CERN openlab Summer Student Programme 2027 | CHF 94/Day
Last checked: 13 November 2026
The CERN openlab Summer Student Programme 2027 is a computing placement at CERN in Geneva for Bachelor’s and Master’s students. It pays a net allowance of CHF 94 per calendar day, and applications are open.
CERN openlab Summer Student Programme 2027 Summary
Host: CERN openlab, CERN (Geneva, Switzerland)
Level: Bachelor’s or Master’s students (not PhD)
What it covers: CHF 94 per calendar day, health insurance, travel allowance, help finding accommodation
Who can apply: All nationalities, with a strong computing profile
How to apply: Direct, through the CERN careers portal
Deadline: 21 January 2027, 23:59 Geneva time (22:59 UTC)
Status: Open
Benefits and Allowance
According to the official CERN careers posting, the programme offers:
- Allowance: CHF 94 per calendar day, net of tax.
- Health insurance: Cover under CERN’s scheme. The contribution comes out of your allowance.
- Travel: The openlab page says a lump sum is paid at the end of your stay. However, the careers posting says travel expenses depend on your individual circumstances.
- Accommodation: CERN helps you find housing on the CERN site or nearby.
- Lectures: Computing lectures from openlab, plus access to the main CERN summer student lectures.
- Supervision: A dedicated CERN supervisor for your project. At the end, you write a report and give a short public presentation.
- Duration: About nine weeks, starting on 21 or 28 June 2027, according to the openlab page. The careers posting lists a 2-month contract.
- Not covered: Housing costs. CERN only helps you find a place.
- Not covered: Holidays and remote work. The openlab FAQ says students have no holiday entitlement and must work on-site.
- Not confirmed: Full funding. The official pages do not describe the programme as fully funded.
Also check: CERN Summer Internship 2027 in Switzerland | CHF 94/Day for the main CERN programme, which covers more fields.
CERN openlab Summer Student Programme Eligibility
According to the CERN careers posting, you can apply if you meet these rules:
- Level: You are a Bachelor’s or Master’s student, not a PhD candidate.
- Study progress: You have completed at least six semesters (three years) of full-time study by the start of summer.
- Profile: You have a strong computing profile.
- English: You have a good knowledge of English.
- Enrolment: You stay enrolled as a full-time student during the placement.
- Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome, including those from CERN Non-Member States, according to the openlab FAQ.
- Not eligible: PhD candidates, past participants of the CERN Summer Student Programme, and anyone with more than three months of other CERN work.
- Not eligible: Recent graduates who are not enrolled during the summer, according to the openlab FAQ.
The programme is competitive. In 2026, CERN openlab chose 47 students from 27 nationalities out of almost 6,000 applicants. To stand out, show your computing experience clearly in your CV and transcript. Then state your preferred areas in the “message to the hiring manager” field, because CERN uses your application to assign projects.
Required Documents
Submit these documents in English or French, in PDF format:
- CV: Your updated CV.
- Transcript: Your most recent official academic transcript, not password-protected.
- Reference letter: A letter dated within the last 12 months. It can come from anyone who has worked with you, not only a professor.
- Enrolment certificate: Proof that you are enrolled as a student.
- Motivation letter (optional): Name your preferred area of work.
Importantly, the openlab page says you cannot add documents after you submit. Prepare everything first.
Available Fields of Study
The openlab FAQ lists computer science, mathematics, engineering and physics. Students from other degrees may still apply if their transcripts show the needed computing knowledge.
How to Apply for the CERN openlab Summer Student Programme
- Check your eligibility. Confirm your level, study progress and enrolment status.
- Prepare your documents. Save each file as a clearly named PDF.
- Open the CERN careers portal. Use the Apply Now button below.
- Complete the application. CERN says it takes about 15 minutes. Add your motivation letter if you have one.
- Submit before the deadline. The deadline is 21 January 2027, 23:59 Geneva time (22:59 UTC). Then check your inbox for the confirmation email.
- Wait for the result. CERN says replies arrive by early April 2027, and visa invitation letters usually follow around May.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing documents: You cannot add files after submitting, so an incomplete application stays incomplete.
- Old reference letter: CERN asks for a letter dated within the last 12 months.
- Wrong status: PhD candidates, past summer students and students not enrolled in summer are not eligible.
No application fee is mentioned on the official pages, and insurab.com never charges for applications. Apply only through the official CERN careers portal.
Also check: ETH Summer Fellowship 2027 in Switzerland | CHF 4,000 Stipend for another summer opportunity in Switzerland.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Early November 2026 |
| Application deadline | 21 January 2027, 23:59 Geneva time (22:59 UTC) |
| Replies to applicants | By early April 2027 |
| Visa invitation letters | Usually around May 2027 |
| Programme start | 21 or 28 June 2027 |
| Duration | About nine weeks |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. It pays CHF 94 per calendar day, net of tax, according to the CERN careers posting. However, full funding is not confirmed on the official pages.
Applicants of all nationalities can apply, according to the openlab FAQ. You must be a Bachelor’s or Master’s student with a strong computing profile.
It is highly competitive. In 2026, CERN openlab chose 47 students from almost 6,000 applicants.
No. CERN assigns projects based on your application, but you can state preferences and skills in the message to the hiring manager field.
Openlab focuses on computing and uses its own application, coded SUM-OPENLAB-2027. The main programme covers more fields and has a separate posting.
Related Articles
- WIPO Internship 2027 in Switzerland | Fully Funded
- WHO Internship Programme 2027 | Paid Global Health Internships in Geneva
- HENNGE Global Internship 2027 in Japan | Free Flights + Subsidy
- Max Planck Internship 2027 in Germany | Fully Funded
Know a computing student who should apply? Share this page with them.
Khalid Amin
Founder of Insurab | Global Opportunities Researcher
Khalid Amin is the founder of Insurab, a resource for international students and young professionals searching for scholarships, fellowships, internships, conferences, free online courses and study abroad guidance. He tracks opportunities across Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East, and verifies every program against its official source before it is published. Articles are reviewed regularly and updated when deadlines, eligibility rules or benefits change.
