EPFL- Engineering research

Spend your summer doing research at one of the cutting-edge laboratories at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland! This program enables students to learn how research is conducted in a different culture and environment at one of the most successful and renowned universities in Europe! EPFL is home to over 500 laboratories who focus on topics ranging from space, polar science, neuro-prostheses, transportation, and much more!
Discover more about the different research domains found at EPFL here. There is potential for all engineering majors to find work that interests them.
 
Application requirements:

• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Good academic and behavioral standing
• Please check partner school additional requirements

 
Note this program is a traditional research program where the student (you) must find a lab that interests you at EPFL and will host you. At EPFL, you will be considered a visiting student completing a lab project with an EPFL professor. More information about this can be found here.
Also note housing through EPFL may not be a viable option depending on the availability and where your lab is located. Most labs are in either Lausanne or Geneva. EPFL offers help for visiting students on housing here.
 
Funding through the Swanson School of Engineering may be available.  Please watch for research funding information to be sent out to all students via email. Remember that your lifestyle and spending choices can greatly affect the amount of money you'll need while abroad.  Visit our Budgeting page for more information.
 
Advice from past students:

• Most EPFL labs are either in Lausanne (where the university is) or in Geneva (at Campus Biotech, about 1 hour away). EPFL's housing page is helpful for housing in/around Lausanne, but not super helpful if you want to live in Geneva. If you hope to stay in Geneva, try looking at other non-university housing options such as student residences in Geneva or other universities in Geneva (University of Geneva, Graduate Institute of Geneva, etc). A previous student found housing over the summer at the Grad Institute (affordable, great location).
• Traveling in Geneva/Lausanne is very easy but expensive. Consider this when looking for housing.
• Finding a position or a lab at EPFL is the exact same to finding a lab at Pitt. You have to contact the PI or someone within the lab to meet with them and hope they have a position for you. Once they can offer you a position, you can fill out the Pitt and EPFL applications as they require you have a host lab.
• The cost of living in Switzerland is quite expensive. Consider this when looking at housing options and budgeting your program. Luckily, Pitt offers many scholarship and funding opportunities to help with this cost.
• The length of your research project is completely dependent on you and your lab (and any scholarships that require a certain length).