CERN openlab Summer Student Programme
A nine-week summer placement at CERN in Geneva for bachelor's and master's students with a strong computing profile, working on advanced computing projects with a CERN supervisor. It is open to all nationalities, including students from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Students receive a daily allowance and a travel allowance.
9 weeks
openlab.cern · Oct 2026
93 CHF per day, plus travel allowance
CERN openlab FAQ · Oct 2026
Programme
Career Growth
CERN openlab
9 weeks
Advanced
Free
Fellowship
- When
- Usually opens in January, November and DecemberApplications usually open in November and close around the end of January, with replies by late March or early April. The 2027 call opens in November 2026.
- Who can apply
- Bachelor's or master's students (not PhD) in computer science, maths, engineering or physics with a strong computing profile, who will have completed at least three years of full-time university study by the summer. All nationalities.
- Where
- In person, Geneva, Switzerland
Dates move from year to year. Check the official page before you plan around them.
What it is
CERN openlab is CERN's partnership with technology companies and research institutes on computing for science. Each summer it runs a nine-week programme where students work on advanced computing projects with CERN and its collaborators, for example in AI, data processing or control systems, each with a dedicated CERN supervisor. At the end, students write a report and give a short public presentation.
Who can apply
According to the official page and FAQ, you must be a bachelor's or master's student (not PhD) in computer science, mathematics, engineering or physics, with a strong computing profile, and have completed at least three years (six semesters) of full-time university study by the start of the programme. Candidates of all nationalities are welcome, including from countries that are not CERN member states.
Timeline
The call for the 2027 programme opens in November 2026. Applications usually close around the end of January, replies arrive by late March or early April, and the programme runs between June and August, starting on 21 or 28 June 2027.
How to get in
- Prepare your documents in advance: CV, transcripts and any reference requirements listed in the call. They cannot be added after you submit.
- Show real computing work: a GitHub profile with substantial projects, research or open source contributions.
- State your interests clearly in the message field. You cannot pick a project, but you can describe your skills and preferences.
- Apply early through CERN's careers portal from the "I am interested" button.
What you get
A scholarship of 93 CHF per calendar day (net of tax) and a lump-sum travel allowance paid at the end of your stay, plus nine weeks in one of the world's leading research labs and a public project report.
Pair it with on Sefism
- Strengthen your profile with the Machine learning roadmap or Data engineering roadmap.
- If you are thinking about research or a master's, see the Higher studies roadmap.
- Browse other internships on Sefism for the same summer.
Best for: strong third or fourth year computing students who want a research placement abroad.
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