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EPFL School of Life Sciences Summer Research Program 2027 in Switzerland

Applications are now open for the EPFL School of Life Sciences Summer Research Program (SRP) 2027 in Lausanne, Switzerland. The program is for bachelor and first year master students in biology, bioengineering, chemistry and other life sciences fields. It lasts eight weeks, from July 5 to August 27, 2027, and the deadline is November 15, 2026. Students receive a stipend of CHF 3,600, with housing arranged for them and travel costs largely reimbursed. Students from all over the world can apply, and no application fee is mentioned in the official information. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

  • Program Name: EPFL School of Life Sciences Summer Research Program (SRP) 2027
  • Eligible Degree Level: Bachelor (at least two years completed) to first year Master
  • Host Country: Switzerland (Lausanne)
  • Program Dates: July 5 to August 27, 2027
  • Applications Open: October 5, 2026 at 15:00 CET
  • Application Deadline: November 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET
  • Open to All Nationalities: Yes, students from the entire world can apply

Interested in More Positions? Follow links below

What This Scholarship Offers:

Research and Learning Benefits

  • Join ongoing research in a lab of the EPFL School of Life Sciences
  • Learn new techniques while studying a research topic related to current health issues
  • Improve your critical thinking and experimental design skills
  • Prepare for future independent research as a graduate student
  • Understand what a research career involves, including its excitement and challenges
  • Receive mentoring from faculty and scientific staff
  • Get access to scientific seminars

Financial Support

  • A stipend of CHF 3,600 for the two month period, which covers housing and living costs
  • Housing is reserved and paid for you from the stipend before you arrive
  • After housing, you will have about CHF 1,700 left to live on
  • Travel reimbursement of up to CHF 1,000 for overseas flights and up to CHF 500 for shorter distances
  • Students working in Geneva labs receive a larger stipend to cover most of their travel, including the extra travel to Geneva

Housing

  • Students are housed in Lausanne, near the EPFL campus
  • Students usually have single rooms and share a kitchen and bathroom with other SRP participants
  • Special housing arrangements cannot be made

Activities and Social Life

  • Friday afternoon workshops on science and personal development
  • A closing symposium with a poster session or presentations from all participants
  • A day hike in the Swiss Alps with raclette, plus BBQs
  • A few possible excursions to places of interest, such as CERN

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Programs Available:

The program is open to students in:

  • Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Chemistry
  • Bioengineering
  • Bioinformatics
  • Quantitative Biology
  • Genetics
  • Medical and other life sciences related programs

Please note: This is a human based life sciences program. Students whose background is animal science (veterinary) or plant science are not selected. You should also have a few mainstream life sciences courses on your transcript, such as cell biology or biotechnology.

Eligibility Criteria:

To apply, you must:

  • Be currently enrolled in a university in a life sciences related program
  • Have a GPA equivalent to 3.75/4.0 or higher, or be in the top 5% of your class
  • Have completed at least two years of undergraduate work, up to the first year of a master’s degree, before the program starts
  • Show a strong interest in a career in life sciences
  • Stay enrolled in a degree program during the whole SRP
  • Be present on site for the entire program, from July 5 to August 27, 2027
  • Apply using the online application, as no other formats are accepted

Important Eligibility Notes

  • PhD students are not eligible
  • If you have finished your bachelor’s degree and are not yet in a master’s program, you can still apply if you have been accepted into a life sciences related master’s program by the start date
  • If your GPA is slightly below 3.75, your application will still be evaluated, but the program is very competitive
  • Previous lab experience is a plus but is not required
  • No proof of English level is needed at the time of application. The working language is English

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Participating Labs 2027:

You will choose your top three labs when you apply. Labs marked Geneva are located at Campus Biotech in Geneva, while housing for all students stays in Lausanne.

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Selection Criteria:

Your application will be judged on:

  • Your GPA and your short personal and scientific essays
  • Your university transcript (bachelor, and master’s if you have started it), or an official list of classes and grades
  • One letter of recommendation
  • Your basic life sciences understanding (previous lab experience is a plus)

Only applications with the full material are considered. The program is very competitive: in 2026 it received over 1,300 applications for 25 places. Your chances also depend on how many other candidates choose the same top three labs.

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Documents You Need Before Applying:

1. Transcript

  • Upload both your bachelor and master’s transcripts if you have started a master’s program
  • Official transcripts are preferred if possible and not too expensive. Unofficial transcripts or screenshots from your student portal are also accepted
  • Accepted languages are English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese and Italian
  • If your transcript is in another language, translate it into English and upload the original too. A faculty member can sign the translation to confirm it
  • If your grading scale does not fit XX/4.0 or XX/10, use another short format (for example 12.3/15) or write “Please see transcript” and explain your grading system on the transcript
  • If you do not have your latest grades, or are in your first master’s semester, upload a list of your current classes and the classes you are waiting for grades on, and explain why your transcript is not complete

2. Short Personal Essays

These replace the CV and motivation letter.

  • Top 3 accomplishments or awards (1,000 characters including spaces)
  • Internship programs you have taken part in (800 characters)
  • Relevant professional experience (800 characters)
  • Introduce yourself and the key strengths you will bring to SRP (800 characters)
  • What motivates you to pursue science (800 characters)
  • About yourself, your hobbies and interests (800 characters)

3. Scientific Essays for Each Lab Choice

These replace the motivation letter. Each answer is 800 characters including spaces.

  • What aspects of the lab’s research interest you
  • Which skills or techniques you want to learn from the lab
  • A project you would like to pursue, with justification and relevant papers cited

If you only want one or two labs, choose “none” for the remaining labs, write “n/a” in the answer fields, and add a short sentence explaining why.

You will also be asked how you used AI to prepare your application.

4. Referee Details

  • Choose someone who knows you well enough to judge your academics, research potential and ability to work in a group. A lab head or professor is best
  • Check that your referee can provide the letter before you enter their details
  • You cannot upload the letter yourself. Your referee automatically receives an upload link only when you submit your application
  • After submitting, you get a link to a referee management portal to track progress and send reminders
  • The referee portal stays open until November 15 at 23:59 CET, but it is best if they upload on the same day as the deadline

The letter is about 500 words and should cover:

  • The size of your peer group and your approximate rank in it
  • How the referee knows you
  • Your academic excellence, creativity and aptitude for research
  • Your fit for an international program with group activities

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How to Apply:

  1. Read the SRP website and the FAQs carefully before starting
  2. Prepare your transcript, essays and referee details
  3. Open the online application, available from October 5, 2026 at 15:00 CET
  4. Fill in the whole form in one sitting, as it cannot be saved
  5. Submit before November 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET
  6. Use the referee management link you receive to make sure your referee uploads the letter
Official Website

Other Important Information

  • Students must be present during the entire program. Arriving or leaving early is not possible
  • You work about 40 hours a week, and some weekends may be needed depending on your project
  • Friday workshops and activities are compulsory
  • You must make a poster and attend the Closing Symposium on the last day
  • Lab dress code is informal, but legs must be covered and closed shoes worn
  • Students from countries that need a Swiss visa receive help and an invitation letter. Do not start the visa process before getting the program’s instructions, as it can take more than three months
  • If you contact the coordinator, write a formal message in full sentences, and only after reading the website and FAQs

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Dr Engr Muhammad Umar

As the founder of Fellowships Guide, my name is Dr. Muhammad Umar. I completed my higher education from GIK Institute. I am an alumnus of the TWAS-TUBITAK, Turkiye and have participated in many international conferences. I have also been part of various international academic and research programs. Since 2017, I have explored and benefited from multiple fully funded opportunities. Based on my journey, I launched Fellowships Guide to help students access scholarships, fellowships, and exchange programs worldwide. I actively mentor those passionate about studying abroad and professional development. Read our Disclaimer Policy. Read About Us.

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