15 Research Internships for Undergraduates Abroad
If you are an undergraduate student interested in research, an internship can be a worthwhile way to gain experience. Internships strengthen your academic profile by demonstrating initiative, subject-matter knowledge, and readiness for research. By working in professional research environments, you develop technical competencies and enhance problem-solving and communication skills that employers and graduate programs value. Internships also improve your employability by showing your ability to apply classroom learning to structured projects with measurable outcomes. Research internships for undergraduates abroad provide exposure to different laboratory techniques, data analysis workflows, and research documentation standards. Research internships can give you a clearer understanding of how scientific investigations are conducted in institutional or industry settings.
Why should I do a research internship abroad as an undergraduate?
A research internship abroad enables you to work within international laboratories and universities, exposing you to diverse research systems, methodologies, and academic cultures. You will gain experience with different regulatory frameworks, laboratory standards, and collaborative practices, which enhances your professional versatility. Working in a global environment can expand your academic network, connecting you with mentors and peers from different research backgrounds. International research experience also signals independence, cross-cultural communication skills, and adaptability, which can make your profile stand out to employers and graduate admissions committees.
To help you get started, we have put together 15 research internships for undergraduates abroad that provide substantive laboratory or field-based experience for undergraduates, all hosted outside the United States.
1. CERN Summer Studentship
Location: CERN in Geneva, Switzerland
Cost/Stipend: Subsistence allowance of 90 CHF ($115) net per day to cover the cost of stay | prepaid card with an advance of 2600 CHF($3,333) paid will be provided to students on the day of arrival | an advance of 2600 CHF($3,333) is paid on the prepaid card every four weeks
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: 8 to 13 weeks in summer | exact dates vary depending on specific project
Application Deadline: Typically end of January
Eligibility: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree students in the fields of Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, or Mathematics who have completed at least 6 semesters of full-time university studies
The CERN Summer Student Programme is a prestigious summer research internship for undergraduate and master’s students in physics, engineering, computer science, and related fields. You will work on an ongoing research or technical project at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, contributing to data analysis, software development, detector development, or engineering design. Alongside project work, you attend a lecture series delivered by CERN experts and other visiting scientists. The lectures cover areas such as theoretical physics and innovative engineering. You prepare a written report summarizing your project at the end of the programme.
2. Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) Germany
Location: Universities, research centres, and companies across Germany
Cost/Stipend: Monthly scholarship of 992 Euros ($1,154) | international travel subsidy and 160 Euros ($186) of travel stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: May 15 to July 15
Application Deadline: November 30
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in the fields of biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, earth sciences, engineering, or a related field from North American, British, or Irish universities who will have completed at least two years of their degree program by the time of the internship placement
The RISE Germany program is a three-month summer research internship that gives undergraduate students an opportunity to work at universities and research institutions across Germany. You work under the supervision of doctoral researchers or research teams and assist with ongoing research projects in fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences, engineering, and related disciplines. The program is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and includes a scholarship to support living expenses, travel support, and help with housing arrangements during your stay. You participate in research activities under the supervision of a mentor, contribute to experiments or data analysis, and engage with a research community in an international academic environment. Internships are typically conducted in English and do not require German language proficiency.
3. Mitacs Globalink Research Internship
Location: Currently available at over 70 academic institutions across Canada
Cost/Stipend: Funding provided for round-trip airfare to Canada | airport-to-accommodation transportation, housing, student enrollment fees, and food and incidental expenses
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: 12 consecutive weeks between May 1 and October 31
Application Deadline: September 17
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 18 years old | enrolled full-time in an eligible undergraduate or combined undergraduate or master’s program | have completed at least two years of undergraduate study or be in their second year, as applicable | have one to three semesters remaining, and meet country-specific grade requirements
The Globalink Research Internship is a twelve-week summer research internship in Canada that allows undergraduate students from participating countries to work on research projects with faculty members at Canadian universities. You will be matched with a professor and research team based on your academic interests in fields such as biology, chemistry, engineering, computer science, or environmental science. During the internship, you work on a defined research project, conduct experiments or data analysis, and participate in regular meetings with your faculty mentor and research group. You also participate in professional development workshops and team meetings that help you to build research communication and collaboration skills.
4. Penn Abroad Global Research & Internship Program (GRIP)
Location: Various international organizations, companies, and universities worldwide
Cost/Stipend: Stipend offered | exact amount varies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: 8 - 12 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the project or location
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students of the University of Pennsylvania
The Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP) is an 8 to 12-week summer research and internship program that allows undergraduate students to complete funded placements with research teams and organizations outside the United States. Offered by the University of Pennsylvania, the program matches you with an international host institution where you contribute to a research project in your academic field. You work under the guidance of a faculty mentor or site supervisor and participate in ongoing research activities, meetings, and project tasks. Depending on your placement, you may conduct laboratory work, assist with data collection and analysis, or contribute to field-based or policy-focused research initiatives.
5. Internship and Research Immersion in Singapore (IRIS) @ National University of Singapore (NUS)
Location: National University of Singapore Graduate School, Singapore
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded program | SGD 1,200 ($924) stipend/month plus SGD 600 (462 USD) travel allowance plus complimentary on-campus accommodation offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Typically June - July
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate students who have completed at least the first two years of their degree or first-year master’s students
The Internship and Research Immersion in Singapore (IRIS) @ NUS is a summer research internship that allows participants to spend two to three months working in a research laboratory at the National University of Singapore. The internship takes place in Singapore during the designated summer period windows and runs on a full-time schedule. You will be matched with a faculty mentor and assigned to an ongoing research project based on your academic discipline. During the internship, you contribute to laboratory or research-based tasks, participate in group meetings, and document your findings as part of the research team. You access university research facilities and interact with graduate students and faculty members throughout the program.
6. Max Planck School Matter to Life Undergraduate Research Opportunities (URO)
Location: Various Max Planck School Matter to Life member labs in Germany
Cost/Stipend: Funded program; exact amount varies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June - November
Application Deadline: October 1
Eligibility: Undergraduate students currently enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, or related subfields
The Matter to Life Undergraduate Research Opportunities (MtL-URO) program is a ten-week summer research internship in Germany where undergraduate students work directly on a defined scientific question within a faculty research group. You will join a laboratory affiliated with the Max Planck School Matter to Life and engage in research under the guidance of local researchers using modern scientific methods and laboratory practices. Throughout the internship, you contribute to ongoing projects, collaborate with faculty and peers, and explore interdisciplinary research topics spanning biology, chemistry, physics, materials science, and related fields.
7. Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA)’s ISTernship Summer Program
Location: Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria
Cost/Stipend: Paid | monthly fellowship payment of €1,150 ($1,334)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Two to three months between May 15 and September 15
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who have completed at least the second year (or fourth semester) of their bachelor’s degree in natural sciences, mathematics, computer sciences, physics, chemistry, or related interdisciplinary fields
The ISTernship program is a 10- to 12-week summer research internship that places undergraduate students in active research laboratories in Austria. Hosted by the Institute of Science and Technology Austria, the program matches participants with a faculty research group based on academic background and interests. You will contribute to ongoing investigations in areas such as biology, neuroscience, computer science, physics, mathematics, or interdisciplinary life science research. Depending on your assigned lab, you may perform experiments, computational analysis, or assist with data-driven research tasks. You participate in group meetings and institute-wide seminars while working alongside doctoral researchers and postdoctoral scholars.
8. EPFL’s Excellence Research Internship Program (ERIP)
Location: EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
Stipend: CHF 1,800 ($2,238) per month
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Three months in the summer (flexible dates)
Application Deadline: November 30
Eligibility: Students from EPFL partner universities, including U.S. institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, University of California, San Diego, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The EPFL Research Internships program is a summer research internship that offers undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in scientific research projects at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland. You will be placed in a research group aligned with your academic interests within departments such as life sciences, biology, bioengineering, or related scientific fields. During the internship, you work with faculty members and research teams on tasks such as experiment planning, data collection, analysis, and research documentation. You participate in research group meetings and benefit from an international academic environment that supports scientific inquiry and collaboration.
9. KAUST’s Visiting Student Research Program (VSRP)
Location: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded | includes $1,000 monthly stipend, housing, and airfare
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Flexible dates
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in their third or fourth year, as well as master’s students with a minimum GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0
The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Internship Program is a summer research internship that allows undergraduate students to spend several weeks conducting research within laboratory groups at a major international research university in Saudi Arabia. You will work under the guidance of a faculty mentor and contribute to research projects in fields such as biological sciences, environmental science, engineering, or related scientific disciplines. During the internship, you assist with research tasks such as experiment setup, data collection, analysis, and literature review under the guidance of your research team. You also participate in group meetings and seminars that provide insight into current scientific methods and discussions. The program provides access to advanced research facilities and resources within an international academic community.
10. Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)’s Research Internship Program
Location: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Okinawa, Japan
Cost/Stipend: 3,000 JPY ($19.68) non-refundable application fee | allowance of 2,400 JPY ($15.7) per working day plus travel support available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Spring internship period: April 1 - September 30 | fall period: October 1 - March 31
Application Deadline: April 15th for fall internship and October 15th for spring internship
Eligibility: Students enrolled in the last two years of a bachelor’s degree, any year of a master’s degree, or recent graduates with bachelor’s or master’s degrees from universities worldwide
The OIST (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology) Research Internship Program is a 10- to 12-week summer research internship that places undergraduate students in laboratory groups at an international graduate‑level research institute in Japan. You will join a faculty research team and contribute to ongoing scientific investigations in areas such as life sciences, molecular biology, neuroscience, environmental biology, or computational science, depending on your interests and the host laboratory. You also participate in research activities that may include experiments, data analysis, literature review, and project documentation while working closely with graduate students and faculty mentors. In addition to laboratory work, you attend research seminars and engage with the broader OIST research community on campus.
11. RWTH Aachen University’s UROP International
Location: RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
Cost/Stipend: Scholarship of 2,000 Euros ($2,326) to 30 students each year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: May 18 - July 24
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: High-performing undergraduate students from U.S. and Canadian universities
The UROP International program at RWTH Aachen University is a ten-week summer research internship that places undergraduate students in research laboratories at a leading European science and technology institution. You will be assigned to a faculty-led research team and work on a research project under mentor guidance, contributing to experiments, data analysis, or project documentation. The program includes academic and cultural activities such as language courses and intercultural training to support your integration into life in Germany. You also have opportunities to attend excursions and networking events that introduce you to local scientific and cultural communities. By the end of the internship, you complete a research report and present your findings at a concluding symposium.
12. EPFL Summer Research Program
Location: Primarily in the EPFL campus in Lausanne, Switzerland
Cost/Stipend: Free | stipend of CHF 3,600 ($4,614) for the two-month period, which covers housing and living costs | travel costs to and from Switzerland are covered | reimbursement of up to CHF 1,000 ($1,281) for overseas flights and CHF 500 ($640) for shorter distances
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 - 25 participants each summer
Dates: July 3 to August 27
Application Deadline: November 15
Eligibility: Students from across the world who are currently enrolled in a degree program and have completed at least two years of a bachelor’s degree, or up to the first year of a master’s degree, by the start of the program
The EPFL Summer Research Program is an eight-week summer research programme in life sciences offered by EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland. You will work on an ongoing research project within a laboratory, conducting experiments or computational work under the supervision of faculty and research staff. The program is open to students in biology, biophysics, chemistry, bioengineering, bioinformatics, quantitative biology, and related fields, and the topics covered range from engineering to quantitative biology. You attend weekly scientific seminars and Friday workshops that address research topics and related academic themes. The programme concludes with a symposium at which you present your work to peers and faculty.
13. Ashoka International Summer Research Programme (AISRP)
Location: Ashoka University, Sonipat, India
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Typically 8 - 10 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Senior undergraduate and master’s students
The Ashoka International Summer Research Programme (AISRP) is an eight-week summer research internship that allows undergraduate students to work on faculty-led research projects across disciplines, including the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and interdisciplinary studies. You will be matched with a faculty mentor at Ashoka University and participate in ongoing research activities aligned with your academic interests. You perform tasks which may include literature review, data collection and analysis, fieldwork, or laboratory work, depending on your chosen project. Weekly research seminars, workshops on research methods, and sessions on academic communication support your academic development as a researcher. At the conclusion of the internship, you present your research findings in a formal research presentation or poster session.
14. Koç University Summer Research Program (KUSRP) Undergraduate Internship
Location: Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: July - August
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Undergraduate students currently enrolled in STEM and related programs
The Koç University Summer Research Program (KUSRP) is a ten‑week summer research internship in Turkey where undergraduate students join faculty research groups to work on defined scientific projects. You will be paired with a mentor at Koç University and contribute to ongoing research in areas such as molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology, and other life science or related interdisciplinary areas. You perform research‑specific tasks, collect and analyze data, and participate in group meetings with your research team. The internship includes professional development workshops and research seminars focused on scientific communication and project skills. At the end of the internship, you complete a final report, present your research outcomes, and receive formal documentation of your participation.
15. Vienna BioCenter Summer School
Location: Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria; Research Center for Molecular Medicine; Gregor Mendel Institute; Institute of Molecular Biotechnology; Institute of Molecular Pathology; the Max Perutz Labs
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded; includes free student accommodation, a stipend of approximately €1,400 ($1,619) after tax, plus medical insurance
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 1 - August 31
Application Deadline: January 11
Eligibility: Undergraduate and master’s students from around the world who have completed at least two years of university-level study in life sciences or related fields.
The Summer School in Molecular Biology and Computational Biology at Vienna BioCenter is a four‑week research training program in Austria that combines laboratory‑based research with computational analysis. You will join a research group in areas such as molecular biology, genetics, genomics, or bioinformatics and contribute to scientific investigations under the guidance of experienced researchers. You work with advanced laboratory tools and computational resources to conduct experiments, analyze biological data, or develop analytical models related to active research questions. The program also includes seminars, workshops, and discussions covering research techniques, scientific writing, and data interpretation skills. At the end of the internship, you present your research results in a poster session.
Looking for an Immersive Internship Experience?
Check out Ladder University Internships!
The Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, fully virtual internship program where undergraduate students work with startups and nonprofits worldwide. The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that addresses a genuine business need of the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a ladder coach throughout their internship. Apply now!
Image source - The European Organization for Nuclear Research logo