The low or no cost research opportunities and programs listed below are offered by institutions abroad and can be an affordable way to engage in international research for both undergraduate and graduate students. Many of these programs charge no program fee to participate so you are only responsible for travel and living costs. Others offer scholarships to offset some of these expenses. Because many of them are funded, they have competitive applications, so visit the individual program websites for eligibility criteria and up to date application information.

If you are interested in building not only your research skills but also your ability to engage across cultures and adapt to life in a new place, consider checking out these opportunities!

Austria

ISTernship Summer Program

• Research projects available on-site in biology, computer science, data science & scientific computing, mathematics, physics, neuroscience, chemistry & materials, and interdisciplinary areas.
• Open to rising junior and senior undergraduate and master’s students as well as students who graduated with a bachelor’s or master’s degree within a year from the program start date.
• Monthly compensation, allowance for travel costs, and dedicated subsidized housing.
• Application opens in late December and closes in early February for summer opportunities lasting 2-3 months.

Canada

Fulbright Canada-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship

• Research projects available across Canada in a broad cross-section of research topics covering all academic disciplines.
• Open to rising junior and senior undergraduate students; must be a U.S. citizen.
• Generous grant to support travel, housing, and living allowance.
• Application opens in August and closes in September for summer opportunities lasting 10 to 12 weeks.

Chile

Global Research Program at Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile

• Research projects available on-site and virtually in a variety of fields, including interdisciplinary projects.
• Open to rising senior undergraduate and master’s students.
• No program fee.
• Application opens in October and closes in December for various summer term opportunities lasting between 4 and 12 weeks.

Cyprus

Summer Internship Program at The Cyprus Institute Graduate School

• Research projects available on-site in a variety of STEM fields.
• Open to undergraduate and graduate students; eligibility requirements vary by project.
• No program fee.
• Application opens in late March/early April and closes in May for summer opportunities lasting approximately 8 weeks.

Finland

Aalto Science Institute International Summer Research Programme at Aalto University

• Research projects available on-site in primarily science and engineering.
• Open to undergraduate and master’s students.
• Salary to cover living costs.
• Application opens and close in January for summer opportunities typically lasting 12 weeks. 

Germany

RISE Germany

• Research projects available on-site across Germany in biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences, engineering, or a closely related field.
• Open to undergraduate students who have completed at least 2 years of a degree program by the time of internship placement.
• Monthly scholarship and travel support provided.
• Application opens in October and closes in November for summer opportunities between 10 weeks and 3 months.

Humbolt Internship Program at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

• Research projects available on-site in a variety of fields including biology, chemistry, cultural studies, musicology, entrepreneurship, and more. 
• Open to advanced undergraduate as well as master’s and doctoral students. 
• €240 program fee covers a Campus Card that allows you to use public transportation in Berlin and regional trains throughout Germany as well as access to all university libraries and other student services; also entitles you to numerous discounts in Berlin.
• Application opens in fall and closes in winter for various summer term opportunities lasting three months. 

International Max Planck Research School Student Research Internships

• Research projects available on-site in the fields of life science, chemistry, physics, computer science, physics, applied mathematics or engineering.
• Open to rising junior and senior undergraduate students and master’s students.
• Monthly stipend to help support living costs in Dresden.
• Application opens in TBC for summer opportunities lasting two to three months.

Max Planck School Matter to Life Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

• Research projects available in various German cities on-site in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, informatics, materials science, engineering, or related sub-fields like bioengineering.
• Open to currently enrolled undergraduate students.
• Travel, housing and living allowance provided.
• Application opens in September and closes in December for 10-week opportunities in summer and fall.

Japan

University of Tokyo Research Internship Program

(School of Science)

• Research projects available on-site in natural science and related fields.
• Open to undergraduates who have completed at least one full year in a bachelor's degree program at the time of application.
• Housing and scholarship provided.
• Application opens in November and closes in January for a 6-week program in summer.

University of Tokyo Summer Internship Program in Kashiwa

(Graduate School of Frontier Sciences)

• Research projects available on-site in the fields of natural sciences and social sciences. 
• Open to rising junior and senior undergraduate students.
• Program fee with potential to obtain a fee waiver. Scholarship and housing provided for participants.
• Application opens in late November/early December and closes in January for a 7-week program in summer.

Panama

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute General Internship Program

• Research projects available in a variety of areas centered around tropical ecosystems and biology.
• Open to undergraduates, recent graduates and beginning graduate students.
• Stipend to cover living expenses and roundtrip coach airfare provided.
• Application open year-round with deadlines in February and October for three-month opportunities in spring and summer.

Singapore

Global Connect Fellowship at Nanyang Technological University

• Research projects available on-site in a wide variety of fields, although primarily in STEM.
• Open to advanced undergraduate and master’s students.
• Generous stipend and on-campus housing provided.
• Application opens and closes in September for winter/spring opportunities lasting two to three months.

Switzerland

EPFL School of Life Sciences Summer Research Program

• Research projects available on-site for biology, bio-physics, chemistry, bio-engineering, bio-informatics, quantitative biology, genetics, or other life sciences students.
• Open to undergraduate and 1^st year master’s students.
• Stipend to cover reserved housing and other living costs; set travel reimbursement to help cover air travel.
• Application opens in November and closes in January for 8-week summer program. 

University of Lausanne Summer Undergraduate Research (SUR) Programme

• Research projects available on-site for students studying biology, medicine or a related discipline with a strong focus on biological sciences.
• Open to rising junior and senior undergraduate students.
• Housing provided, along with living expenses scholarship and opportunities for travel reimbursement.
• Application opens in September and closes in January for summer program lasting 2 months.

Taiwan

Taiwan International Internship Program at Academia Sinica

• Research projects available on-site in a variety of STEM fields.
• Open to undergraduates in their final year and master’s students.
• Stipend to help support living and airfare costs.
• Application opens in December and closes in January for summer term opportunities lasting 2 months.

Choosing an Opportunity

Vet programs by keeping the following things in mind:

• Learning about the organization’s history and track record.
• Understanding the placement process. 
• Assessing the organization’s support and accountability. 
• Clarifying program features, cost, and logistics. 
• Resource: a full list of specific questions to ask when vetting programs.

Additional Resources

Be sure to check out the Global Learning Hub’s Funding Search Tool for additional opportunities to fund research abroad. You can select Research, Grants, & Fellowships under the search criteria to filter for opportunities specific to research.

Funding Search Tool