École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne - Research Internship

Arts, Applied Science, Science

About the program

Program dates: Flexible start dates lasting 3 months

EPFL, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne) in Switzerland aims to attract students into the heart of Europe where renowned professors strive for excellence in research and international recognition.

EPFL offers a flexible research program, allowing students to undertake paid research internships spanning from three, four or six months from any of EPFL’s schools. This program presents exciting laboratory work experiences where students gain valuable work experience while exploring a new country and culture. Students accepted to this highly competitive program undertake a paid research internship of 3 to 6 months in a research lab.

Research areas

  • Computer Science

  • Engineering

  • Natural Science

  • Humanities

See program details

Eligibility requirements

General Research Abroad eligibility

  • You must have at least a 70% average in your most recent academic term of full-time studies prior to application. We are looking at your Term 1 (Fall term) grades for summer research abroad experiences
  • You should have full-time student status as defined by your faculty in the year prior to your research abroad experience
  • You need to be a UBC student in good standing (e.g., not be under academic or non-academic discipline)
  • You must maintain a 70% average prior to your exchange departure

Program-specific requirements

  • Be a 3rd or 4th year student in any of the above disciplines by the time you begin the program
  • Students must return to UBC for one term following the program
  • Program is very competitive, Go Global encourages students with a cumulative average of 75% or higher apply
  • Be willing to commit to a research experience that is at least 3 months long
  • Meet any additional lab project requirements 

Application deadline

November 19, 2020

How to apply

As soon as you submit your application to Go Global, you will be contacted by the advisor with instructions for next steps. You can apply to Go Global well in advance of the deadline to get a headstart on the rest of your application.

1. Apply to Go Global once you’ve identified programs you're interested in

  • Submit your Go Global application online. You can apply for up to 3 programs on one application.
  • Go Global will contact you within 2 weeks of submission with instructions on how to apply to the partner and an electronic copy of your UBC transcript.

2. Apply directly to the partner university

  • Each research program will have detailed instructions on how to apply and strict submission deadlines.
  • All research programs will need supporting documents that typically include:
    • Academic references (1 – 3)
    • Letter of intent
    • Curriculum vitae
    • UBC transcript

Housing

Housing is not guaranteed for participants. Students are encouraged to contact the EPFL Housing Office once they have received confirmation of acceptance for assistance. FInd more information about housing for the program.

Program costs and fees

In addition to paying the Go Global fee following the Go Global deadline, students are responsible for the cost of travel and living associated with participating in this program. See more information on program and living costs while at EPFL.

Awards and funding for Research Abroad

Go Global Research Abroad Award: $1,000 per research experience

Eligibility requirements

All students accepted into a research abroad program, through Go Global, will be considered for this award. A separate application is not required. If you meet the eligibility criteria, then you will be notified of your award near the start of the summer term.

To be eligible for the award, you must have an average of at least 70% on your best 24 credits in the Winter Session of the previous year (with no failed or incomplete courses).

If you were on a co-op work term, you must have at least 70% on your best 12 credits in the other term. 

You will be automatically considered for the award, so you will not need to apply separately.

Partner university funding

Accepted students are eligible to apply for ThinkSwiss  - a monthly scholarship of CHF 1,600 (approx. 2,300 CAD) for a period of two to three months (CHF 4,800 maximum / 6,800 CAD).

Go Global fee and withdrawal policy

The Go Global Fee ($415.00 CDN) is an administrative fee required for all applicants to Go Global programs. The fee is non-refundable. However, it may be adjusted under the following circumstances.

If you are not matched to a partner university

You are eligible to have your Go Global fee adjusted from $415.00 to $93.25 (reduced by $321.75) if:

  • You have applied to Go Global but do not meet our minimum eligibility requirements

  • Go Global cannot match you to a partner university

  • The partner university does not accept your application and Go Global cannot find another option

If you withdraw from Go Global

To withdraw from your Go Global exchange, research or summer abroad program, you must contact Go Global by email to request withdrawal. You will then be asked to complete a short withdrawal form.

Students who withdraw from Go Global by the relevant deadline below, will have their Go Global fee adjusted from $415.00 to $321.75 (reduced by $93.25).

  • March 30: For summer and research programs

  • June 30: For UBC Winter Term 1 and Full-Year exchange

  • September 30: For UBC Winter Term 2 and Split-Year exchange

If you have questions, please connect with your Go Global advisor or email Go Global at go.global@ubc.ca.

Transfer credit

UBC does not recognize credit for Research Abroad programs and does not grant transfer credit for these experiences. If a partner university offers credit for your Research Abroad program, save the transcript or certificate of completion for your future records.

Pre-Departure policy

Safety abroad

UBC is committed to preparing students for safe and successful international experiences. In order to achieve this, any student participating in a Go Global Program must complete the following:

Failure to successfully complete these and any other requirements may result in withdrawal from the Go Global Program.

Accessibility

If you are considering applying for a Go Global program and identify with having a disability or pre-existing health condition (mental or physical) which could impact your participation, or if you require academic accommodations, you can contact the following offices and meet with an Accessibility Advisor before the start of the program:

Contact

Go Global's Vancouver campus office is closed until further notice. At this time, you can contact Go Global by email, phone or virtually through Zoom.

If you need to book an advising appointment, please complete the online request form. Appointments will be held through Zoom or by phone.

Advising hours

Monday: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Tuesday: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Thursday: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

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