The EPFL Summer Research Program pays life sciences students a 3,600 Swiss franc stipend and arranges their housing for eight weeks of real laboratory research in Lausanne, Switzerland. Applications close on November 15 at 23:59 CET — and there is no CV and no motivation letter; the application runs on short essays instead.
The key facts at a glance
| Detail | What the official site says |
|---|---|
| Program | Summer Research Program (SRP), EPFL School of Life Sciences |
| Location | Lausanne, Switzerland; some labs at Campus Biotech, Geneva |
| Dates | July 5 – August 27 (8 weeks, full-time, on-site) |
| Stipend | 3,600 CHF; housing arranged by EPFL and deducted (~1,700 CHF left for living) |
| Travel | Reimbursed after the program: up to 1,000 CHF (overseas) / 500 CHF (shorter distances) |
| Who can apply | Students worldwide, 2+ years of a Bachelor’s through first-year Master’s in life sciences or related fields |
| Grades | GPA around 3.75/4.0 or top 5% of class |
| Deadline | November 15, 23:59 CET |
What the stipend really means in daily life
EPFL pays each participant 3,600 Swiss francs for the eight weeks, but deducts the housing it arranges for you before you arrive — leaving about 1,700 CHF to live on. Careful students who cook at home can make that work, but bring your own money for weekend travel and tourism. Switzerland is expensive, and the stipend covers living, not sightseeing.
Travel is reimbursed only after the program ends: up to 1,000 CHF for overseas flights and 500 CHF for shorter distances, so you buy your ticket first and wait for the refund. Students assigned to labs at the Campus Biotech in Geneva get a larger stipend, since some labs sit about 1 hour 15 minutes from Lausanne by train. Housing stays in Lausanne for everyone.
Check yourself first: do you qualify?
You qualify if you have finished at least two years of a Bachelor’s degree and are at or below the first year of a Master’s when the program starts, and you must stay enrolled throughout. It is open worldwide in biology, biophysics, chemistry, bio-engineering, bioinformatics, quantitative biology, or related fields, with at least a few mainstream life science courses on your transcript.
EPFL expects a GPA around 3.75 out of 4.0 — or the top 5% of your class if your school grades differently. Below 3.75 your application is still evaluated, but the FAQ warns honestly that the chances are unfortunately low. English is the working language, but no test score is needed; the team may check your English in a short video call.
Now the restrictions — these are strict:
- PhD students are not eligible. No exceptions.
- Animal science (veterinary) and plant science backgrounds are not selected. This is a human-based life science program.
- You must be on-site for the full eight weeks. Late arrival or early departure is impossible.
- Finished your Bachelor’s but not yet in a Master’s? You can still apply with a confirmed place in a life-sciences-related Master’s program.
No CV, no motivation letter — essays instead
EPFL replaced the CV and motivation letter with short essays — prepare them before opening the online form. The personal essays cover your top three accomplishments (1,000 characters), past internship programs, professional experience, your strengths, what motivates your science, and a personal introduction with your hobbies (800 characters each).
The scientific essays decide most applications. For each of up to three labs, describe what interests you about its research, which techniques you want to learn, and one project you would pursue — with justifications and cited papers. Read real papers first. Your application is evaluated with input from your chosen labs, and the form also asks how you used AI — answer honestly.
How to apply, step by step
- Read the full SRP site and official FAQ — EPFL makes this a requirement.
- Prepare your transcript: English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, or Italian are accepted; other languages need a self-translation with the original attached.
- Draft all essays in advance, keeping to the character limits.
- Choose your referee early and ask permission before entering their details. The referee gets an automatic upload link after you submit, with the same November 15 deadline.
- Complete the online form through the button below, well before the deadline.
What happens after you submit
Everyone hears back by email before December 20. Expect fierce competition: a recent edition drew over 1,300 applications for just 25 places, and your top-three lab choices help decide your odds. Accepted students work about 40 hours a week with some weekend duties, Friday workshops are mandatory, and the program ends with a poster symposium. If you need a Swiss visa, EPFL supplies the invitation letter and instructions — do not start before they arrive, and allow more than three months.
Looking at other options as well? We have also covered the UNFPA Global Internship Roster, the WTO Internship Programme in Geneva, and the FAO Paid Internship Programme in Rome.
Questions applicants ask
Q: Is the program fully funded?
A: It is paid, not all-expenses. You get 3,600 CHF; EPFL arranges your housing and deducts it, leaving about 1,700 CHF for living, and travel is reimbursed only after the program ends. Bring your own money for weekend travel and tourism.
Q: My GPA is slightly below 3.75. Should I still apply?
A: You can apply, but the FAQ warns the chances are unfortunately low. The top 5% of your class counts as an equivalent.
Q: Do I need an English test score?
A: No test is needed; the team may check your English in a short video call during evaluation.
Q: Can I arrive late or leave early?
A: No — you must be on-site for the entire July 5 to August 27 period, with no exceptions.
Q: I study veterinary or plant science. Can I apply?
A: No — this is a human-based life science program, and veterinary/animal or plant science backgrounds are not selected.
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