HOW TO APPLY

Target

The Summer Program is aimed at International BSc and MSc Degree students (PhD students cannot apply) in Physics and Applied Physics. Undergraduate students should be at least in their 3rd year at the time of the application. Engineering students are eligible to apply, but they must have a solid academic background and interest in physics. Students are accepted into the research groups at ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich, EPFL and the University of Bern. Each student is guided by a supervisor, responsabile for their training program. Participants in the school will spend nine weeks at ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich, the University of Bern (possibly FERMILAB), EPFL (possibly CERN). The program runs from July 13 to September 13, 2026, some flexibility will be considered depending on the project needs. A final report and some presentations (in English) on the project will be required during the duration of the program. At the end of the programm, all the students will meet to present their work.

Organizing Committee

- Prof. Ben Kilminster, University of Zurich
- Dr. Luigi Marchese, ETH Zurich
- Prof. Lesya Shchutska, EPFL
- Prof. Michele Weber, University of Bern

Summer Program Coordinator

- Dr. Luigi Marchese, ETH Zurich

Contacts

If you have questions about the Summer Program, please contact the coordinator at s3p3@phys.ethz.ch or at lmarchese@phys.ethz.ch. The Summer Program coordinator will be happy to talk with referees/students about details of the program.

Admission

Equal opportunity admission to the Summer Program is open to International students, on a highly competitive basis. Participants will be selected on the basis of academic achievement, average score in exams, graduation score if applicable, and suitability for the program, as indicated in a personal statement.
To be considered, applicants must be registered as a student at a university for the duration of the program (July - September 2026). A certificate confirming the student status from the university will be required. Undergraduate students should be at least in their 3rd year at the time of the application. Applicants should also specify whether this program can be registered as part of the compulsory academic curriculum (i.e. credits to graduate), especially if non-European students.
Students from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates are expected to respect and value individual differences. Some merit-based scholarships are available, supported by the Swiss Institute of Particle Physics (CHIPP) and the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT).

Score requirements

Bachelor's degree students:
- Bachelor's degree average score at exams ranked in the "top 10-15%". At least 3rd year at the time of the application.
Master's degree students:
- Master's degree average score at exams ranked in the "top 10%"

Support

The costs for the successful students are:
- health insurance (if needed) valid for the internship;
- visa expenses (if needed);
- travel expenses.
Funding sufficient to cover the living expenses (accommodation, food and other items) will be provided.

Application

Applications must be made at S3P3Application and must include:
- Cover Letter where the student should provide reasons why they seek to be admitted to the program,
- Curriculum Vitae,
- Application Form + Academic Transcripts as a single .pdf file: Download the Application form,
- Previous Research Projects (if available) in pdf format. If not in English, applicants should provide a summary (2-3 pages) in English explaining their main contributions.
- 2 reference letters (in English) from professors or scientists at national or international laboratories. Letters must be submitted online by the reference writers by the deadline.

Candidates will be notified of acceptance by the end of April 2026.