CERN Doctoral Scholarship supports doctoral research at CERN by offering students the opportunity to work on their PhD thesis within an international research and engineering environment. The CERN Doctoral Scholarship enables researchers to collaborate with CERN and their home university while gaining hands-on experience in applied physics, computing, engineering or related fields.
The programme is provided by CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) based in Geneva, Switzerland. CERN hosts an international and multidisciplinary community of scientists, engineers and technicians, and offers contractual support, health insurance coverage, and a monthly allowance to successful doctoral students.
CERN Doctoral Scholarship Benefits
- A monthly allowance of 3907Swiss Francs (tax free).
- 30 days of paid leave per year plus 2 weeks annual closure.
- Coverage by CERNs comprehensive Health Insurance scheme (the contribution will be automatically deducted from your allowance).
- Family supplement to subsistence allowance, depending on your individual circumstances.
- Travel expenses to Geneva upon joining CERN, depending on your individual circumstances.
- A contract duration for 12 months, renewable up to 3 years, with possibility to spread over a maximum duration of 4 consecutive years to allow you to spend time at the university.
CERN Doctoral Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
- You are a national of a CERN Member State or Associate Member State (with exclusions noted for Pakistani, Lithuanian, Latvian, Cypriot and Croatian nationals).
- You have a good knowledge of English or French.
- Your university must support your participation in the programme and agree that the research at CERN will contribute to your PhD thesis; field of study should align with CERNs research areas.
- You must be enrolled in a doctoral program in a relevant field such as physics, engineering, computer science, or a related discipline and should have begun your doctoral studies at the time of application.
Documents Required
- Online Application Form
- Updated Resume
- Academic Transcript
- Three recent letters of recommendation
Research Area
- Applied Physics
- IT
- Mathematics
- Electricity
- Electronics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Instrumentation for accelerators and particle physics experiments
- Materials Science
- Radiation Protection
- Safety and Environmental Protection
- Science Communication
- Surveying
- Ultra-high Vacuum
How to Apply for CERN Doctoral Scholarship
- Your CV (English or French)
- Any document you consider relevant to your application
- An academic reference letter (optional)
- An academic transcript (optional)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the CERN Doctoral Scholarship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, and how to apply based on the official programme details.
What is the CERN Doctoral Programme and what will I do?
The Doctoral Student Programme allows you to spend up to 36 months working on your doctoral thesis at CERN in collaboration with your home university. You will conduct research in areas such as applied physics, computing, engineering or related technical fields, contribute to ongoing projects, and present and document your work as part of academic objectives.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is 16/10/26 at 23:59 (Geneva time), as stated in the programme’s Additional Information. Make sure to submit required documents by that date.
What financial support and benefits are provided?
Participants receive a monthly allowance of 3,907 Swiss Francs (tax free), 30 days paid leave per year plus two weeks annual closure, health insurance coverage (contributions deducted from the allowance), possible family supplement, travel expenses to Geneva upon joining depending on circumstances, and a renewable contract up to three years.
Who is eligible to apply for the programme?
Applicants must be nationals of a CERN Member State or Associate Member State (with specified exclusions), have good knowledge of English or French, be enrolled in a doctoral programme in a relevant field and have the support of their home university confirming the CERN research will contribute to their PhD thesis.
What documents are required to complete the application?
You will need your CV in English or French and any documents you consider relevant. An academic reference letter and an academic transcript are optional but may support your application, as listed in the programme details.
What is the contract duration and start date?
Contracts are for 12 months, renewable up to 3 years, with the possibility to spread over a maximum of 4 consecutive years to accommodate time at the university. The ideal start date listed is 01/04/27.
What are the working conditions and hours?
The position is full-time with weekly working hours of 40 and the job flexibility indicated as fully onsite at CERN in Geneva. Employment conditions are provided in the Additional Information section of the posting.
Are applicants from all countries eligible?
Applicants must be nationals of CERN Member States or Associate Member States. The posting notes that applications from Pakistani, Lithuanian, Latvian, Cypriot and Croatian nationals cannot be considered due to a ceiling defined under the Associate Membership Agreement.
What language skills are required?
You should have a good knowledge of English or French to be eligible, as the programme specifies language proficiency in one of these languages.
Where can I find more information and apply?
Further information is available on CERN’s careers pages. The posting links to careers.cern, and the job advert includes an ‘I’m interested’ application button which directs candidates to the official application process.
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