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 research groups.
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 includes 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 Office and the OeAD, Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalization.
APPLYING FOR THE NEXT INTAKE
Applications for the 2025 intake are now closed. The final deadline for applications was February 5, 2025, at 15:00 CET.
2026 Intake Applications: Details will be announced in December 2025. The deadline to submit applications for summer 2026 will be February 5th, 2026, at 15:00 CET.
FELLOWSHIP RESEARCH PROJECT
Selected ISTerns will decide together with the host research group on a research project to work on. The fellowship opportunities are available across all areas of basic research at ISTA: biology, computer science, data science & scientific computing, mathematics, physics, neuroscience, chemistry & materials, and interdisciplinary areas.
FELLOWSHIP DURATION
2 – 3 months between May 15 and September 15. The exact dates and length are decided with research groups 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, 2025, are not eligible to apply for the program.
Students accepted to or enrolled in a PhD program before the program start 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 research group(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.
Download the file here: ISTernship_CV_Template
Statement of Purpose:
The statement of purpose is a fundamental component of your application; it is a chance for you to stand out in the selection process. Please ensure you take time to craft a document that is authentic, unique, and that clearly states your motivation to apply for the ISTernship Fellowship. There are no specific rules on the format of the statement of purpose, however, you may want to consider the following:
- What is your motivation to participate in the ISTernship Fellowship?
- Why have you specifically chosen the research group(s) indicated in your application?
- What skills do you want to develop and/or what skills do you wish to learn during the ISTernship Fellowship?
- What impact will the ISTernship Fellowship have on your science journey?
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 a lump sum based on distance traveled to cover part or most of the airfare or travel costs to and from Austria. If flights are booked last minute or with additional luggage, please note the travel lump sum may not cover the entirety of the travel costs and participants will be responsible for covering the rest of the fare.
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 the 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 LUMP SUM
All ISTern summer fellows receive a travel lump sum to contribute to covering the costs of airfare and travel costs to ISTA and back home. The lump sum will be calculated based on the distance traveled to/from ISTA and distributed by the OeAD.
HEALTH INSURANCE
The OeAD will assist all ISTerns in obtaining health insurance for the duration of their stay in Austria with the ISTernship Program. However, the costs for health insurance are not included in the program fees and will be paid for by ISTerns if necessary (participants without European Health Insurance Cards). Please note, participants may be required to take out private travel insurance to cover the first two weeks in Austria for the visa application.
HOUSING
Depending on availability, ISTerns will have access to accommodation on campus – in the ISTA-owned and operated guest house, or accommodation in the OeAD-operated student residences in Vienna.
It is also possible for ISTerns to source their own housing if they are already living in Vienna or do not want to live in a dorm-like accommodation. Many students, faculty, and staff live near Heiligenstadt for an easy commute to ISTA with the shuttle bus as well as easy access to the city center. Please note, ISTerns with independent housing are responsible for preparing the proof of accommodation documents necessary for any visa requirements if arriving without EU/EEA/CH citizenship.
Questions?
Please consult our FAQ for more information about the program.
If your question is not answered by the FAQ, please reach out to us via isternship@ista.ac.at
ISTernship Community
There are several events either specifically organized for ISTerns or open to ISTerns aimed at making their time at ISTA as valuable as possible.
- Presentations providing short overviews of the research conducted in groups at ISTA given by the relevant professors, postdocs or current PhD students (July & August).
- Invitation to annual ISTA events over the summer.
- Annual poster session in which ISTerns prepare a poster detailing their research project at ISTA (August).
Benefits of the ISTernship – ISTA Summer Fellowship
- Monthly compensation
- Access to affordable health insurance
- Lump sum for travel costs
- Housing on campus or in the OeAD residences in Vienna
- Free access to the ISTA shuttle bus
In cooperation with 
For information about scientific internships (year-round) at ISTA, please see this page.