Industry Internships: Companies

Our Bachelor and Master programs build up extensive knowledge in basic sciences (mathematics, physics, chemistry) and an education that merges biological sciences (biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology, neuroscience) with engineering disciplines (informatics, bioinformatics, signal processing, imaging, material sciences, etc).

The internship must last at least 8 consecutive weeks and no more than 6 months, full-time. It can take place during the semester (February to September / July to February) or during semester breaks.

If it overlaps with a semester, the internship can continue at the latest until October 1st for the fall semester and March 1st for the spring semester.

Internship agreement: In order to address every aspect of the engineering internships, EPFL proposes an internship agreement binding the company, the student and EPFL for the duration of the internship. This contract provides clear information about issues such as confidentiality or intellectual property etc. The student is responsible for filling the internship agreement and for having it signed by each partner (company, EPFL, student).

Remote work: The primary goal of the internship program is to immerse students in the professional world. Therefore, remote work is neither recommended nor desired by EPFL.
Upon request from the company, exceptions can be made for a limited amount of remote work (max. 40%). Justification is required (mentioned on the internship agreement) and EPFL reserves the right not to allow it, when it does not appear to be consistent with the school’s training objectives.
Working remotely from Switzerland for a company abroad is forbidden.

Salary: EPFL recommends a typical monthly salary around 2’000 CHF. 

Working authorization in Switzerland for foreign students: Pursuant to art. 39 OASA, foreign students registered at EPFL having a valid residence permit can do a full-time paid internship, provided that the internship is a mandatory part of their studies. However, they need to have an authorization issued by the authorities to do so.

For a student from non-UE/AELE countries, the company must ask the competent authorities for working authorization and a minimum salary might be required. EPFL issues an attestation stating that the internship is a mandatory part of the student’s studies, and that the student is still registered as an EPFL student during the internship. The authorisation will be granted if the working conditions are valid. The company and the student must wait for the decision of the authorities before starting the internship.

Students that are EU citizens and EFTA can be hired for the duration of the internship. The internship must be announced to the population control of the student’s town or in the canton where the internship takes place. The internship can begin as soon as the announcement is made.

For further information, please contact the relevant authorities.

Canton de Vaud:

• Service de l’emploi: vd.ch/emploi
  
• Service de la population: vd.ch/population

The EPFL internship portal is convenient to promote internship ads and manage students applications.

• Applications are reviewed to ensure they meet your requirements
• You will only receive resumes from candidates with the desired profile

Create an account free of charge on the internship portal to post your internship proposals.

Short internships (2 months): Typically from mid-July to mid-September (summer break). Submit proposals between early February and mid-April. Submitting later reduces the chances of finding a student.

Long internships (up to 6 months): Usually during a semester (February to September / July to February). Submit proposals in the previous semester to allow time for the selection process.

Master projects (around 6 months): Typically start in February. Proposals should be sent between July and October of the previous year, so students have time to find a supervising professor.

Internships: can take place in most company departments where a student’s skills are useful. They are exclusively under the supervision of the company’s project supervisor. The supervisor will evaluate the student’s professional skills through a simple questionnaire at the end of the internship. Academic credits will be given according to the master program rules (SV = 8 credits). All internships must be regulated by an internship agreement that can be added to the company’s own contract.

A Master project in a company: should be original work involving both theory and practice in biomedical engineering. It is under the supervision of an EPFL professor. The company and the professor will collaborate to define the topic beforehand and will collaborate during the entire duration of the project. A Master project always requires a master’s thesis and an oral defense. Master projects do not require an agreement to be signed.

You need to create an account and fill in the information concerning the subject of the internship on EPFL’s internship portal. The posting, application and selection process is free of charge.

Your offer is automatically transmitted to the appropriate coordinators from the selected section(s) who will review the offer and approve it if relevant. The students are then invited to apply.

EPFL forwards the candidates’ files to the company. The company can start the selection process and reply to the students. 

Detailed information can also be found here.

Internship offers are posted on our website and are only visible to registered students in the relevant sections and semesters. Companies can only see their own internship offers.