CERN Postgraduate Scholarship International students – Switzerland

Location: Switzerland

Program: Postgraduate Degree

Eligibility: International students

Duration: 12 to 36 months

Deadline: June 30, 2026

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The CERN Doctoral Student Programme offers doctoral students the opportunity to spend up to 36 months working on their doctoral thesis at CERN — the European Organization for Nuclear Research — in a truly unique environment where science, technology, and innovation meet. Participants carry out their doctoral research in collaboration with CERN and their home university, contributing to ongoing projects in domains such as applied physics, computing, engineering, and related technical fields. The contract starts at 12 months and is renewable up to 3 years, with the possibility of spreading the programme over a maximum of 4 consecutive years to allow time at the home university. The ideal start date for this cycle is January 1, 2027. Applications must be submitted online through CERN’s careers portal with a CV in English or French, and optionally an academic reference letter and academic transcript.

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world’s largest and most respected scientific institutions, located in Meyrin, Switzerland, on the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva. Founded in 1954, CERN operates the world’s largest particle physics laboratory and is home to groundbreaking experiments and technologies including the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). CERN brings together over 17,000 scientists, engineers, and professionals from more than 100 nationalities, united by a shared mission to uncover the fundamental structure of the universe. Through its student and fellowship programmes, CERN provides exceptional opportunities for the next generation of scientists and engineers to gain hands-on research experience at the very frontier of human knowledge.

Benefits of the Programme

This programme will provide the following to its recipients:

A monthly allowance of 3,907 Swiss Francs (tax free)
30 days of paid leave per year plus 2 weeks of annual closure
Comprehensive Health Insurance scheme
Family supplement to subsistence allowance
Travel expenses to Geneva upon joining CERN, depending on individual circumstances
Contract of 12 months, renewable up to 3 years, with the possibility to spread over a maximum of 4 consecutive years

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Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this programme, applicants must meet the following:

Must be a national of a CERN Member State or Associate Member State
Must have a good knowledge of English or French
Must be enrolled in a doctoral programme in a relevant field such as physics, engineering, computer science, or a related discipline, and must have begun doctoral studies at the time of application
The home university must support participation in the programme and agree that the research conducted at CERN will contribute to the applicant’s PhD thesis
The applicant’s field of study must align with CERN’s research areas, including but not limited to physics, engineering, computing, and related applied sciences

Note: Kindly check the official webpage for full and detailed requirements.

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Selection Criteria

Applicants are assessed based on their academic and research background, alignment of their field of study with CERN’s research areas, the strength of their CV, and the endorsement and support of their home university. A solid theoretical foundation in the research area, curiosity, precision, a proactive approach to learning, and the ability to work effectively in a multicultural team are key qualities sought in candidates. An academic reference letter and transcript may be submitted optionally to strengthen the application.