Internship • Switzerland

CERN Technical Student Programme

CERN's Technical Student Programme gives undergraduate and Master's students in applied sciences, computing, and engineering the chance to gain hands-on experience at the world's largest particle physics laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. Selected students spend between 4 and 12 months working on real scientific and engineering projects, ranging from applied physics and electrical/electronics engineering to civil engineering, robotics, mathematics, mechanical engineering, and materials science. Students collaborate directly with CERN's scientists and engineers on infrastructure that supports the Large Hadron Collider and related experiments, developing both technical depth and professional soft skills in an intensely international setting. The programme provides a tax-free monthly allowance of approximately CHF 3,472-3,486, comprehensive health insurance, paid annual leave, and a possible travel allowance to Geneva. Students specialising in theoretical or experimental particle physics should note this programme is not for them; it is reserved for applied, engineering, and computing disciplines (particle physics students typically apply to the separate CERN Summer Student Programme instead). Eligible applicants must be nationals of a CERN Member or Associate Member State, have completed at least 18 months (three semesters) of relevant studies, and remain enrolled full-time throughout the placement. A CERN expert panel reviews applications roughly three times a year, selecting around 80 students per round; the current open round closes 30 June 2026 at 23:59 Geneva time. This programme is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious technical placements available to engineering and computing undergraduates worldwide.