Doctoral funding checked 5 October 2026. CERN’s 2027-1 Doctoral Student Programme combines thesis research with practical work in an international scientific environment. The ideal start is 1 April 2027.
Benefits and research
The notice lists CHF3,907 monthly, 12–36 months onsite in Geneva, and paid leave. Health-insurance contributions are deducted from the allowance; travel and family support depend on circumstances. Research must contribute to your university thesis.
Eligibility restrictions
You must be starting or undertaking a doctorate, have university support, and know English or French. Relevant fields include applied physics, computing and engineering. Member or Associate Member State nationality is required. The current notice excludes Pakistani, Lithuanian, Latvian, Cypriot, Croatian and Turkish nationals because associate-membership ceilings have been reached. Check the live notice for changes before applying.
Application process and required documents
Submit online with an English or French CV. The notice marks academic references and transcripts optional. The deadline is 16 October 2026 at 23:59 Geneva time.
Read CERN’s current notice and open the application.
Prepare your research case
Discuss your proposed research direction with your university supervisor before investing time in the application. Clarify how an external placement would fit your thesis, what academic oversight would remain at your university and how you would document progress.
In your CV, distinguish completed work from planned work. For a computing project, describe your contribution, the methods used and what the results showed. For laboratory or engineering experience, explain the problem, your responsibilities and the evidence supporting your conclusion. A concise account of one substantial project is often more useful than an unexplained list of tools.
Keep supporting documents readable and consistently named. Ask a referee whether they can comment on the work you describe, even where a letter is optional. These preparation suggestions are editorial advice, not extra CERN eligibility rules.
Summary
| Opportunity | Doctoral Student Programme 2027-1 |
|---|---|
| Support | CHF3,907 monthly; deductions and conditions apply |
| Deadline | 16 October 2026, 23:59 Geneva time |
Confirm nationality eligibility and university agreement before submitting. An application does not guarantee selection or a particular research project.
Keywords: CERN doctoral programme, doctoral research funding, PhD studentship 2027.
