Eligibility criteria and application

The Summer in the Lab internship program is open to EPFL regular Bachelor’s students who express high interest for research. Applicants must:

  • be in the 2nd or 3rd year of a Bachelor’s program at the time of registration
  • be a regular student at EPFL (≠ visiting student at EPFL)
  • stand out in terms of academic performance and have an overall average of at least 5,0/6 at the end of the 1st year of their Bachelor’s degree
  • demonstrate strong motivation for research and have the perspective to pursue a career in research and development
  • be eager to learn and develop transversal skills
  • have a Swiss nationality or a residence permit valid for the duration of the internship

International students who are not eligible for the Summer in the Lab internship program have the opportunity to apply to the following programs (distinct eligibility rules apply):

Admission to the internship program is based on a recruitment process that ensures the selection of qualified and highly motivated interns.

The Summer in the Lab program offers extra-curricular internships. Therefore, they cannot be validated as part of the mandatory EPFL Bachelor’s internships.

A stipend of CHF 2,000 gross per month (pro rata), half financially supported by the Vice Presidency for Academic Affaires and half by the lab, is awarded to all interns.

Application

Application is now closed. The application round for summer 2024 will open in December 2023.

The application must include the following elements:

  • Curriculum vitae
  • Motivation letter – detailed info below
  • Official transcripts – detailed info below
  • Contact details of two references – detailed info below
  • Copy of your CAMIPRO (EPFL student card)
  • Copy of your passport or ID card
  • Choice of three EPFL labs – detailed info below

Incomplete and late applications will not be considered.

Detailed information

Your motivation letter (max. 800 words) should highlight your interest in pursuing this program and your expectations in terms of outcomes. It must contain the following information:

  • Your qualification and research experience
  • Your motivation, interests and expectations in undertaking a research internship at EPFL
  • Your choice of labs: justify your choices according to your profile
  • Your ambition: describe your future professional and personal objectives and explain why you have a potential interest in a research career

In case you already have an agreed project with an EPFL professor, please describe the project in detail instead of providing a choice of labs.

Please upload your official transcripts stating your academic results for all your study semesters at EPFL.

Transcripts downloaded from IS-Academia are considered official.

Your referees could be a tutor, a professor, a past employer, or an internship supervisor. Carefully select the best options in relation to your application and your lab choices.

A reference request will automatically be sent to your referees after the submission of your online application form.

Your application file will be considered complete if it contains at least one reference letter.

It is your responsibility to ensure that we receive your reference letters within the registration deadline. You can follow the status of your reference letters via the registration form portal.

EPFL hosts around 500 labs and research groups with cutting-edge infrastructure in disciplines ranging from mathematics, physics or chemistry to life sciences, architecture or engineering. Browse the list of labs and research groups or look by research domain, and choose your three favorite ones. Indicate the name of the labs and their heads in the online application form. In addition to the labs in the above list, the Swiss Plasma Center is among possible choices.

To increase your chances of working in the labs of your choice, make sure your profile is a good match. Your choice will be taken into consideration, but there is no guarantee that you will be placed in one of your selected labs.

If you come with a specific project agreed upon in advance with an EPFL professor, please follow the guidelines provided in the application form to submit your lab choice.

Application process

The EPFL Central Admission Committee will review all complete applications in December and shortlist successful candidates. Shortlisting decisions will be communicated by the end of December.

Applications will then be submitted to the labs for final selection and recruitment. Labs are free to conduct interviews. Successful candidates will receive an email of full acceptance to the Summer in the Lab program.

Do you still have questions? Check our FAQs webpage.

Contact

For further information on the Summer in the Lab internship program, please contact us:

[email protected]

EPFL AVP-SAO SPE
Centre Midi – CM2 348
Station 10
CH – 1015 Lausanne

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