EPFL Summer Research Program 2027

Applications are opening for the EPFL Summer Research Program 2027, an international research internship for students interested in life sciences.

The program takes place at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, commonly known as EPFL, in Switzerland.

Selected students spend eight weeks working in an EPFL School of Life Sciences laboratory. They receive hands-on research experience, faculty mentorship, scientific workshops and opportunities to interact with researchers from different fields.

The 2027 program will run from:

July 5 to August 27, 2027.

Students from around the world can apply. However, applicants must be studying life sciences or a closely related subject and meet EPFL’s academic requirements.

Financial support includes a CHF 3,600 stipend for the two-month period. Housing is arranged and paid from this amount. EPFL also reimburses most travel expenses within specified limits.

Applications open on October 5, 2026, and the deadline is:

November 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET

Students can review the program through the official EPFL Summer Research Program page.

EPFL Summer Research Program 2027 Overview

Details	Information
University	EPFL
Program	Summer Research Program
Country	Switzerland
Main Location	Lausanne
Program Type	Research Internship
Field	Life Sciences and related fields
Duration	8 weeks
Dates	July 5–August 27, 2027
Participants	Around 20–25
Stipend	CHF 3,600
Housing	Arranged and paid from stipend
Overseas Travel Support	Up to CHF 1,000
Shorter-Distance Travel	Up to CHF 500
International Students	Eligible
Applications Open	October 5, 2026
Deadline	November 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET
English Test	Not required
PhD Students	Not eligible

What Is the EPFL Summer Research Program?

The EPFL School of Life Sciences runs the Summer Research Program, or SRP, for students who want intensive research experience before pursuing advanced study or a research career.

Around 20–25 students participate each summer.

Rather than attending ordinary university classes, participants join active research groups within the School of Life Sciences.

The program includes:

Eight weeks of laboratory experience
Research mentoring
Scientific seminars
Professional-development workshops
Social activities
Closing research symposium
Poster sessions or presentations

Students become part of an EPFL research environment while working on a specific scientific project.

Where Does the Program Take Place?

Most participants conduct their research at EPFL’s main campus in:

Lausanne, Switzerland.

Some participating laboratories are based at EPFL facilities in Geneva.

Students assigned to Geneva laboratories may need to travel between Lausanne and Geneva.

EPFL provides additional financial support for these students to help cover the extra transportation costs.

All SRP participants are housed in Lausanne.

EPFL Summer Research Program Dates

The 2027 program begins on:

July 5, 2027

and ends on:

August 27, 2027.

Applicants must be available for the entire program.

EPFL specifically states that students cannot change the dates to fit a different university calendar.

For example, a student cannot request to attend from May to July instead.

You should therefore check your university’s academic schedule before applying.

Is the EPFL Summer Research Program Fully Funded?

The program provides substantial financial support, but Pathfinderly recommends describing it as a funded internship rather than automatically fully funded.

Each participant receives:

CHF 3,600

for the two-month program.

This amount contributes toward:

Housing
Living expenses

In addition, EPFL reimburses most eligible travel expenses within published limits.

However, travel reimbursement has maximum amounts, and students remain responsible for optional expenses such as personal weekend travel and tourism.

For that reason, “funded” is more precise than promising that every possible expense will be covered.

CHF 3,600 Stipend

Each selected participant receives:

CHF 3,600 for the two-month period.

The stipend is intended to cover housing and basic living expenses.

An important detail is that students do not simply receive the entire CHF 3,600 and then separately receive free accommodation.

Instead, the cost of accommodation is deducted from the stipend before the remaining money is provided to the participant.

EPFL estimates that students will have approximately:

CHF 1,700

remaining for living expenses after accommodation has been paid.

Careful budgeting is therefore important.

Accommodation in Lausanne

Students do not need to independently search for standard accommodation before the program.

EPFL arranges housing in Lausanne.

Participants usually receive:

A single bedroom
Shared kitchen facilities
Shared bathroom facilities

Housing is normally located within convenient reach of the EPFL campus.

However, remember that the accommodation cost comes from the CHF 3,600 stipend.

It should therefore not be described as an additional free benefit on top of the stipend.

Travel Support

EPFL covers most travel costs to and from Switzerland.

The current limits are:

Overseas Flights

Up to:

CHF 1,000

Shorter-Distance Travel

Up to:

CHF 500

This means an applicant whose airfare costs more than the reimbursement limit may need to pay the difference personally.

Travel expenses are also reimbursed after the program has finished.

Students should therefore be prepared to manage the initial travel cost according to EPFL’s instructions.

Geneva Laboratory Travel Support

Some participating laboratories are located in Geneva rather than Lausanne.

Students assigned to those laboratories receive a larger stipend to help cover additional transportation.

Travel between Lausanne and Geneva can take approximately one hour and fifteen minutes each way.

Applicants selecting Geneva-based laboratories should consider the commute when choosing their preferred labs.

Who Can Apply?

The program accepts students from around the world.

Applicants must currently be enrolled in a university program related to life sciences.

Eligible academic areas include:

Biology
Biophysics
Chemistry
Bioengineering
Bioinformatics
Quantitative biology
Genetics
Medical sciences
Other related life sciences

Applicants should also demonstrate a strong interest in pursuing a career connected with life sciences.

Study-Level Requirement

By the beginning of the program, applicants must have completed at least:

Two years of undergraduate study.

Students can apply from this point up to:

The first year of a Master’s degree.

Therefore, the program primarily targets advanced undergraduate and early Master’s students.

Can Master’s Students Apply?

Yes.

Students can participate up to the first year of Master’s-level study.

They must remain enrolled in an eligible degree program during the summer program.

Can PhD Students Apply?

No.

EPFL explicitly states that:

PhD students are not eligible.

Doctoral students should look for research programs designed specifically for PhD-level researchers.

What If You Finished Your Bachelor’s Degree?

There is an important exception for students between degrees.

If you have completed your Bachelor’s degree but have already been accepted into a Master’s program in a relevant life-sciences subject, you may still qualify.

You must be enrolled as a student by the time the summer program begins.

GPA Requirement

The program is academically competitive.

EPFL currently requires applicants to have either:

A GPA equivalent to at least 3.75 out of 4.0

or approximately:

Top 5% of their class.

Meeting this requirement does not guarantee selection.

The program receives many strong applications and selects only a relatively small group each year.

How Competitive Is the Program?

The EPFL Summer Research Program is highly selective.

The university plans to select approximately:

20–25 participants

for the 2027 program.

Academic performance is important, but EPFL also considers:

Research potential
Motivation
Scientific interests
Recommendation
Academic preparation
Fit with participating laboratories

Previous laboratory experience can strengthen an application, but EPFL says it is a plus rather than an absolute requirement.

Do You Need IELTS or TOEFL?

No general IELTS or TOEFL score is required when applying.

The working language of:

Research laboratories
Lab meetings
Seminars
Program activities

is English.

Therefore, applicants need enough English ability to work effectively in an international scientific environment.

However, EPFL does not currently require applicants to submit formal proof of English proficiency with the SRP application.

Participating Research Areas

The 2027 program includes laboratories working across a wide range of life-sciences fields.

Examples include:

Bioengineering

Students can find projects involving biological systems, biomaterials and engineering approaches to health and medicine.

Neuroscience

Participating laboratories include research in areas such as:

Neurobiology
Neural genetics
Neuroengineering
Computational neuroscience
NeuroAI
Memory
Brain ageing

Cancer Research

Some laboratories investigate areas such as:

Cancer prevention
Cancer biology
Immunology
Molecular mechanisms
Therapeutic approaches

Microbiology

Projects can include:

Molecular microbiology
Microbial mechanics
Microbiome research
Immunity
Synthetic microbiology

Computational Biology

Research opportunities can involve:

Bioinformatics
Computational neuroscience
Biomolecular modelling
Medical image processing
AI applications in life sciences

Biomaterials and Nanotechnology

Some participating laboratories work on:

Biomaterials
Nanotechnology
Nanoscale biology
Supramolecular materials
Chemical nanotechnology

Applicants should review the official 2027 participating laboratories and application information rather than choosing based only on a general research category.

Choosing Your EPFL Laboratories

Applicants select their preferred research laboratories during the application.

EPFL asks students to identify:

Three laboratory choices.

Your choices matter because the selection committee evaluates the application with input from the preferred laboratories.

If selected, the final laboratory assignment is determined during the selection process.

Applicants should therefore research each laboratory carefully.

Should You Contact Professors Before Applying?

For this program, follow the formal SRP application process.

Applicants should not treat the program like an informal laboratory internship where they need to cold-email professors first.

Instead, choose the laboratories that genuinely match your interests and explain those choices properly in your application.

2027 Participating Laboratories

EPFL has published an extensive list for the 2027 program.

Research groups include laboratories working in areas such as:

BioNanoPhotonic Systems
Virology and Structural Immunology
Protein and Cell Engineering
Programmable Biomaterials
Molecular Microbiology
Cancer Prevention
Biomolecular Modeling
Cell and Developmental Biology
Clinical Neuroengineering
Biorobotics
Sustainable Biosynthesis
Molecular and Synthetic Neuroengineering
Proteostasis and Molecular Therapeutics
Biological Networks
Experimental Biophysics
Computational Neuroscience and AI
Regeneration and Neurogenomics
Medical Image Processing
Neuroimmunology and Ageing
Microbiome Immunity and Ecology
Neural Genetics and Disease
Chemical Nanotechnology
Neurobiology of Memory
Nanoscale Biology
Neuroengineering
Microbiorobotic Systems
NeuroAI
Biomaterials for Immunoengineering
Cancer Research
Cell and Membrane Biology

This range makes the program particularly attractive to students whose interests cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Documents Required

The 2027 application requires applicants to prepare several materials.

Academic Transcript

Applicants need their Bachelor’s academic transcript.

Students who have already started a Master’s degree should also provide the relevant Master’s academic record.

Short Application Essays

The application includes short personal and scientific questions.

Prepare your answers before opening the application form.

Laboratory Choices

Applicants need to identify their preferred participating laboratories and explain their choices.

Recommendation

One letter of recommendation is required.

Applicants provide their referee’s contact details during the application process.

The referee receives the upload link only after the applicant submits the application.

This means you should contact your referee before submitting.

Important Application-System Warning

EPFL gives applicants an unusually important instruction:

Once you begin the online application, you must finish it in:

One sitting.

You cannot save an incomplete application and return later.

Therefore, prepare everything beforehand.

Have your:

Transcript
Essay answers
Laboratory choices
Explanations
Referee details

ready before opening the application form.

Recommendation Letter

One academic recommendation is required.

EPFL asks referees to comment on matters such as:

Academic excellence
Creativity
Research aptitude
Applicant’s position within their peer group
Suitability for an international program

Choose someone who knows your academic or research abilities well.

A detailed recommendation from a professor who has supervised your work can be more useful than a generic letter from someone who barely knows you.

How to Apply for EPFL Summer Research Program 2027

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Make sure you meet the requirements for:

Study level
Academic field
GPA/class ranking
Current enrollment
Full program availability

Step 2: Explore Participating Laboratories

Review the research areas and current laboratories.

Choose three that genuinely fit your background.

Step 3: Prepare Your Written Responses

Prepare your short personal and scientific essays before starting the online form.

Step 4: Prepare Your Transcript

Have your current academic transcript ready.

Master’s students should also prepare the relevant graduate-level record.

Step 5: Contact Your Referee

Ask your referee whether they can provide the recommendation.

Do this before submitting your application.

Step 6: Complete the Online Application

Applications open:

October 5, 2026 at 15:00 CET.

Use the official EPFL application instructions.

Remember that you cannot save the form and finish it later.

Step 7: Submit Before the Deadline

The final deadline is:

November 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

When Will Results Be Announced?

EPFL says applicants should receive an email with the result approximately:

Six weeks after the application deadline.

Applicants should monitor the email address used in their application.

How to Strengthen Your Application

Choose Laboratories Carefully

Do not select three laboratories simply because their names sound interesting.

Read their current research.

Then explain how your academic preparation connects with their work.

Demonstrate Scientific Curiosity

EPFL wants students who genuinely want research experience.

Discuss scientific questions that interest you rather than focusing only on the opportunity to travel to Switzerland.

Show Research Potential

Previous laboratory experience is useful but not mandatory.

You can demonstrate research potential through:

University projects
Laboratory courses
Independent projects
Computational work
Scientific competitions
Research assistant experience
Relevant technical skills

Prepare Strong Essay Responses

Be specific.

Instead of writing that you “love science,” explain:

What scientific problems interest you
What you have already studied
Why a particular laboratory fits you
What skills you hope to develop
How research fits your future plans

Select the Right Referee

Choose someone who can discuss your academic ability and research potential with specific examples.

What Will Students Do at EPFL?

Participants spend most of the program working within their assigned laboratory.

The research component is substantial.

EPFL describes approximately:

40 hours per week

of laboratory-related activity.

Depending on the research project, some work may occasionally be required during weekends. Cell-culture experiments are one example where timing can matter.

Workshops and Seminars

Research is only one part of the experience.

Participants also attend workshops and activities covering areas such as:

Scientific integrity
Research skills
Career development
Laboratory practices
Personal development

Friday activities form an important part of the program and attendance is expected.

Closing Symposium

At the end of the program, participants present their research.

Students prepare a:

Poster, or
Research presentation

for the closing symposium.

This gives interns experience communicating scientific work to members of the EPFL life-sciences community.

Social Activities

The program also includes organized social activities.

EPFL currently mentions experiences such as:

Swiss Alps day hike
Raclette
BBQs
Possible visits to scientific or cultural sites
Interaction with other international participants

The purpose is to create a research community rather than having students spend the entire eight weeks working independently.

Visa Support

International students who need a visa receive guidance from EPFL.

The program can provide:

Invitation documentation
Instructions for the visa process

EPFL warns that obtaining a visa can sometimes take more than three months.

Selected students should therefore follow EPFL’s instructions promptly.

Do not begin a visa process based on assumptions before receiving the program’s instructions.

EPFL Summer Research Program vs Other International Internships

Students interested in a broader range of STEM research can also explore the KAUST Visiting Student Research Program, which offers year-round fully funded research placements in Saudi Arabia.

Those interested in software engineering can consider the Google Software Developer Internship.

Students looking for engineering and aerospace opportunities can explore the Airbus Internship Program.

The EPFL program is particularly suitable for students interested in life-sciences research and future graduate study.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are EPFL Summer Research Program 2027 applications open?

Applications officially open on October 5, 2026 at 15:00 CET.

What is the deadline?

November 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET.

When will the program take place?

July 5–August 27, 2027.

How long is the internship?

Eight weeks.

Can international students apply?

Yes. Students from around the world can apply.

How many students are selected?

EPFL expects approximately 20–25 participants.

How much funding is provided?

Each participant receives CHF 3,600 for the two-month period.

Is housing free?

Housing is arranged by the program, but its cost is deducted from the CHF 3,600 stipend.

How much money remains after housing?

EPFL estimates approximately CHF 1,700 remains for living expenses after accommodation is paid.

Are flights covered?

Most travel costs are reimbursed within limits. EPFL currently provides up to CHF 1,000 for overseas travel and up to CHF 500 for shorter-distance travel.

Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?

No formal English-language test is currently required for the application.

What is the GPA requirement?

Applicants need approximately 3.75/4.0 or higher, or to be within the top 5% of their class.

Can Master’s students apply?

Yes, up to the first year of Master’s study.

Can PhD students apply?

No.

Do I need previous laboratory experience?

It is useful but not mandatory. EPFL says previous laboratory experience is a plus.

How many laboratories do I choose?

Applicants select three preferred laboratories.

Can I save the application and return later?

No. EPFL says the online application must be completed in one sitting.

Final Thoughts

The EPFL Summer Research Program 2027 is a strong opportunity for high-achieving students who want hands-on experience in life-sciences research.

The eight-week program combines laboratory research with mentoring, scientific seminars, professional-development activities and an international research environment.

Financial support is substantial. Each participant receives CHF 3,600, with accommodation arranged and paid from that amount. EPFL also reimburses most travel expenses up to its published limits.

However, the program is highly competitive.

Applicants generally need a 3.75/4.0 GPA or top-5% academic standing, and only around 20–25 students are expected to participate.

The application opens on October 5, 2026, with a deadline of November 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET.

Before applying, carefully review the official EPFL Summer Research Program, particularly the eligibility requirements and participating laboratories.

Last verified: October 2026

Pathfinderly provides educational information about international opportunities. Program dates, funding, eligibility requirements and application procedures can change. Always verify current information with EPFL before applying.