Switzerland hosts some of Europe’s most prestigious fully-funded summer research internships for international students at world-renowned institutions like ETH Zurich, EPFL, CERN, and University of Lausanne. These competitive 2-3 month programs (June-August 2026) provide intensive research experience, generous stipends, accommodation, and often flights, making Switzerland’s excellent scientific infrastructure accessible to talented students worldwide.

Major Swiss Summer Programs 2026

ETH Zurich Summer Research Fellowship

Duration: 2 months
Fields: Computer Science and related disciplines
Benefits: Fully funded with stipend
Deadline: December 16, 2025
Website: Search “ETH Summer Research Fellowship” at ethz.ch

CERN Summer Student Program

Duration: 8-13 weeks
Location: Meyrin (near Geneva)
Fields: Physics, engineering, computer science
Participants: 300 students from worldwide
Benefits: Full funding including stipend, housing, meals
Deadline: January 26, 2026
Website: home.cern/summer-student-programme

CERN OPENLAB Summer Program

Duration: 9 weeks (June-August)
Focus: IT and computer science students
Benefits: Fully funded
Deadline: Typically January
Website: openlab.cern/education

EPFL Summer Internship

Duration: 3 months
Fields: Computer, telecommunications, electrical engineering
Benefitsstipend and housing support
Website: epfl.ch (search summer internships)

EPFL Life Sciences Summer Research Program

Duration: 8 weeks
Participants: 20-25 students selected
Fields: Life sciences, biology, biochemistry
Deadline: November 15, 2025 (early!)
Website: epfl.ch

EPFL Excellence Research Internship

Duration: 3 months
Location: Lausanne
Various technical fields
Website: epfl.ch

University of Lausanne (UNIL) Summer Research Program

Duration: 8 weeks (July 3 - August 27, 2026)
Individual research projects
Benefits: Fully funded
Deadline: December 31, 2025
Website: unil.ch

Why Switzerland for Summer Research?

World-Class Institutions: ETH Zurich and EPFL consistently rank among world’s top technical universities. CERN is the global leader in particle physics research.

Excellent Support: Swiss programs typically offer generous stipends (CHF 2,000-3,000/month range), covering Switzerland’s high cost of living comfortably.

International Environment: Switzerland’s research institutions are highly international with English as common working language.

Quality of Life: Experience Switzerland’s stunning Alpine landscapes, excellent public transportation, safe cities, and rich cultural heritage.

Career Building: Swiss research experience strengthens graduate school applications and opens doors to international scientific networks.

Typical Benefits Package

Swiss summer programs generally provide:

Monthly stipend or lump sum payment (sufficient for comfortable living)
University accommodation or housing allowance
Some programs cover round-trip flights (especially CERN)
Access to research facilities and equipment
Organized social events and excursions
Health insurance
Certificate upon completion

Cost of Living Considerations

Switzerland is expensive, but stipends are designed accordingly. With provided accommodation and stipend:

Food: CHF 400-600/month with careful budgeting
Local transport: Often included via university pass
Entertainment: Budget CHF 200-300/month
Stipends typically cover all essentials comfortably

Application Timeline

November-December 2025: Early deadlines (EPFL Life Sciences: November 15!) December 2025 - January 2026: Most Swiss program deadlines February-April 2026: Selection notifications June-August 2026: Program dates

Apply early - Swiss programs are highly competitive given quality and funding.

Eligibility

Most Swiss summer programs require:

Current enrollment in undergraduate or master’s program
Strong academic record (typically 3.3+/4.0 GPA equivalent)
Relevant field of study
English proficiency (formal tests like IELTS usually not required)
All nationalities typically eligible

Specific requirements vary by program - check individual websites.

Application Strategy

Research Programs Thoroughly: Each has specific focus areas. Match your interests to program strengths.

Apply to Multiple: Competition is intense. Apply to 3-5 Swiss programs plus programs in other countries.

Strong Recommendations: Swiss institutions value faculty recommendations highly. Choose recommenders who know your work well.

Clear Motivation: Articulate specific research interests and why you want to work at that particular Swiss institution.

Early Submission: Many review applications rolling basis - earlier applications have advantage.

Finding Opportunities

Swissnex (swissnex.org): Official Swiss global network connecting Switzerland and the world in education, research, and innovation. Portal to Swiss opportunities.

Individual University Websites: Check ETH Zurich (ethz.ch), EPFL (epfl.ch), University of Lausanne (unil.ch), and University of Zurich for summer research opportunities.

CERN Website (home.cern): For particle physics and computing opportunities.

Switzerland’s combination of scientific excellence, generous funding, and exceptional quality of life makes Swiss summer internships among the world’s most sought-after research opportunities. Start applications early (October-November) to maximize chances at these competitive positions.

Switzerland Summer Internships 2026: Fully-Funded Research Programs at ETH, EPFL, CERN & More

Switzerland packs high-impact research, generous stipends, and world-class labs into compact summer experiences. If you’re a student in STEM looking for a competitive, fully-funded summer placement in 2026, Swiss programs — from CERN to EPFL and ETH Zurich — are among the best places to gain research experience, build networks, and strengthen graduate school applications. This expanded directory explains top programs, benefits, eligibility, timelines, and how to craft competitive applications.

At a Glance

Detail	Information
Region	Switzerland
Program Types	Research internships, summer schools, fellowships
Typical Duration	6–12 weeks (June–August 2026)
Funding	Stipend + housing; some cover travel and insurance
Typical Stipend	CHF 2,000–3,000/month (varies by program)
Common Fields	Physics, CS, Engineering, Life Sciences, Materials, Environmental Science
Application Window	Nov 2025 – Jan 2026 (varies)

Why Switzerland for Summer Research?

Swiss institutions combine technical depth with well-funded student programs. Labs at ETH and EPFL have strong industry links and high research output, while CERN offers large-scale facilities and a collaborative international environment. Beyond prestige, Swiss programs are designed to be immersive: they fund travel, provide housing, and organize social activities so students can focus on research.

Spotlight: Major Programs (What to Expect)

ETH Zurich — Summer Research Fellowship

Focus: Computer science, robotics, computational biology, and engineering.
Duration: ~8–12 weeks.
Perks: Stipend, mentoring by faculty, access to lab equipment and workshops.
Best for: Students with coding experience or prior lab projects.

EPFL — Excellence & Life Sciences Internships

Focus: Engineering, life sciences, applied physics, and data science.
Duration: 6–12 weeks.
Perks: Housing support, stipend, close mentorship from doctoral students and PIs.
Best for: Students with a clear technical focus and demonstrable coursework.

CERN — Summer Student Programme & OPENLAB

Focus: Particle physics, engineering, computing.
Duration: 8–13 weeks.
Perks: Full funding (travel, accommodation), exposure to large-scale experiments, peer cohort of 300 students.
Best for: Physics and computing majors with strong math and programming backgrounds.

University of Lausanne (UNIL) — Summer Research

Focus: Life sciences, social sciences, and interdisciplinary projects.
Duration: 8 weeks.
Perks: Project-based placements, stipend, integration into lab teams.

Other Notable Options

Max Planck exchanges (Germany–Switzerland collaborations)
Local university summer schools in Zurich, Basel, and Geneva

Typical Funding Package

Monthly stipend (CHF 2,000–3,000 range) tailored to Switzerland’s cost of living.
On-campus or arranged housing; many programs include meals or meal stipends.
Travel assistance for long-distance international students (CERN often covers flights).
Access to campus amenities and research facilities, occasional health insurance coverage.

Eligibility — Who Can Apply

Most Swiss summer programs are open to international undergraduates and master’s students who:

Are enrolled in a relevant degree program (priority for students in STEM fields).
Have a solid academic record (GPA often 3.3/4.0 equivalent or above).
Show relevant lab, programming, or field experience.
Can communicate in English (or the working language of the program).

Specific programs may require nationality restrictions or pre-requisites — always check the program page.

How to Choose Programs (Application Strategy)

Map your technical strengths to program strengths: If you have data science experience, target EPFL or ETH labs that work on computational problems.
Apply broadly but strategically: Pick 4–6 programs — a mix of reach and safety options.
Leverage faculty recommendations: Swiss programs value detailed academic references.
Highlight project work: Share links to code, posters, or brief project summaries.

Application Materials — What to Prepare

CV focused on technical skills and projects.
Short research statement (1 page) describing project interests and methods you can contribute.
Official transcripts (with translations if necessary).
Two academic references (professors or research supervisors).
Work samples: GitHub links, posters, written reports, or code snippets.

Practical tip: Prepare a one-page “project pitch” you can reuse and customize for different lab applications.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

Personalize for each lab: Mention specific faculty papers or lab tools you can work with.
Show independence: Highlight tasks you completed without close supervision (scripts, analyses, or experiments).
Provide evidence: Link to a small code repo, a poster PDF, or a figure from your coursework.
Request targeted recommendations: Ask referees to comment on specific technical skills, not just general character.
Respect deadlines and time zones: Submit well before local cutoff times (often midnight CET).

Timeline & Key Deadlines

October–November 2025: Prepare materials and identify labs.
November–January: Primary application windows for many programs (CERN and EPFL have specific dates).
February–April 2026: Selection and notification periods.
June–August 2026: Program dates for most internships.

Living in Switzerland — Budget Notes

Switzerland is expensive; stipends reflect that, but plan carefully:

Food: CHF 400–700/month depending on dining habits.
Local transport: Many programs include passes or discounted student fares.
Personal expenses: CHF 200–300/month for entertainment and incidentals.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Generic applications: Failing to link your skills to a specific lab’s work.
Weak references: Use referees who can speak to lab readiness.
Broken links: Verify all external links (GitHub, posters) before submitting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do programs accept non-STEM students? Some interdisciplinary placements exist, but priority goes to STEM.
Are applications competitive? Yes — apply early and include evidence of project work.
Will language be a barrier? Most research programs use English, but local language skills can help socially.

How to Apply — Quick Steps

Visit the program page for the specific opportunity (CERN, ETH, EPFL, UNIL).
Prepare a tailored CV, one-page research statement, and two references.
Submit the online application and follow up with the lab contact if permitted.

Useful Links

CERN Summer Student Programme: https://home.cern/summer-student-programme
ETH Zurich: https://ethz.ch/en.html (search summer programs)
EPFL internships: https://www.epfl.ch/en/education/internships/
Swissnex: https://www.swissnex.org/

Switzerland offers compact, well-supported summer research that can jumpstart graduate applications or lab careers. If you want, I can draft a one-page project pitch template and a short outreach email to faculty at ETH or EPFL tailored to your background.

Start early, be specific, and show evidence — those three moves will dramatically increase your chances.