EPFL Summer@EPFL (School of Computer and Communication Sciences)

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) — IC School

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Details checked on 30 October 2026. Dates and amounts change every year. Always confirm on the official page.

Who can apply

Students from other institutions (not EPFL students) enrolled in a BSc, BTech, MSc, MTech or equivalent programme in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications or Electrical Engineering, and at least in their 2nd Bachelor's year. PhD students are not eligible. The fellowship usually runs between May and September.

Watch: how to apply

About this opportunity

The Summer@EPFL fellowship run by the School of Computer and Communication Sciences (IC) brings ~50–80 of the world’s brightest undergraduate and Master’s computing students to Lausanne for 2.5 to 3 months of cutting-edge research. Interns work directly with EPFL IC faculty and PhD researchers on projects in large language models, computer vision, distributed systems, computer architecture, quantum computing, and security, with many fellows later fast-tracked into EPFL’s funded PhD and Master’s Research Scholar programs.

How to apply, step by step

1. Check that you are eligible. Students from other institutions (not EPFL students) enrolled in a BSc, BTech, MSc, MTech or equivalent programme in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications or Electrical Engineering, and at least in their 2nd Bachelor's year. PhD students are not eligible. The fellowship usually runs between May and September.
2. Note the deadline. Late Nov (annual; the next deadline is Sunday 29 Nov 2026 - the yearly deadline is the Sunday closest to 1 Dec) Confirm the exact date on the official page.
3. Prepare your documents. Statement of Purpose: Clear technical essay outlining your computing research interests, mathematical maturity, and fit with specific EPFL IC laboratories.; Curriculum Vitae: Detailed CV with links to publications, GitHub projects, competitive programming (ICPC/Kaggle) ranks, or systems projects.; Official Academic Transcripts: University grade sheets demonstrating near-perfect marks in algorithms, linear algebra, probability, and systems.; Faculty Preferences: Selection of target EPFL IC professors and research labs..
4. Apply on the official page. Open the official application page and submit your application before the deadline.

How applicants are selected

Holistic Review of GPA & University Rigor → Technical Screening by EPFL IC Faculty → Video Interview with Host Professor (Jan–Feb) → Fellowship Award.

Profile of past winners

Top-1% CS and AI students who have already built strong coding/research projects or competitive math/algorithmic portfolios and articulate a sharp research vision for an EPFL IC lab.

Free materials

Templates, checklists and guides to help you apply.

Browse all free materials →

Tips from our advisors

1. Tailor your CV to the role: lead with the skills and projects the posting asks for.
2. Write a short, specific motivation statement. Name the team or project you want to join and why.
3. Show a clear link between your past studies, this programme and your career goal. Committees look for a story, not a list.
4. Beyond grades, show leadership and community impact with concrete numbers and outcomes.
5. Spend most of your time on the criteria with the highest weight in the selection breakdown above.
6. Start at least 8 to 12 weeks early. Certified transcripts, translations and referee letters usually take longer than expected.

Quick answers

Who can apply for EPFL Summer@EPFL (School of Computer and Communication Sciences)?

Students from other institutions (not EPFL students) enrolled in a BSc, BTech, MSc, MTech or equivalent programme in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications or Electrical Engineering, and at least in their 2nd Bachelor's year. PhD students are not eligible. The fellowship usually runs between May and September.

What does EPFL Summer@EPFL (School of Computer and Communication Sciences) cover?

Living allowance of CHF 1,800 per month (pro-rated to the actual duration) and refund of travel costs, for a research fellowship of two to three months in an EPFL lab. The apply page says that in principle you arrange your own accommodation.

When is the deadline for EPFL Summer@EPFL (School of Computer and Communication Sciences)?

Late Nov (annual; the next deadline is Sunday 29 Nov 2026 - the yearly deadline is the Sunday closest to 1 Dec) Dates change every year, so confirm on the official page.

Where can I study or work with EPFL Summer@EPFL (School of Computer and Communication Sciences)?

Host countries: Switzerland.

What documents do I need for EPFL Summer@EPFL (School of Computer and Communication Sciences)?

Statement of Purpose: Clear technical essay outlining your computing research interests, mathematical maturity, and fit with specific EPFL IC laboratories.; Curriculum Vitae: Detailed CV with links to publications, GitHub projects, competitive programming (ICPC/Kaggle) ranks, or systems projects.; Official Academic Transcripts: University grade sheets demonstrating near-perfect marks in algorithms, linear algebra, probability, and systems.; Faculty Preferences: Selection of target EPFL IC professors and research labs..

How are applicants selected for EPFL Summer@EPFL (School of Computer and Communication Sciences)?

Holistic Review of GPA & University Rigor → Technical Screening by EPFL IC Faculty → Video Interview with Host Professor (Jan–Feb) → Fellowship Award.

How much work is the EPFL Summer@EPFL (School of Computer and Communication Sciences) application?

Very High: Online IC Portal Application + Statement of Purpose + GPA Transcripts + CV + Lab Preferences