Here is a list of things you must do before or at your arrival at CERN, in order:
1) Visa: Check whether you need a visa to enter Switzerland and France. It is your responsibility to apply for it as soon as you receive your offer from CERN. The visa process can take several months, so start immediately to ensure it is ready before your arrival. If you need an invitation letter, please get in touch with us, please note that most students do not need a visa to stay less than 3 months.
Where to check visa requirements?
For Switzerland: State Secretariat for Migration (SEM)
For France: France-Visas website
2) Contract: Sign and return your contract according to instructions provided by your CERN Summer Student coordinator.
3) Accommodation: in the registration form select your preferred accommodation, more info to follow.
4) Travel: Arrange your own travel/ transport to CERN taking into account your contract dates, you cannot arrive or leave outside of your contract dates.
5) Travel Insurance: Make sure you have adequate travel insurance, including a repatriation clause.
6) CERN Insurance: Fill out and return the medical questionnaire that we send to you to CERN's Medical Service.
7) CERN Account: Make sure to follow the instructions you will be given later on to activate your CERN computing account. Once it is activated, you will be required to provide us with your emergency contacts.
8) Courses and rules: Follow the mandatory computing security course and general safety course. Ensure you are well acquainted with CERN Staff Rules and Regulations which detail your rights, obligations, and aspects of your student association, and the CERN Code of Conduct.
9) Your team: Get in touch with your supervisor and team.
10) CERN Navigation: Download the app "MapCERN" and check the CERN Shuttle Service.
11) First meeting: Attend the induction meeting on the first day of your contract.
12) Chat: Join the Openlab Summer Students Chat 2025 (more info later).
Internet access at CERN
You can connect your personal devices to the CERN network (laptop, smartphone and tablet). Once you have activated your CERN computing account, you will be able to register your devices on the Network Portal. For this, you will need to provide some basic information such as the make, model, OS and more importantly the MAC address of your devices.
Legislation
Please note, that by accepting our offer of participation as a Summer Student, you will become a CERN associated member of the personnel for the duration of your contract. As such, you are subject to all relevant legislation of CERN, in particular:
- Staff Rules and Regulations
- Code of Conduct Operational
- Circulars No 5 & No 8 Please
