{"id":82115,"date":"2026-08-12T12:12:38","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T12:12:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/?p=82115"},"modified":"2026-08-12T12:12:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T12:12:44","slug":"epfl-summer-internships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/epfl-summer-internships\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\"><\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\">10<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">min read<\/span><\/span>\n<div class=\"quick-read-box\">\n\n  <div class=\"qr-header\">\n    <span style=\"font-size:18px;\">\u26a1<\/span>\n    <h3 class=\"qr-title\">Quick Read<\/h3>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <ul>\n <li>EPFL runs three separate summer internship tracks for Indian students, not one.<\/li>\n<li>Summer@EPFL (Computer Science) pays Rs.2,11,860 (CHF 1,800) a month; deadline for summer 2027 is confirmed as <strong>29 November 2026<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>The E3 Engineering Program&#8217;s 2025 cohort took 44 students from over a dozen countries.<\/li>\n<li>The Life Sciences Summer Research Program requires a GPA of 3.75\/4.0 or top 5% of class.<\/li>\n<li>EPFL&#8217;s Excellence Research Internship Program (ERIP) is closed to India-based applicants; it&#8217;s restricted to partner universities in North America and Singapore.<\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n  <div class=\"qr-footer\">\n    \ud83d\udc49 Best for: Indian undergraduate and Master&#8217;s students applying to EPFL summer internships\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>EPFL summer internships <\/strong>searches usually turn up blog posts that describe one generic &#8220;EPFL Summer Internship 2026&#8221; open to everyone. That&#8217;s not accurate. EPFL runs three distinct programs Indian students can actually apply to, plus a fourth flagship program that excludes India entirely. This guide separates them correctly, with confirmed 2026-27 deadlines, stipends, and eligibility sourced directly from EPFL&#8217;s own pages.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Content<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #192a3d;color:#192a3d\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #192a3d;color:#192a3d\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/epfl-summer-internships\/#The_Three_Real_EPFL_Summer_Internships\" title=\"The Three Real EPFL Summer Internships\">The Three Real EPFL Summer Internships<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/epfl-summer-internships\/#E3_Program_Engineering_Science_and_Technology\" title=\"E3 Program: Engineering, Science, and Technology\">E3 Program: Engineering, Science, and Technology<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/epfl-summer-internships\/#Life_Sciences_Summer_Research_Program\" title=\"Life Sciences Summer Research Program\">Life Sciences Summer Research Program<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/epfl-summer-internships\/#EPFL_Summer_Internship_Acceptance_Rate_What_the_Numbers_Actually_Show\" title=\"EPFL Summer Internship Acceptance Rate: What the Numbers Actually Show\">EPFL Summer Internship Acceptance Rate: What the Numbers Actually Show<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/epfl-summer-internships\/#The_EPFL_Summer_Internship_Application_Documents_and_Eligibility_Checklist\" title=\"The EPFL Summer Internship Application: Documents and Eligibility Checklist\">The EPFL Summer Internship Application: Documents and Eligibility Checklist<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/epfl-summer-internships\/#Month-by-Month_Deadline_Calendar_for_2026-27\" title=\"Month-by-Month Deadline Calendar for 2026-27\">Month-by-Month Deadline Calendar for 2026-27<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/epfl-summer-internships\/#Which_Program_Fits_Your_Field\" title=\"Which Program Fits Your Field?\">Which Program Fits Your Field?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/epfl-summer-internships\/#EPFL_and_ETH_Zurich_Summer_Internship_How_They_Compare\" title=\"EPFL and ETH Zurich Summer Internship: How They Compare\">EPFL and ETH Zurich Summer Internship: How They Compare<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/epfl-summer-internships\/#What_to_Do_When_Things_Go_Wrong\" title=\"What to Do When Things Go Wrong\">What to Do When Things Go Wrong<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/epfl-summer-internships\/#3_Takeaways_on_EPFL_summer_internships\" title=\"3 Takeaways on EPFL summer internships\">3 Takeaways on EPFL summer internships<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/epfl-summer-internships\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions_About_EPFL_Summer_Internships\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions About EPFL Summer Internships\">Frequently Asked Questions About EPFL Summer Internships<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Three_Real_EPFL_Summer_Internships\"><\/span><strong>The Three Real EPFL Summer Internships<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Program<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Open to Indian students?<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Field<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Run by<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Summer@EPFL<\/strong><\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/summer.epfl.ch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">School of Computer and Communication Sciences<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>E3 Program<\/strong><\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>Any engineering, science, or technology field<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/eee.epfl.ch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">School of Engineering<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Life Sciences Summer Research Program (SRP)<\/strong><\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>Biology, biophysics, chemistry, bioengineering, bioinformatics, quantitative biology<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epfl.ch\/schools\/sv\/education\/summer-research-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">School of Life Sciences<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Excellence Research Internship Program (ERIP)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>No<\/strong><\/td><td>All fields<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epfl.ch\/education\/international\/en\/coming-to-epfl\/research-internships\/eligibility-and-application\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">International Affairs<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The ERIP is EPFL&#8217;s officially named flagship track, and this is where most third-party blogs get confused: its partner-university list covers only McGill, the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo (Canada), Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), and five named US universities (Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, Johns Hopkins, UC San Diego, and UIUC). <strong>No Indian institution is on this list<\/strong>, per<a href=\"https:\/\/www.epfl.ch\/education\/international\/en\/coming-to-epfl\/research-internships\/eligibility-and-application\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> EPFL&#8217;s own eligibility page<\/a>. If a blog tells you to apply to &#8220;EPFL&#8217;s Excellence Research Internship Program&#8221; from an Indian university, it&#8217;s pointing you at the wrong program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>None of the three programs open to Indian students require IELTS or TOEFL. EPFL&#8217;s own E3 FAQ confirms English certificates are &#8220;not required,&#8221; though English proficiency is expected since most labs operate in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Summer@EPFL: The EPFL CS Summer Internship Track<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Run by the School of Computer and Communication Sciences, this <strong>EPFL summer research program computer science<\/strong> track is what most Indian <strong>BTech and MTech<\/strong> students actually want when they search for &#8220;EPFL cs summer internship.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Detail<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Value<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Eligible fields<\/td><td>Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Eligible degree levels<\/td><td>BSc, BTech, MSc, MTech (or equivalent); 2nd year Bachelor&#8217;s minimum<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Stipend<\/td><td>Rs.2,11,860 (CHF 1,800) per month, pro-rated<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Travel<\/td><td>Second-class train ticket or low-cost airfare refunded<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Duration<\/td><td>2-3 months, typically May to September<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2027 deadline<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Sunday, 29 November 2026 (23:59 AoE)<\/strong>, confirmed on<a href=\"https:\/\/summer.epfl.ch\/apply.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/summer.epfl.ch\/apply.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">summer.epfl.ch<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Decision date<\/td><td>By 25 January (following year)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Source:<a href=\"https:\/\/summer.epfl.ch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><\/em><\/strong><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/summer.epfl.ch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Summer@EPFL official site<\/a><\/u>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>PhD students are not eligible for this program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Counselor insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> The application form asks for your GPA &#8220;exactly in the format provided by your school on your transcripts.&#8221; EPFL explicitly says not to rescale your Indian CGPA to a 4.0 scale before submitting. Report your CGPA as your university states it, and let the admissions committee interpret it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"E3_Program_Engineering_Science_and_Technology\"><\/span><strong>E3 Program: Engineering, Science, and Technology<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Run by the School of Engineering, E3 covers a far wider set of fields than Summer@EPFL and is not restricted to computing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Detail<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Value<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Eligible fields<\/td><td>Biology, neurotechnology, bioengineering, chemistry, mathematics, physics, microengineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, electrical engineering, computer science<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Eligible degree levels<\/td><td>BSc or MSc, having completed at least 2 years of Bachelor&#8217;s study<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Stipend<\/td><td>Rs.2,11,860 (CHF 1,800) per month for labs in Lausanne, Sion, or Fribourg; Rs.2,94,250 (CHF 2,500) per month for labs in Geneva or Neuch\u00e2tel<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Duration<\/td><td>2-3 months, starting no earlier than 1 May<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2027 deadline<\/strong><\/td><td>November 1, 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Decision timeline<\/td><td>Interviews from mid-November through early March; results communicated by mid-March<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Source:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/eee.epfl.ch\/faq\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><u><a href=\"https:\/\/eee.epfl.ch\/faq\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EEE E3 Program FAQ<\/a><\/u>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2027 cycle&#8217;s exact deadline had not been published at the time of writing; based on the program&#8217;s recent pattern (1 November in 2025 and 2024, 1 December in earlier years), expect it in early November 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students from ERIP partner universities (the same list above) are <strong>not eligible<\/strong> for E3 and must apply through ERIP instead, per EPFL&#8217;s own selection criteria page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Life_Sciences_Summer_Research_Program\"><\/span><strong>Life Sciences Summer Research Program<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Run by the School of Life Sciences, this track is the correct destination for the <strong>EPFL summer internship biology<\/strong> and <strong>EPFL summer internship chemistry<\/strong> searches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Detail<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Value<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Eligible fields<\/td><td>Biology, biophysics, chemistry, bioengineering, bioinformatics, quantitative biology, genetics, medicine, related life sciences<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Eligible degree levels<\/td><td>Bachelor&#8217;s students through 1st-year Master&#8217;s, at least 2 years of undergraduate study completed<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Minimum GPA<\/td><td>3.75\/4.0, or top 5% of class<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Duration<\/td><td>8 weeks (2026 dates: 3 July to 27 August)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Stipend<\/td><td>CHF 3,600 (Rs. 422,637) total for the 2-month duration, approx. CHF 1,800 (Rs. 211,318) per month.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Deadline<\/strong><\/td><td>15 November annually (applications open end of September)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Decision timeline<\/td><td>Approximately 6 weeks after the deadline<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Source:<\/em><\/strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epfl.ch\/schools\/sv\/education\/summer-research-program\/how-to-apply\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epfl.ch\/schools\/sv\/education\/summer-research-program\/how-to-apply\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EPFL School of Life Sciences SRP<\/a><\/u>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Applications for the following summer typically open in late September; the 2027 cycle was not yet open at the time of writing, so the exact 2026 deadline (expected mid-November 2026) should be confirmed closer to the cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Counselor insight:<\/strong> This program does not accept partial applications. EPFL&#8217;s own FAQ warns that once you start the online form, you cannot save and return; have your transcripts, essay answers, and referee contact details ready before you begin.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"EPFL_Summer_Internship_Acceptance_Rate_What_the_Numbers_Actually_Show\"><\/span><strong>EPFL Summer Internship Acceptance Rate: What the Numbers Actually Show<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>EPFL does not publish a single official acceptance rate across all three tracks. The following acceptance rates are publicly confirmed for each program:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Program<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Confirmed data<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>E3 (2019, inaugural year)<\/td><td>35 selected from over 2,000 applicants across 82 countries<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>E3 (2021)<\/td><td>45 students from 16 countries, 33 labs<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>E3 (2023)<\/td><td>51 students from 21 countries, 30 labs<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>E3 (2025)<\/td><td>44 students from 13 countries, 24 labs<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Life Sciences SRP<\/td><td>Roughly 600+ applicants per year for around 25 spots (third-party estimate, not an official EPFL figure)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Source: <\/em><\/strong><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/actu.epfl.ch\/news\/e3-epfl-excellence-in-engineering-program-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EPFL official news<\/a><\/u><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Cohort sizes for E3 have stayed in the 35-51 range every year against thousands of applicants, which puts the realistic acceptance rate in the low single digits. Treat any blog quoting a precise &#8220;X% acceptance rate&#8221; for EPFL&#8217;s summer programs with caution unless it cites EPFL directly; none of EPFL&#8217;s own pages publish a computed percentage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_EPFL_Summer_Internship_Application_Documents_and_Eligibility_Checklist\"><\/span><strong>The EPFL Summer Internship Application: Documents and Eligibility Checklist<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every <strong>summer internship at EPFL<\/strong>, regardless of track, draws from the same core document set, though the specifics differ slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Document<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Required for<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>India-specific note<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>CV (PDF, max 5MB)<\/td><td>All three programs<\/td><td>Any format is accepted<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Academic transcripts<\/td><td>All three programs<\/td><td>Include Bachelor&#8217;s and Master&#8217;s (if applicable); translate if not in English or French<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Motivation letter \/ Statement of Purpose<\/td><td>All three programs<\/td><td>Max 800 words for ERIP-adjacent guidance; 1-2 pages recommended for E3 and Summer@EPFL<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>GPA, reported natively<\/td><td>All three programs<\/td><td>Do <strong>not<\/strong> convert your CGPA to a 4.0 scale; report it exactly as your transcript shows it<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Reference letter(s)<\/td><td>SRP (mandatory, 1 letter); E3 and Summer@EPFL (optional)<\/td><td>Contact referees early; they get about a week to respond once you submit<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Passport or national ID scan<\/td><td>All three programs<\/td><td>National ID is acceptable if you don&#8217;t yet hold a passport<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>English certificate<\/td><td>Not required for any of the three<\/td><td>Optional upload if you have one<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>If you&#8217;re unsure how to present your Indian CGPA correctly on these forms, our<a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/cgpa-to-gpa-check-how-to-convert-10-point-cgpa-to-4-point-gpa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><u><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/cgpa-to-gpa-check-how-to-convert-10-point-cgpa-to-4-point-gpa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CGPA to GPA conversion guide<\/a><\/u> explains the standard conversion. However, for EPFL applications specifically, you should use your transcript&#8217;s native format rather than converting it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Month-by-Month_Deadline_Calendar_for_2026-27\"><\/span><strong>Month-by-Month Deadline Calendar for 2026-27<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>deadline for summer internships<\/strong> at EPFL isn&#8217;t one date; it&#8217;s three, spread across a five-week window. Mapped to the Indian academic year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Month<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Action<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>August-September<\/td><td>Shortlist EPFL labs and professors that match your field, and identify referees.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>September-October<\/td><td>Draft your motivation letter; request transcripts from your Indian institution.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1 November 2026<\/td><td>E3 Program deadline for summer 2027.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>15 November 2026<\/td><td>Life Sciences SRP deadline for summer 2027<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>29 November 2026<\/td><td>Summer@EPFL (Computer Science) deadline for summer 2027.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>December-January<\/td><td>Reference letters submitted; interviews for E3 candidates begin.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Late January-March<\/td><td>Decisions communicated across all three programs.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>May-September<\/td><td>Internship period, program-dependent.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Counselor insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> Indian semester exams typically run from November to December and in May. Since all three EPFL deadlines fall in this exact window, start your motivation letter and transcript requests in September, not November, to avoid submitting a rushed application during your exam season.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Program_Fits_Your_Field\"><\/span><strong>Which Program Fits Your Field?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you&#8217;re a Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Telecommunications student:<\/strong> Apply to Summer@EPFL. It&#8217;s the most field-specific match, and the CHF 1,800\/month stipend is confirmed directly on EPFL&#8217;s site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you&#8217;re in a broader engineering, physics, materials science, or mechanical engineering program:<\/strong> Apply to E3. It accepts a wider range of technical backgrounds than Summer@EPFL, and labs in Geneva or Neuch\u00e2tel pay a higher stipend (Rs.2,94,250\/CHF 2,500 monthly) than those in Lausanne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you&#8217;re studying biology, chemistry, bioengineering, or a related life science:<\/strong> Apply to the Life Sciences SRP. It has the strictest GPA cutoff (3.75\/4.0 or top 5%) of the three, so make sure your transcript reflects that before applying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you&#8217;re enrolled at McGill, U Toronto, UBC, Waterloo, NTU Singapore, CMU, Georgia Tech, Johns Hopkins, UCSD, or UIUC:<\/strong> None of the above applies to you; use ERIP instead. This note exists purely to prevent Indian students at these institutions&#8217; exchange or dual-degree programs from applying to the wrong track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"EPFL_and_ETH_Zurich_Summer_Internship_How_They_Compare\"><\/span><strong>EPFL and ETH Zurich Summer Internship: How They Compare<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Detail<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>EPFL (E3 \/ Summer@EPFL)<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>ETH Zurich (Student Summer Research Fellowship)<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Stipend<\/td><td>Rs.2,11,860-2,94,250 (CHF 1,800-2,500)\/month<\/td><td>Rs.4,70,800 (CHF 4,000) for 2 months<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Travel &amp; visa costs<\/td><td>Travel only (2nd class train ticket or low-cost airfare)<\/td><td>Fully covered (travel + visa)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Duration<\/td><td>2-3 months, flexible start (May onward)<\/td><td>Fixed 2 months, 1 July to 28 August<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Fields<\/td><td>Broad (engineering, science, tech) or CS-specific, depending on track<\/td><td>Primarily Computer Science and closely related fields (electrical engineering, mathematics, physics)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Deadline<\/td><td>Early November (E3) or late November (Summer@EPFL)<\/td><td>Mid-December<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>English test required<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Source:<a href=\"https:\/\/inf.ethz.ch\/studies\/summer-research-fellowship.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><\/em><\/strong><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/inf.ethz.ch\/studies\/summer-research-fellowship.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ETH Zurich Department of Computer Science<\/a><\/u>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>ETH Zurich&#8217;s total stipend (CHF 4,000) is a lump sum for its fixed two-month program, working out to roughly CHF 2,000\/month, comparable to or lower than EPFL&#8217;s E3 rate in Geneva or Neuch\u00e2tel (CHF 2,500\/month), though ETH additionally covers visa costs in full, which EPFL&#8217;s programs don&#8217;t mention. ETH Zurich is restricted to computer science-adjacent fields, whereas EPFL&#8217;s E3 program covers a broader range of engineering and science disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Do_When_Things_Go_Wrong\"><\/span><strong>What to Do When Things Go Wrong<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>You missed the deadline:<\/strong> EPFL&#8217;s own FAQ is explicit: late applications are not accepted &#8220;whatever the reason.&#8221; Wait for the next annual cycle rather than emailing to request an exception.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>You were not selected:<\/strong> Consider alternate research internships in Switzerland or nearby, such as<a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/iaeste-internships-in-switzerland-for-indian-students\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/iaeste-internships-in-switzerland-for-indian-students\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IAESTE Switzerland<\/a> or<a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/cern-internship-opportunities-for-indian-students\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/cern-internship-opportunities-for-indian-students\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CERN&#8217;s internship program<\/a>, both of which run on separate timelines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>You&#8217;re worried about the visa timeline after acceptance:<\/strong> EPFL confirms it sends detailed visa instructions once you&#8217;re accepted and, in some cases, requests the visa directly. Start gathering financial and travel documents as soon as you receive an offer, since Swiss visa processing for non-EU applicants can take several weeks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Your transcript isn&#8217;t in English or French:<\/strong> EPFL accepts a self-translated version alongside the original; an official certified translation is not required for the initial application.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Takeaways_on_EPFL_summer_internships\"><\/span><strong>3 Takeaways on EPFL summer internships<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Identify which of the three real programs matches your field first.<\/strong> Summer@EPFL for CS\/EE, E3 for broader engineering and science, and the Life Sciences SRP for biology and chemistry are the only three tracks Indian students can apply to; ERIP is not an option.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Treat the deadlines as fixed and non-negotiable.<\/strong> The confirmed 29 November 2026 deadline for Summer@EPFL and the expected early-to-mid November dates for E3 and the SRP, all fall during Indian exam season, so prepare your documents in September.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Don&#8217;t chase an invented acceptance percentage.<\/strong> EPFL doesn&#8217;t publish one; use the real cohort numbers (35-51 students selected per year against thousands of applicants for E3) to calibrate how competitive your application needs to be, and apply to more than one internship program in parallel.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Verified by:<\/em><\/strong><em> LeapScholar&#8217;s Europe counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through EPFL, ETH Zurich, and CERN internship applications.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Have questions about EPFL summer internships? <\/em><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/webflow_progressive_form\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.<\/a><\/u><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions_About_EPFL_Summer_Internships\"><\/span><strong>Frequently Asked Questions About EPFL Summer Internships<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<ul class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786536254508\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What is the EPFL summer internship acceptance rate?<\/strong> <\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>EPFL does not publish an official acceptance rate. Confirmed E3 program data shows 35 to 51 students selected per year against thousands of applicants, putting the realistic acceptance rate in the low single digits. Treat any blog quoting a specific percentage with caution unless it cites EPFL directly.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786536266862\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>How do I apply for an EPFL summer internship as an Indian student?<\/strong> <\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Identify the correct track for your field (Summer@EPFL for CS\/EE, E3 for broader engineering and science, or the Life Sciences SRP for biology and chemistry), then submit your CV, transcripts, motivation letter, and GPA reported in your transcript&#8217;s native format through that program&#8217;s official online portal.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786536281043\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What is the deadline for EPFL summer internships in 2026-27?<\/strong> <\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Summer@EPFL&#8217;s confirmed deadline for summer 2027 is 29 November 2026. The E3 Program and Life Sciences SRP deadlines for the same cycle were not yet published at the time of writing but are expected in early to mid-November 2026, based on recent years&#8217; patterns.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786536301793\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What is the duration of an EPFL summer internship?<\/strong> <\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>EPFL summer internship duration depends on the track: Summer@EPFL and E3 run 2 to 3 months, typically between May and September. The Life Sciences SRP runs a fixed 8 weeks, from early July to late August.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786536314918\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What is the EPFL summer internship eligibility for Indian students?<\/strong> <\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>EPFL summer internship eligibility requires enrollment in a Bachelor&#8217;s or Master&#8217;s program (at least 2nd year completed), a strong academic record, and a field match to one of the three tracks. PhD students and students already enrolled at EPFL are not eligible for any of the three.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786536326020\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Is IELTS or TOEFL required for EPFL summer internship?<\/strong> <\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>No. None of the three programs open to Indian students require an English test, though strong English communication skills are expected since most labs operate in English.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786536339218\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Can Indian students apply for EPFL&#8217;s computer science summer research program?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes. Summer@EPFL, run by the School of Computer and Communication Sciences, accepts BTech, MTech, BSc, and MSc students worldwide, including from Indian institutions, provided they&#8217;ve completed at least their first year of Bachelor&#8217;s study.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786536356652\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Is there an EPFL summer internship for biology or chemistry students?<\/strong> <\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes, the Life Sciences Summer Research Program. It requires a GPA of 3.75\/4.0 or top 5% of class and runs for 8 weeks each summer, with a 15 November annual deadline.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786536368699\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>How does EPFL&#8217;s summer internship compare to ETH Zurich&#8217;s?<\/strong> <\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>ETH Zurich&#8217;s total stipend (CHF 4,000) is a lump sum for its fixed two-month program, working out to roughly CHF 2,000\/month, comparable to or lower than EPFL&#8217;s E3 rate in Geneva or Neuch\u00e2tel (CHF 2,500\/month), though ETH additionally covers visa costs in full, which EPFL&#8217;s programs don&#8217;t mention. It is limited to computer-science-adjacent fields, while EPFL&#8217;s E3 program covers a broader range of engineering and science disciplines.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1786536381732\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What happens if I miss the EPFL summer internship deadline?<\/strong> <\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>EPFL&#8217;s own FAQ states late applications are not accepted regardless of the reason. You&#8217;ll need to wait for the next annual cycle rather than requesting an exception.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\"><\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\">10<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">min read<\/span><\/span> \u26a1 Quick Read EPFL runs three separate summer internship tracks for Indian students, not one. Summer@EPFL (Computer Science) pays Rs.2,11,860 (CHF 1,800) a month; deadline for summer 2027 is confirmed as 29 November 2026. The E3 Engineering Program&#8217;s 2025 cohort took 44 students from over a dozen countries. The Life Sciences Summer Research Program requires [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":82116,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82115"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/79"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82115"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82115\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82117,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82115\/revisions\/82117"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}