CISPA Summer Research (CSR)
Internship Program
What is it?
The CISPA Summer Research (CSR) program offers BSc or MSc students a 2-3 month paid research internship to work alongside world-leading researchers in cryptography, computer security, privacy, and machine learning/AI at CISPA.
We offer approx. €2.568,80 - €2.671,89 per month before taxes, depending on qualifications, as a compensation for the voluntary internship.
For CSR 2027, we offer two internship start dates: May 1 and June 1.
The CSR program
Research at CISPA
During your internship, you'll join a research group at CISPA and take part in its research activities. Working alongside the group's researchers, you'll gain first-hand experience of how they investigate open questions and develop new ideas.
CSR sessions and activities
In addition to your research work, we offer sessions to help you develop as a researcher. These cover topics such as scientific writing, presenting your findings, and research ethics in cybersecurity and AI.
Social activities
During CSR sessions and social activities, you'll get to know other interns and researchers across CISPA and have the opportunity to exchange ideas with people working on different research topics.
Certificate
You'll receive a certificate after successfully completing your research internship and the accompanying program.
Who can participate?
The program is open to students enrolled in eligible Bachelor’s or Master’s programs (BSc, BEng, BTech, MSc, MEng, MTech) in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, telecommunications, or equivalent.
Students must have completed at least four semesters before the internship begins and be enrolled as students throughout the internship.
English proficiency is required.
Please note: PhD students and MSc graduates looking for a PhD opportunity are not eligible for this particular program.
How does the application process work?
- Application review (after Nov 30): The CSR committee reviews all applications. Ineligible applicants will be notified.
- Interviews (mid-Dec to mid-Jan): Faculty may invite selected candidates for interviews. Not all eligible applicants will be interviewed.
- Offers: Selected candidates receive internship offers. Some may receive multiple offers and can choose their preferred team. The internship location depends on the faculty’s site (e.g. Saarbrücken, St. Ingbert, Dortmund, Hannover, and Stuttgart).
- Acceptance (end of Jan): Candidates must confirm their offer by this date. After acceptance, CISPA’s administrative office will assist with contracts, visas, and onboarding.
We have prepared an FAQ for internships for you. For more practical information about coming to Germany and the Saarland region (also regarding short-term stays), please check out https://international.cispa.de.
Important dates
Application Documents
All applications are due by November 30, 2026 23:59 AoE:
- Letter of motivation - the letter should be one page long, no more than two.
- Curriculum vitae - it should be one page, no more than two, and contain information about your education and other relevant experience.
- Transcript of academic records in English. Combine in one PDF the most recent transcript of records from your study program.
- Personal assessment of your English language skills - This can be a TOEFL or similar test as well as personal statement on why such a test is not required.
- Certificates in English. If you are a Master's students, please upload your Bachelor's certificate
- Contact information for recommendation letters - If you would like us to contact potential letter writers, please provide their contact information here.
About CISPA
CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security is a German national Science Institution within the Helmholtz Association and provides a unique work environment that offers the advantage of a university department and a research laboratory alike. CISPA's mission is to rethink the digitized world of the future from the ground on up an make it safer through innovative cutting-edge research. CISPA is committed to the highest international academic standards. We offer a world-class research environment that grants extensive resources to a wide range of researchers and constitutes an attractive destination for the best talents and scientists from all countries. CISPA provides a highly international and diverse working environment, currently hosting researchers of over 40 nationalities.
CISPA headquarter is located in Saarbrücken, in the tri-border area of Germany, France and Luxembourg. The CISPA campus is located close to Saarland University, known for its excellence in Computer Science & Cybersecurity programs; the Max Planck Institute for Informatics and the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems; the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI); and more.
For more information about CISPA, see https://cispa.de/en