 November 2026 at 12:00 (midday) Brussels time. Your identity card or passport must be uploaded by the same deadline; the other supporting documents by 11 March 2027.

**How many places does EPSO/AST/158/26 have?**

964 in total: 423 in data processing, analytics and statistics, 243 in librarianship and information science and 298 in records and archives management.

**Do I need a university degree?**

No. A post-secondary diploma of at least two years in an area related to the field plus three years of relevant experience, or secondary education plus six years of relevant experience, is enough.

**Can I apply to more than one field?**

No. The notice covers three fields and each candidate may apply to only one of them.

**Which test decides the ranking?**

The field test: 30 questions in 40 minutes, pass mark 15/30. The reasoning tests and the essay are pass or fail and do not count towards the ranking.

**Are the tests held in a test centre?**

No. The notice says all tests are held and proctored remotely; EPSO gives the details in the invitation.

## Sources

- Official Journal of the EU, C/2026/4963: Notice of open competition EPSO/AST/158/26 – Assistants (AST 3): data processing, analytics and statistics; librarianship and information science; records and archives management (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/4963/oj)
- EPSO: Upcoming opportunities (https://selection.eu-careers.europa.eu/en/upcoming-selection-procedures)
- EPSO: Specialists (Administrators – AD6 to AD9): tests (https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/help/what-written-test)
- EPSO: EPSO testing: sample tests (https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/selection-procedure/epso-tests)