Short Term Internship 2026

Apply for an internship at CERN in Geneva for a few months of hands-on experience.

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CERN - European Organization for Nuclear Research

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Geneva (Switzerland)

Internship

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Overview

Apply for an internship at CERN in Geneva for a few months of hands-on experience.

You have:

You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
You are a full-time student (Technical/Administrative diploma, Bachelor or Master degree).
You are at least 18 years of age.
You will remain a full-time registered student throughout the internship at CERN.
You have good working proficiency in English and/or French.
Your main field of study is in one of the specified technical or administrative areas.

Contract

This is a Internship contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about Internship contracts.

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Details

Company Description

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. Using the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments, they study the basic constituents of matter - fundamental particles that are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives physicists clues about how particles interact, and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature. Find out more on home.cern.

Diversity has been an integral part of CERN's mission since its foundation and is an established value of the Organization.

Job Description

One of CERN’s key missions is education. Our experts enjoy sharing their knowledge with committed and passionate students.

If you are an undergraduate student in a technical or administrative field, and you’re looking to spend a few months training on-the-job, imagine doing your internship at CERN in Geneva. An impressive addition to your CV!

We offer a limited number of placements in our practical training programme.

Duration 1 – 6 months.

!Important!: Please note that only nationals of CERN Member States or Associate Member States are eligible to apply. Applications from other countries will not be considered.

Qualifications

To qualify for an internship, you should meet the following requirements:

You are a national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State.
You are a full-time student (Technical/Administrative diploma, Bachelor or Master degree).
- Please note that candidates studying for a PhD are not eligible for this programme.
You are at least 18 years of age.
Your main field of study is in one of the following areas: applied physics, computing, mathematics, electricity, electronics, mechanical or civil engineering, instrumentation, materials science, radiation protection, safety and environmental protection, surveying, ultra-high vacuum, scientific communication. Or in administrative fields such as: translation, advanced secretarial work, accounting, legal services, human resources, librarianship, logistics.
You will remain a full-time registered student throughout the internship at CERN.
You have good working proficiency in English and/ or French.

Important Information

The duration of the internship is minimum 1 month and maximum 6 months.
Your Educational Establishment / University must ensure you have full insurance cover valid in the Geneva area (France and Switzerland) for medical expenses, work and private accidents as well as any disability arising from professional and non-professional illness and accidents.
You will receive a monthly allowance of 1,587 Swiss Francs for a full month of work. If you work less than a full month, the allowance will be adjusted proportionally.

Additional Information

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, you will only be contacted if successful.

Please note that if a traineeship agreement is required by your Educational Establishment / University, as an international organisation CERN will not sign external documents. You will therefore be required to use the CERN traineeship agreement provided on https://cds.cern.ch/record/1994294/files/convention_stage_6mois_en.pdf.

How to apply

You need a CV in English or French (in a PDF format).

During the application process you will need to select your availability period for this internship.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Describe a project that you worked on in your field of study. What was your role?	The interviewer wants to know about your direct experience and involvement in relevant projects.	Explain your role clearly, the objectives of the project, and the outcomes achieved.
How do you handle challenges or difficulties during your studies?	The interviewer is assessing your problem-solving skills and resilience.	Pro members can see the explanation.
Why are you interested in an internship at CERN specifically?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you give an example of a time you worked effectively in a team?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
What skills do you think are necessary for a successful internship here?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe how you manage your time effectively between academic obligations and personal commitments.	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
What do you hope to gain from this internship experience?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you ensure you are keeping up-to-date with developments in your field?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.