CERN-STFC Non-Member State Doctoral Student Programme 2026 - European Organization for Nuclear Research (Geneva)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Organization for Nuclear Research on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Work towards a PhD thesis at home institution in Africa
• Spend one year at CERN on thesis work
• Work on Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments or other scientific and technological activities
• Contribute knowledge in particle physics, applied physics, engineering, information technology/computer science, instrumentation, or materials science

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: Enrolled in a PhD programme in particle physics, applied physics, information technology/computing, or engineering at a higher education institution in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Rwanda, or Uganda
• Languages: English, French
• Key skills: Knowledge of particle physics, applied physics, engineering, information technology/computer science, instrumentation, or materials science
• Eligibility: Must be a national of South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Rwanda, or Uganda. Must be enrolled in a PhD program at a higher education institution in one of these six countries. Not eligible if national of a CERN Member or Associate Member State. If thesis work is related to an experiment, the university must be affiliated with the corresponding experiment collaboration.

Selection process

The notice describes the following selection steps:

• Application review by external panel to assess capacity-building potential
• Review by panel of CERN experts

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: One year, starting late 2026 and no later than March 2027.

Hiring unit: Science and Technology Facilities Council's Africa-UK Physics Partnership Programme.

Position details

Reference

STFC-NMS-DOCT-2025

Last Verified

18 September 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for CERN-STFC Non-Member State Doctoral Student Programme 2026 at CERN based in Geneva (Other). The vacancy reference is STFC-NMS-DOCT-2025. The role falls under the Science domain.

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 spendingone yearat 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 aCERN Member or Associate Member Stateare eligible for the CERN Doctoral Student Programme andwill not beconsidered 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.

CERNwill notcontribute 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 formatto 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.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 14 September 2026, 6 days ago.

No closing date is published in the source feed for this position. EU vacancies typically remain open for four to eight weeks; check the official vacancy notice for the cut-off date and time.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 18 September 2026 (2 days ago).

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at CERN see the CERN institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Geneva see our Geneva location page; for related vacancies in the Science field browse our Science domain page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.