Research Internships for Master's Students: Where to Find Them

What counts as a research internship

A research internship is a fixed period of guided research work. You work inside a university, a public research institute, or a company, under a named supervisor. Most placements run from a few weeks up to six months.

A research internship is different from a taught course or an exchange semester. You join an ongoing project. You produce real research work, not only coursework.

Master's students use research internships for three reasons. You test a research area before you commit to a PhD. You build contacts with a future PhD supervisor. You add research experience to your CV.

Who can apply, and when to apply

Each program sets its own rules. Three things to check on every program's own page:

Your level of study. Some programs accept master's and PhD students together. Others, such as many university internship schemes, are built mainly for undergraduates, so a master's student must check the current rules before contacting the host.
Your home university's country. Some national programs limit applicants to students enrolled at a university in a named list of countries.
Your field. Many research institutes only host students in specific subjects, such as biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, or engineering.

Application windows for a summer placement often open and close many months before the start date. DAAD's RISE Professional program, for example, opens its internship database between October 15 and November 30 for placements that start the following May to December, and reference letters are due by December 15. Plan your research and your documents in the autumn of the year before you want to go.

Paid or unpaid

Funding rules differ by program and by internship length.

DAAD's RISE Professional program pays enrolled master's and Ph.D. students a monthly scholarship of 492 euros and 900 euros respectively for internships of up to three months, on top of a required 500 euros net per month from the host company. For internships longer than three months, and for recent graduates, the host company must instead pay the German minimum wage for the whole placement.

At other institutes, funding depends on the host research group. The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) states, for its own internship route, that payment remains at the discretion of the Group Leader who hosts you, and that this route is aimed mainly at undergraduate students.

Always ask about pay, insurance, and travel costs in writing before you accept a placement.

Where to find research internships

National exchange agencies. Germany's DAAD runs RISE Professional, aimed at master's and Ph.D. students in biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, earth science, or engineering, enrolled at a North American, British, or Irish university.
EU mobility funding. Erasmus+ funds traineeships abroad for students enrolled at a higher education institution in an Erasmus+ programme country, at short-cycle, Bachelor's, or Master's level, and for doctoral candidates and recent graduates. Read our full guide on Erasmus+ traineeships for the funding rules and how to apply through the Erasmus Intern Traineeship Portal or your own international office.
The EURAXESS portal. This is the European Commission's own portal for research jobs, funding, and hosting offers. You can filter listings by academic level, including Master's positions, by country, and by research field.
Direct contact with a research institute. Some institutes, such as EMBL, ask you to contact a Group Leader directly, instead of using a central application form. Check the institute's own page first, since many of these routes are built for undergraduates and may not fit every master's student.
Your own university. Ask your international office about exchange agreements and partner institutes. Many placements are never advertised outside these agreements.

How to apply, step by step

Pick your research field and list institutes or companies whose current projects match it.
Read the eligibility page of each program. Check your level of study, your country of enrollment, and your field.
Prepare a CV, a short statement of your research interests, and your preferred dates.
If the program asks for a support letter, contact a lecturer at your home university early, since letters often have a separate, later deadline.
For programs that use group leaders, write a short, specific email. Name the group's current project and explain why it interests you.
Submit your application inside the program's window. Many windows open only once a year and close months before the internship starts.
After you accept an offer, confirm your pay, insurance, and visa rules in writing with the host.

Common mistakes

Applying after the window closes. Many national programs accept applications only once a year, for a fixed number of weeks.
Assuming every internship pays the same amount. Stipend rules, and whether the host company or a scholarship pays you, change by program and by internship length.
Sending a generic email to a research group. Name the group's current project and your specific interest in it.
Skipping the eligibility page. A program open to undergraduates, or to students from a specific list of countries, may not accept you. Check first.

Where to find open positions

PhD Atlas lists new internships for master's and PhD students as they open. Check funded PhD positions if your internship search is part of a plan to find a PhD supervisor.