• What are the requirements for the English fluency certificate?

Given the very different situations in various countries and universities we have no strict formal requirement. While a simple international certificate like TOEFL etc is of course best, any other certificate or freely formulated statement by a university lecturer can be accepted if clear enough. What we require is confirmation that your proficiency in English (spoken and written) is adequate to attend lectures in English, read scientific literature, work in a team, give oral presentations and write a final report in English.

  • Who can apply?

Please see the page “eligibility”. The eligibility does not depend on your personal nationality, but on the country in which you are enrolled at university.

  • Do I need a visa to take part in the programme?

If you are not from the European Union, you may need a visa to come to France and/or additional paperwork to sign the work placement contract at our institute; it is your responsibility to check this and take care of it in sufficient time in advance. If you are a citizen of the EU, you do not need anything particular.

  • I am a student in a subject other than the “classical” science disciplines like physics, chemistry, etc. Can I take part in the programme?

Yes, there is no formal requirement, except that your field of studies must be related to the use of neutrons or x-rays for scientific measurements.

  • I already have a Master degree, or are more advanced than stated in the eligibility conditions. Can I still apply?

No, your application will not be accepted. This school aims at undergraduate students only. In fact, at your level, you will benefit more from a course for graduate students rather than this one. To find those courses, check out the websites of several neutron or x-ray centers. We particularly recommend the Hercules School.

  • How much will it cost to participate?

We find it important that any student, independent of his/her financial resources can participate. This is why we give support and charge no fee for participation. You will benefit from free accommodation in Grenoble. The institute will furthermore pay you a “salary” which will amount to approximately 500 Euros for the duration of the programme. (This is why you will be required to sign a temporary work placement contract with the ILL or ESRF.) In Grenoble, the daily living costs (food, bus tickets, etc.) will be at your own expense, as well as your trip to Grenoble and back. Please contact us in case of any particular financial concerns.

  • Why is there a registration fee?

Students who cancel their participation on short notice would cause unnecessary work and costs to us, this is also unfair towards others who would have liked to come and whose place they occupy. This is why for the organization of the course, we ask you for a strong commitment, once your application has been selected. You will get back this registration fee after your participation in the course, so it is to be seen as a deposit and not an expense for you. We ask you to confirm your participation by paying the registration fee only after you receive the notice that your application has been successful.

  • Can I choose, or do I have to choose, which experimental project I will be working on?

If you have an idea of what you would like to do, you are strongly encouraged to inform us at the time of your application. (In case you already have contacts with our institutes you might, in principle, even propose a specific project.) In general, what we can offer depends on what our institutes’ scientists propose. Unlike a usual university lab course, this is part of their actual “real” scientific work – which makes it very interesting, but also less predictable. This is why there is no list or such thing from which you’d have to choose.
If you tell us your interests, we will try to match your expectations with what we can offer. For some others, this may be the occasion to discover a completely new field.

  • Can I use this summer course to gain credit points for the studies at my university?

In general, no, but this may depend on you and your university and if you can find an agreement with them. We are independent from any university, and will not be able to negotiate such an individual agreement for you.
We do, however, issue a detailed certificate of attendance to the participants, which might be useful for you, now or later.
Independent of such considerations, we are convinced that this course will be a great benefit for your studies and your academic career.