The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has announced the opening of applications for its prestigiousCERN Openlab Summer Student Programme 2026—a unique opportunity for bachelor’s and master’s students in computer science, mathematics, engineering, and physics to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge computing technologies in a world-leading research environment.
About the Programme
The summer programme takes place at CERN over a period of nine weeks, from June to August 2026. It aims to provide students with the opportunity to work on advanced computing projects in collaboration with researchers and engineers from renowned scientific institutions worldwide.
CERN is known as the birthplace of the World Wide Web and hosts pioneering experiments in particle physics. It also serves as a central hub for theWorldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG), making it a unique environment for tackling complex global-scale computing challenges.
Through this programme, participants will work with the latest software and hardware technologies and learn how advanced computing tools are applied in high-energy physics research.
Programme Details
- Duration:9 weeks
- Start dates:22 June or 29 June 2026
Funding Provided
The CERN Openlab Summer Programme offers comprehensive financial and logistical support, including:
- A daily subsistence allowance of93 Swiss francs per calendar day (tax-free).
- Comprehensive coverage under CERN’s Health Insurance scheme.
- Travel expensesto Geneva upon joining CERN (amount determined based on individual circumstances).
- Assistance in finding accommodationeither on the CERN site or nearby.
- An extensive physics lecture programme, along with a series of IT lectures organized by the Openlab department.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications are welcome from students who:
- Are currently enrolled in abachelor’s or master’s degreeincomputer science, mathematics, engineering, or physics.
- Have astrong computing background.
- Will have completed at leastthree years of full-time university studiesby June 2026.
- Are eager to work on anadvanced computing projectfor nine weeks between June and August 2026.
Selected students will work on specific computing projects under the supervision of CERN researchers. At the end of the programme, participants are required to submit afinal reportand deliver ashort presentationsummarizing their work and results.
Required Documents
To complete the application, the following documents must be prepared inEnglish or French, saved asPDF files, and clearly named (e.g., “CV”, “Academic transcript”):
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)in English.
- Most recent official academic transcript(preferably unprotected and easily accessible).
- One recent academic recommendation letter(issued within the last 12 months).
Optional (recommended):
- AMotivation Letterdescribing the applicant’s area of interest or preferred project type.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare all required documents before starting the online application on CERN’s official recruitment portal, asno additional documents can be added after submission.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through theofficial application portal, where you will upload the required documents and answer all questions.
Application Deadline:Monday,26 January 2026, at11:59 p.m. (CET).
- Late applications will not be considered.
- After submitting the application, candidates will receive aconfirmation email.
- Resultswill be announced inlate March or early April 2026.
- Official invitation lettersfor visa purposes will be issued inMay 2026, and the acceptance letter can also be used to begin visa procedures.