CERN-STFC Non-Member State Doctoral Student Programme 2026

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. Using the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments, they study the basic constituents of matter - fundamental particles that are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives physicists clues about how particles interact, and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature. Find out more on http://home.cern.

Diversity has been an integral part of CERN's mission since its foundation and is an established value of the Organization.

Imagine getting involved in cutting-edge research and technology before you have left university. Imagine working in an international environment, acquiring skills to bring back to your country.

As part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Africa-UK Physics Partnership Programme, funded by the UK Government’s International Science Partnerships Fund, CERN is launching a capacity-building program. This program aims to support advanced studies in Physics, Engineering, and Computer Science for nationals of certain CERN Non-Member States (NMS).

The objective of the scheme is to provide opportunities through the award of studentships to encourage young and high-calibre PhD students in particle physics, as well as in applied physics, information technology/computing and engineering from the NMS to allow them to obtain world-class exposure, supervision and training primarily within the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments, without excluding other scientific and technological activities at CERN.

The studentships offer the chance to students from one of six African countries to work towards a PhD thesis at their home institution in Africa while spending one year at CERN, at the forefront of science, over the full period of their PhD studies.

This is an invitation to PhD students to further their knowledge in a truly unique organization, to get involved in world-famous experiments and accelerator projects of unprecedented scale and scope, and to bring back to their home countries and regions new skills and a varied expertise.

You will have the opportunity to work in a diversity of fields at the cutting edge of science and technology: particle physics, applied physics, engineering, information technology/computer science, instrumentation, materials science are but a few of the examples of the many domains in which successful applicants will learn and contribute their knowledge.

In order to be eligible to apply for a place on the programme you will need to meet the following requirements:

• You must be a national of South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Rwanda or Uganda who is registered on a PhD programme in one of the subjects mentioned above in a higher education institution in one of these six countries.
• Students must be enrolled in a PhD program, thus ensuring that the necessary basis through coursework is acquired together with an overall proof of commitment and capacity. In the case the thesis work would be related to an experiment, the university needs to be affiliated with the corresponding experiment collaboration.
• The work envisaged at CERN is all or part of the thesis work required to obtain the PhD degree. While the daily co-supervisor during the stay at CERN could be a CERN Staff Member, the full PhD supervision and the award of the degree remains the responsibility of the home university. Academic arrangements will be agreed between the university thesis supervisor and the CERN supervisor, thus setting up a partnership between the home university and CERN covering the full duration of the PhD studies of the student.
• Good knowledge of English and/or French.

!Important note! Nationals of a CERN Member or Associate Member State are eligible for the CERN Doctoral Student Programme and will not be considered for this capacity-building initiative.

During your studies, CERN will provide you with:

• A contract of association of one year with a start in late 2026 and no later than March 2027;
• An allowance of 3907 Swiss Francs per month (net of tax).
• A travel allowance.
• Depending on the personal circumstances, a supplement if the student is married, in a registered partnership, and/or has children and these dependents will accompany the student in their stay at CERN;
• Coverage by CERN’s comprehensive Health Insurance scheme (the contribution will be automatically deducted from your allowance).
• 2,5 days of paid leave per month.

CERN will not contribute to any cost related to the home university, pay any allowance during the periods the students are not at CERN, nor will CERN reimburse any tuition fees.

This is how you can apply:

Required documentation:

You will need the following documents, in English or in French, clearly labelled (e.g. “CV”, “Motivation letter”, “Academic transcript”, etc.) and in PDF format to complete your application:

• A CV.
• A letter of motivation, also mentioning the impact of obtaining this grant on their studies, career, and capacity building in the academic community in the student’s country and region.
• A statement of research interest.
• Two letters of reference, of which one from the university professor who is supervising the PhD studies in the home institution.
• A letter confirming the interest of a team from the home university to accept to co-supervise the thesis work.
• A copy of the most recent academic transcript and the last diploma.
• Proof of enrolment in a PhD programme at a university in an eligible country.

Your application along with all supporting documents should reach us no later than September 24th (at 23:59 CET). Please note that your application may also be shared during the process with an external panel to assess its capacity-building potential. Ultimately, it will be reviewed by a panel of CERN experts with an expected start date for the placement by December 2026.