Internships for PhD students (M/F/X)

We offer a three-month internship at CWI under the supervision of a CWI researcher who is willing to host you. Your travel to Amsterdam will be paid for, and your accommodation in Amsterdam is fully arranged and covered by the internship program. Depending on availability this will be a small studio apartment or equivalent. If you have any special requirements regarding accessibility, please notify us as soon as possible. You will also receive a monthly stipend of 1200 euros to help cover your daily expenses.

We are looking for motivated mathematics and computer science students who are in a sufficiently advanced phase of their PhD studies. To qualify for the CWI internship, you must be enrolled in a PhD program outside of the Netherlands.

We strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and members of other under-recognized groups to apply. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We believe that a wide range of perspectives and experiences enriches our community and enhances our ability to innovate and excel.

Every application begins with contacting one of our research staff with a brief outline of what you would like to collaborate on. They will pre-select the candidates that can apply, and those who are selected will receive an invitation to apply through the CWI website, supplying a brief CV and an application form. At the same time, the CWI host will supply a letter of support to the internship committee.

Application form

The committee will judge the proposals on:

• Feasibility: Is the research proposal sufficiently concrete to be able to produce tangible results within the internship?
• Embedding: How well does the internship connect to existing research lines and/or collaborations of the host?
• Impact: What is the potential for lasting impact of the internship on the career of the applicant and / or the research program of the host?

The time line is as follows:

• Contact CWI research staff to discuss potential project ideas | Applicant | By October 1st 2025
• Pre-select candidates and invite them to apply. | CWI host | By November 1st 2025
• Apply for internship through the CWI website | Applicant | By December 1st 2025
• Send letter of support to internship committee | CWI host | By December 1st 2025
• Select and notify applicants and host | Internship committee | By December 21st
• Contact applicants and host to arrange further details | Human resources | January 2026
• Internship takes place | Applicant and host | March 2026-March 2027
• Submit final report to internship committee | Applicant | Within 1 month of finishing the internship

To enter the Netherlands, you might need a visa. Whether you need a visa is based on your nationality. The embassy in your country of residence can guide you through the whole procedure, step by step. Be aware that the application process may take long, depending on your nationality, so take this into account when scheduling the internship.

CWI will arrange, and pay, for housing in the vicinity of CWI. Depending on availability this will be a small studio apartment or equivalent. If you have any special requirements regarding accessibility, please notify us as soon as possible

Your CWI host should supply a letter of support by e-mail to the committee (internships@cwi.nl). The letter includes:

• a brief motivation for the internship;
• the host's evaluation of the applicant and the internship plan;
• a description of the interactions between the host and applicant so far (e.g. previous visits, previous joint work);
• the expected/envisioned outcomes for the host and CWI (e.g. a conference paper submission, a future postdoc position).