CERN Summer Student Programme (Switzerland)

The CERN Summer Student Programme brings hundreds of physics, engineering, computing and mathematics students to Geneva each year to work inside the world’s largest particle physics laboratory. For eight to thirteen weeks, summer students join real research teams, attend a legendary lecture series, visit the accelerators and present their own project, all with a daily allowance of about CHF 93 plus travel support and insurance.

Students of all nationalities can apply through the Member State or Non-Member State track, with dedicated funded places for students from developing countries. Applications for Summer 2027 open in November 2026 and close at the end of January 2027.

• Bachelor's or master's students in physics, engineering, computer science or mathematics who will have completed at least three years of full-time study by the summer.
• Remaining registered as a student during the stay; students graduating during the European summer can still apply.
• All nationalities are welcome: separate tracks exist for CERN Member and Associate Member States and for Non-Member States, and you apply to the matching one.
• No prior CERN experience: you must not have worked at CERN for more than three months before, nor participated in the programme previously.
• Good knowledge of English; French is helpful but not required.
• CV, an academic reference letter and official transcripts are required with the online application.
• The parallel CERN openlab track accepts computing-focused students under the same calendar.

• Join a research team working on one of CERN's experiments or technical projects for eight to thirteen weeks in Geneva.
• Contribute to real analysis, hardware, software or engineering tasks alongside staff scientists.
• Attend the famous Summer Student lecture series covering particle physics, computing and engineering.
• Visit the accelerators and experimental areas, and take part in workshops and discussion sessions.
• Prepare and submit a short report on your project at the end of the stay.
• Present at the poster session and engage with a cohort of hundreds of students from over 100 countries.

• Contract of association with a subsistence allowance of roughly CHF 93 per calendar day, covering accommodation and meals in the Geneva area.
• Travel allowance toward the journey to and from Geneva, plus health insurance coverage for the stay.
• Lectures from world-leading scientists and privileged access to CERN facilities.
• Around 340 students hosted per summer, with dedicated funded places for Non-Member State students supported by the CERN & Society Foundation.
• An alumni credential that carries weight in physics, engineering and computing careers worldwide.
• A genuinely once-in-a-lifetime scientific community experience at the home of the Large Hadron Collider.

• Watch careers.cern from November 2026, when the application form for Summer 2027 opens.
• Choose the correct track (Member State or Non-Member State) based on your nationality.
• Prepare your CV in English or French, transcripts, and line up one academic referee to submit a letter.
• Submit the online application before the deadline, which falls at the end of January (January 31, 2027 pattern; confirm the exact date on the portal).
• Shortlisted candidates may be interviewed online, and offers are sent in spring for placements running June to September.
• If unsuccessful, note that CERN also runs Technical and Administrative Student programmes with their own twice-yearly deadlines.