City: Geneva
Organization: CERN
Program: Short-Term Internship
Category: Internship
Duration: 1 to 6 months
Deadline: Before 01/11/2026 at 23:59 (Geneva Time)
About the Internship
CERN is offering its Short-Term Internship Programme for students who want to gain practical experience in their field of studies. The official programme description states that participants spend 1 to 6 months at CERN and work on real-world projects within one of the world’s leading scientific institutions. The page refers to fields including applied physics, engineering, computing, and administration.
CERN also presents the programme as an opportunity to build technical knowledge while becoming part of a vibrant and diverse international community. According to the official page, interns collaborate with experts and peers from around the world and gain insights that support both personal and professional development.
Place of Internship
The official job post lists Geneva, Switzerland as the location of the internship. It also specifies that the position is fully onsite and gives an ideal start date of 01/09/2026.
Duration
The internship runs for 1 to 6 months. This duration appears both on the programme overview page and on the job listing page.
Benefits
CERN states that interns receive a monthly allowance of 1,593 Swiss Francs. The programme page also says the internship gives participants the opportunity to work on operations with CERN for 1 to 6 months. In addition, the job page notes entitlement to paid leave for contracts of 4 months or more.
Available Areas
The official programme page lists these fields of work for the Short-Term Internship: applied physics, civil engineering, data science and data analytics, electrical or electronics engineering, health, safety and environment, international relations, material and surface science, mathematics, mechanical engineering, software engineering and IT, and support services covering finance, HR, legal, and procurement. The same page states that there are currently no open positions in experimental physics and theoretical physics.
What Interns Do
According to CERN, interns support experienced professionals in their daily work, use and learn tools or methods related to their area of study, contribute to small-scale projects under supervision, and work with people from diverse backgrounds in an international setting.
Who Can Apply
Applicants must be nationals of a CERN Member State or Associate Member State. CERN also states that it cannot currently consider applications from Pakistani and Lithuanian nationals for positions with a 2026 start date because the ceiling defined under Article II.5 of the Associate Membership Agreement has been reached.
Applicants must be pursuing a technical or administrative diploma, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree, and they must remain enrolled as full-time students during the studentship. The official programme page further states that candidates must be at least 18 years old and must have a good working knowledge of English or French.
Preferred Profile
The job page explains that applicants should be studying in a technical, engineering, or administrative field. It also says they should be required or encouraged by their university to complete a practical training period, should want to develop their skills through on-the-job learning, and should enjoy teamwork in a collaborative environment.
Required Skills
CERN lists several qualities for this internship, including fundamental knowledge in the applicant’s field of study, curiosity, precision, a proactive attitude towards learning, good communication skills, and the ability to work effectively in a multicultural team.
How the Process Works
The official programme page describes the recruitment process in three stages. Applicants first complete the online application and upload a CV in English or French before the deadline. Applications are then reviewed, and some candidates may be invited to an online interview with the hiring manager or managers. If selected, candidates receive an offer and move into onboarding after acceptance.
Documents for Application
To apply, CERN requires a CV in English or French. The job page also states that applicants may include any document they consider relevant to their application. CERN notes that the online application should take about 15 minutes.
Deadline
The official listing states that the application must be submitted before 01/11/2026 at 23:59 Geneva Time.
