Swiss universities run some of the best-funded summer research placements in Europe. What they look for, what they pay, and when to apply.
Short answer: Swiss summer research placements run eight to ten weeks inside a working research group, are open to bachelor's and master's students of any nationality, and typically cover travel, visa costs, health insurance and a living allowance. Applications open early in the year and close around March for placements starting in July.
Switzerland runs several of the better-funded summer research placements in Europe, and they are less well known outside physics and engineering than they deserve to be.
Eight to ten weeks inside a working research group, contributing to an active project. Not a course, and not job shadowing — you are given something to do and expected to produce a result.
The length is what makes them valuable. Two weeks is a visit; nine weeks is long enough to learn a technique, run something with it, and have work you can talk about in a later application.
The Swiss Summer Student Programme runs across ETH Zurich, EPFL, the University of Zurich and the University of Bern. Nine weeks, roughly mid-July to mid-September.
It is open to bachelor's and master's students of any nationality in physics, applied and medical physics, engineering, computing science and materials science. You must stay enrolled at your own university throughout — this is a placement attached to a degree, not a graduate post.
Funding covers travel, visa costs, health insurance and a living allowance.
Switzerland is among the most expensive countries in the world. A living allowance that would be generous in most of Europe goes quickly in Zurich or Lausanne.
Ask for the figure at offer stage and check it against real rents and grocery prices rather than assuming. This is not a reason to decline — the placements are excellent — but going in with the wrong number is avoidable.
Research groups take students who can contribute early:
A generic “I am fascinated by physics” letter loses to a paragraph naming a technique you have used.
Applications typically open early in the year and close in March, for placements starting in July. The 2026 round closed on 20 March.
That timing has a consequence worth planning around: you apply roughly four months before you travel, which is what makes the Swiss national visa — several weeks, with host documentation — workable.
The Swiss programme is field-specific, but the format is not. Look for equivalents run directly by university departments in your own discipline. They are often advertised only on departmental pages, which is precisely why they are less competitive than the headline schemes.
Typically early in the calendar year, closing around March for placements beginning in July. The 2026 Swiss Summer Student Programme round closed on 20 March 2026.
The main programmes provide a living allowance covering accommodation and food, alongside travel and health insurance, rather than a salary. Ask for the figure at offer stage — Swiss living costs are among the highest in the world.
Yes. The Swiss Summer Student Programme is open to all nationalities, provided you remain enrolled at your own university for the duration of the placement.
The main programme covers physics, applied and medical physics, engineering, computing science and materials science. Other disciplines usually run equivalents advertised only on departmental pages.
Every event page has its own registration form. Places on each programme are limited.
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