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 GLOBAL EXCHANGE PLUS

UC San Diego continues to expand our global network to provide undergraduate and graduate students with unique, high-impact international experiences. In addition to academic year exchanges, students can take advantage of research internships and short-term programs abroad to gain real-world experience in their fields of study. You can find more information on each program in the drawers below. 

University System of Taiwan Summer Internship Opportunity

2025/26 CYCLE IS NOW CLOSED

The University System of Taiwan is a consortium of four Taiwanese universities:

UC San Diego undergraduate students have the opportunity to complete a summer internship in a research lab in one of the four universities.

  • Program Dates: June 23-August 15, 2025
  • Minimum GPA: 3.0
  • Available Research Projects: Consult the 2025 UST Host Professor Information spreadsheet for information on details on participating faculty mentors and research projects.
  • Language: English. Mandarin language skills are useful, but not required. 

Although there is no program fee, students are responsible for all expenses related to this opportunity (visa, flight, accommodation, meals and incidentals, etc.)

To apply, students must submit the Tritons Abroad application by Wednesday, February 26. Students will need the following materials to submit a complete application; incomplete applications will not be considered for the program. 

If you have questions regarding a specific research project, email the professor directly using the email provided in the host professor information session. For other questions, please contact Max Reinke.

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) Excellence Research Internship Program

APPLICATIONS OPEN OCTOBER 1


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, 2025 for nomination, AND must apply directly to EPFL by November 30, 2025.

Program Details:

What is offered:                                                                                                  

  • 3 months research internships: possible extension under certain conditions, dates can be flexible usually between May and September For candidates with excellent academic records. Selected students will receive a Scholarship of Excellence (CHF 1’800 per month for a maximum of 3 months);
  • Practice-oriented, 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. twice Gold medal award winners in education in the IGem 2023 and 2024 Competitions, ranked 2 in the 2022 Swiss Solar 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 15’000 students, community spirit, cultural, sports and fun activities, center of Europe
  • Possibility to combine the research internship with an exchange program

Who is eligible:       

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.

Application materials:  

Interested students must submit their interest to Study Abroad via TritonsAbroad by November 15, 2025. Following nomination to the program, students should complete the EPFL online application by 30 November 2025. They will need to submit all supporting documents, including references that may take more time, by that deadline. Late applications can unfortunately not be considered, given the large amount of candidates.

More information:

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

Ecole Polytechnique Internship Program for International Talents

APPLICATION CYCLE FOR 2025 IS CLOSED

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

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. 

 

TU Munich Practical Research Experience Program (TUM PREP)

APPLICATIONS OPEN OCTOBER 1

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 23, 2025.

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.

Students can choose from over 70 TUM PREP research projects among 7 different TUM Schools and various subject areas at the TUM campuses in Munich, Garching and Freising.

Summer research program: July 1 – August 28, 2026

  • Kick-off, orientation and framework program (day trips, excursions, buddy program etc.)
  • Research experience at Germany’s leading university
  • Program language is English
  • No tuition fee
  • Accommodation provided (offered by the Student Union Munich)
  • Transcript, Certificates and 10 ECTS
  • Closing event

 For students outside of the engineering and natural sciences fields there are many projects to choose from. They can also do research in our departments of Architecture, Governance, Management, Medicine and Health Sciences or School of Life Sciences.

Via the online TUM PREP Project Database it is easy to browse the different projects. Students can search in one of the TUM Schools / Departments for a suitable project described in a unique keyword, but can also enter keywords in the search field like the academic fields etc. This encourages students to also choose projects in a different field / department / School other than their study focus at the home university. Please see the guidelines for using and searching the database and note that the projects are not final and confirmed yet. Until September 30, 2025, the projects are subject to change.

Application process for TUM PREP 2026

  • Students must first apply via TritonsAbroad for Study Abroad to nominate them for the program no later that November 15.
  • Applications will be accepted via the online application platform until November 23, 2025.
  • Please note that all students must have uploaded their documents online and submit their applications latest by Sunday, November 23, 2025. Also their professors should send the students’ recommendation letters until this deadline.

Students are encouraged to apply for three research projects to enhance their chances of getting accepted.

Additional Information and Resources:

The Global Exchange Program is administered in accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, including but not limited to Proposition 209 and the University of California Anti-Discrimination Policy; the University of California does not discriminate, or grant preferences, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories.