Eligibility criteria and application

The WISER program is designed for EPFL Bachelor students interested in exploring research and developing their personal and professional potential. Applicants must:

  • Be a 2nd or 3rd year female Bachelor student at the time of application.
  • Hold regular student status at EPFL (exchange students are not eligible).
  • Stand out in terms of academic performance and have an overall average of 5,0/6 at the end of the 1st year of the Bachelor’s degree.
  • Show a genuine interest in scientific research and innovation.
  • Be motivated to expand their skills, knowledge, and professional network through both research and mentoring opportunities.

Applications to both WISER and Summer in the Lab are permitted. However, students may apply to either WISER or the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Program, but not both. Dual applications will not be considered.

These eligibility criteria are complemented with the below section on the program requirements. Please read carefully and only continue with your application if you agree to the conditions set out.

To successfully complete the WISER program, participants are expected to fully engage in all mandatory activities and meet the following requirements:

  • Submit a research proposal using the provided template.
  • Complete an eight-week research internship in an EPFL laboratory.
  • Participate in the mentoring scheme.
  • Attend the program workshops.
  • Participate and present the research work at the Research Symposium.
  • Complete the program feedback surveys in due time.

Code of conduct:

  • Behave appropriately at all times towards peers and supervisors.
  • Respect and comply to the EPFL laboratory principles and policies during the time of the research internship.

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the withdrawal of the WISER scholarship, exclusion from the program, and/or the non-award of the official certificate of completion.

Exceptions to these requirements may be granted only under exceptional circumstances (such as an approved study-abroad exchange or documented medical reasons) and will be assessed individually on a case-by-case basis.

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

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

A total scholarship of CHF 4,000 is awarded to each student participating in the program.

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

Application

The application period for internships taking place in summer 2027 will open in November 2026.

The application must include the following elements:

  • Curriculum vitae
  • Official transcripts – detailed info below
  • Copy of your CAMIPRO (EPFL student card)
  • Copy of your passport or ID card
  • Choice of three EPFL laboratories – detailed info below

Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered.

Detailed information

Official transcripts stating your academic results for all your study semesters at EPFL.

Transcripts downloaded from IS-Academia are considered official.

EPFL hosts around 500 laboratories and research groups with cutting-edge infrastructure in all disciplines. Browse the list of laboratories and research groups or look by research domain. Please note that research centers and hubs affiliated with EPFL are also possible options for your internship.

In the online application form, please indicate your three preferred laboratories and the name of their heads. In addition, please submit a document containing a short paragraph for each laboratory explaining:

  • why you have selected the laboratory;
  • how it relates to your academic background, interests, and profile;
  • why you would be a good fit for the research group.

This information is particularly important, as the laboratories will review it to assess whether your profile, interests, and experience are a good match for their research group.

Your preferences will be taken into consideration during the selection and placement process, but we cannot guarantee that you will be placed in one of your three selected laboratories. Therefore, we encourage you to carefully consider your choices and explain clearly why your profile is a good fit for each laboratory.

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 laboratory choice.

Selection process

All complete applications are first reviewed by the EPFL WISER selection committee. Following this evaluation, selected candidates will be interviewed in January – February.

After the interview stage, successful candidates will be informed that they have been selected to proceed to the laboratory matching phase. Their applications will then be shared with participating EPFL laboratories, which are responsible for the final recruitment decisions. Laboratories may choose to conduct additional interviews as part of their selection process.

Once a candidate has been successfully matched with a laboratory, they will receive an official email confirming their admission to the WISER program.

Do you still have questions? Check our FAQs webpage.

Contact

For further information on the WISER internship program, please contact us:

[email protected]

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

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