The ISTernship Fellowship offers excellent opportunities for students and recent graduates interested in developing their scientific research skills in a cutting-edge interdisciplinary research institute. Since 2013, each Summer, selected ISTerns (ISTernship fellowship holders) from across the world join ISTA for a period of 2 to 3 months to work on their research projects in agreement with ISTA’s host professors.

ISTerns benefit from the supervision and collaboration of ISTA’s research groups and take part in a tailored program with a series of events to make the most of their experience on campus! The program culminates with a poster session where ISTerns present their work to the broader ISTA community.

Selected applicants receive financial and administrative support from ISTA’s Graduate School and OeAD.

APPLYING FOR THE 2025 INTAKE

Our application portal is now open to applications for the ISTernship – ISTA Summer Fellowship 2025 Intake.

Application Submission Deadline: February 5, 2025 (15:00 CET)
Reference Submission Deadline: February 5, 2025 (15:00 CET)
Deadline for change requests on referee contact information: February 4, 2025 (15:00 CET)
Application results will be communicated to all applicants by March 31, 2025

FELLOWSHIP DURATION

2 – 3 months between May 15 and September 15. The exact dates and length are decided with host professors after selected applicants receive an offer.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

We welcome applicants from across the world. Applicants must be enrolled in either bachelor’s or master’s degrees and be in good standing at a degree-granting institution:

Current students and recent graduates with bachelor’s or master’s degrees (or equivalent) from all disciplines of the natural sciences, mathematics, computer sciences, physics, chemistry, and any related interdisciplinary areas are eligible to apply.

Applicants must have completed at least the second year or fourth semester of their bachelor’s studies before the respective start date.

Applicants who graduated within a year from the program start date are also eligible to apply. That means applicants who graduated before May 15, 2024, are not eligible to apply for the program.

Students accepted to or enrolled in a PhD program are not eligible to apply.

ISTernship applicants can also apply for ISTA’s PhD program; however, if they are invited to an interview for the PhD program, they will be ineligible for the ISTernship program.

All short-term mobility programs between ISTA and Russia have been suspended. As a result, any applicants currently enrolled in universities located in Russia are ineligible to apply for the ISTernship call.

PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

Applicants must submit their application via our system. All submitted applications with at least one completed reference will be reviewed. Please ensure to prepare the following documents/information that will be required to be uploaded to your application:

• CV/Resume
• Statement of Purpose
• Contact information of 1 or 2 referees
• 1 – 2 names of participating ISTA host professor(s)
• University transcripts and diplomas
  This includes all degree programs and all years attended and/or currently enrolled. An original language version and English translation are recommended. Unofficial translations made by the applicant are accepted.

We do not require any English language tests. Applicants’ English skills will be evaluated through their application components.
Applicants should not contact professors to apply for the ISTernship Fellowship.

TIPS FOR APPLICANTS

We encourage applicants to strengthen their application using their CV and statement of purpose as an opportunity to showcase their skills, interests, and motivations to participate in the program. The CV and statement of purpose will be used to evaluate your candidacy alongside other components of your application.  You can see some tips below to keep in mind when preparing your CV and Statement of Purpose.

CV/Resume
We provide a template of CV (Word format) with sections that are relevant for the ISTernship Fellowship. You can download this template and modify it with your information as you see fit. You can also remove sections that are not applicable to your situation. Your CV can be uploaded to your application as a Word or PDF document.

This is a recommended template, and you can decide to use it or not. All applications will be reviewed equally regardless of which CV template is submitted.

FELLOWSHIP SUPPORT

All ISTerns receive administrative support with travel and visa arrangements if required. Each ISTern receives compensation to assist with the cost of living in Austria and travel to and from Austria.

The program will be conducted in English. 100% in-person uninterrupted presence is required for participation in the program.

MONTHLY SCHOLARSHIP PAYMENTS

ISTerns receive a monthly fellowship payment of 1.150 Euros to cover basic living expenses. The fellowship is developed in cooperation with OeAD, the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation. OeAD handles the scholarship payments for a period of up to 3 months between May 15 and September 15.

TRAVEL ALLOWANCE

All ISTerns receive a travel allowance to cover the costs of round-trip transportation to ISTA.

HEALTH INSURANCE

OeAD will assist all ISTerns in obtaining health insurance for the duration of their stay in Austria with the ISTernship Program.

HOUSING

ISTerns will have access to subsidized accommodation on campus – in the ISTA-owned and operated guest house, or accommodation in OeAD-operated student residences in Vienna.

This is a great way to connect with the student community outside of labs and classrooms.