GLOBAL EXCHANGE PLUS

APPLICATION CYCLE FOR 2025 IS CLOSED

Application cycle for 2026 will open in Fall 2025. Read below to learn about the program.

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) Excellence Research Internship Program is open to undergraduate and graduate students; undergraduates must have completed at least two (2) years of their undergraduate program before the internship start date. It is possible to participate in the internship while studying abroad at EPFL through our Global Exchange Program. Accepted students will receive a scholarship of excellence covering main costs of living!

This is a highly competitive, two-part application. Interested students must apply to UC San Diego in Tritons Abroad by November 15, 2024 for nomination, AND must apply directly to EPFL by November 30, 2024.

Program Details:

What is offered:                                                                                                  

• 3 months research internships: possible extension under certain conditions, dates can be flexible usually between February and August. For candidates with excellent academic records. Selected students will receive a Scholarship of Excellence (CHF 1’600 per month);
• A practical, innovative and formative program – hands-on research in a lab, pioneer projects, intensive academic and professional experience gain;
• Immersion in an international and groundbreaking environment –130 nationalities, cutting-edge projects (e.g. Gold medal award in education in the IGem 2023 Competition, ranked 2 in the 2022 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge Championship race, ranked 2 in the 2022 European Rover Challenge and 2021 European Rocketry Champion), trans-disciplinary research and tech transfer (Innovation Park);
• Excellent supervision by top international professors – passion, rigor, mentorship and guidance;
• First-rate labs – over 500 laboratories and research groups, sophisticated equipment, strong team-spirit;
• A life experience in a vibrant campus with excellent infrastructures in a beautiful spot by Lake Geneva – over 13’500 students, community spirit, cultural, sports and fun activities, center of Europe;
• Possibility to combine the research internship with an exchange program.

Who is eligible: 

• Graduate and undergraduate students. Undergraduate students must have completed the second year of bachelor/ undergraduate students prior to the Excellent Research Internship start date.

These internships are reserved to highly motivated top undergraduate and graduate students. Students should be enrolled as regular students in your institution when they complete the EPFL internship. Participation in these programs is subject to a selection process and depends on availability of laboratories of interest to students.

More information:

For more information, including housing, cost of living, scholarship, and more, visit the Research internship program and testimonials websites. 

2025 CYCLE IS NOW OPEN

France's Ecole Polytechnique, one of Europe's premier universities for science and technology, offers a prestigious internship program to students from select partner universities. UC San Diego students are eligible to complete a 3 to 6 month research internship at one of École Polytechnique's world-renowned research facilities.

The research program may begin in June/July 2025 at the earliest and end by December 31, 2025 at the latest. Visit the Program Overview page to learn about the internship program and view the available research labs/subjects for the 2025 cycle.  

Eligibility:

UC San Diego will nominate graduate and undergraduate students in the following order of priority:

1. Graduate students
2. Fourth year undergraduates
3. Third year undergraduates

Please note that French language skills are not required to participate in the program. 

How to Apply:

This is a highly competitive, two-part application. Interested students must apply to UC San Diego for nomination, and then to Ecole Polytechnique for final review and approval. Student will apply to:

1. UC San Diego in Tritons Abroad by January 5, 2025 (application open now) for nomination approval
2. Ecole Polytechnique by January 20, 2025 for final approval

More information on the selection process can be found on the application information page 

Participants will be responsible for their own housing and other personal expenses. While École Polytechnique will offer on-campus accommodation, if there is not enough housing availaible of all students requesting it, École Polytechnique will provide the necessary information to help students find their own accommodation. More information about housing and cost of living can be found on their Fees, Living Expenses, and Campus Services page. 

APPLICATION CYCLE FOR 2025 IS CLOSED

Application cycle for 2026 will open in Fall 2025. Read below to learn about the program.

The TUM PREP opportunity is open to undergraduate and graduate students- undergraduates must have completed at least two (2) years of their undergraduate program before the start date of their program period in Munich.

This is a highly competitive two-part application. Interested students must apply to UC San Diego in Tritons Abroad AND must apply directly to TUM by November 24, 2024.

In the framework of the Practical Research Experience Program (TUM PREP), TUM invites each summer excellent students to spend an at an approximately 9-week long research stay at TUM. Participating students gain valuable insights into the research work at Germany’s top-ranked technical university and enhance their technical and methodological qualifications.

The program is free and students are responsible for costs of living and transportation. 

In most cases, an extension of the project duration (later project end, latest until end of September) is possible in consultation with the TUM PREP supervisor. Please note that an earlier start of the program is not possible.

The clinical rotation and field research opportunity is through the Universidad de Iberoamérica (UNIBE) in Costa Rica. This is a unique experience for students to improve their Spanish language skills and obtain experience in practicing medicine in a nationalized healthcare system. 

Eligibility:

This opportunity open to students in the following areas of campus:

• School of Medicine
• Skaggs (as part of the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience)
• Master's of Public Health
• Global Public Health

Program Details:

The program costs approximately $2,500 USD for a four-week period of stay. This cost includes:

• Meals
• Local transportation
• Homestay in private room with a Costa Rican family
• laundry
• Spanish classes
• Rotations in the three levels of the Costa Rican healthcare system
• Excursions
• Lectures