Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics - Summer Scholarships for Training in Technological Development

What you get

You will receive 700 EUR per month for 3 months, as well as a one-off travel allowance of 60 EUR, 200 EUR or 300 EUR, depending on where you live. This is a practical placement at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) in La Laguna, Tenerife (Spain). You will work in the instrumentation department on real astrophysical projects. Depending on the project, this may involve mechanics and optomechanics for telescope instruments, electronics and control systems, vacuum and cryogenics, optics or software for telescope control. The IAC will register you with the Spanish social security system and take out accident insurance on your behalf. Around eight scholarships are offered each year, each lasting 3 months between July and October. This is exclusively an internship with no associated academic course.

Who can apply

• Degree: You have recently completed your bachelor’s degree (in the last intake, from the academic year 2022–2023) or you are currently a master’s student.
• Field of study: Engineering (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering/Electronics, Telecommunications, Computer Science, Industrial Engineering, Control Engineering/Automation), Physics or Optical Technologies. Some projects in the field of optics are open exclusively to Master’s students.
• No repeats: You have not yet received an IAC summer scholarship in the field of technological development.

How to apply

You apply online via the IAC’s electronic register as soon as the call for proposals has been published in the Spanish Official State Gazette (BOE), which is usually at the end of March or the beginning of April. You will then have a short window of around ten working days to submit your application and select your preferred project from those on offer. A committee assesses the applications solely on the basis of the documents submitted. Grades carry the greatest weight, with additional points awarded for project experience, publications and English language proficiency.

How realistic are your chances?

The eligibility criteria are quite strict: graduates or Master’s students specialising in engineering or physics who are able to move to Tenerife in the summer. Consequently, the pool of applicants is smaller than for open scholarships. As there are only around eight places available and selection depends mainly on your grade point average, strong academic performance is crucial. If you clearly fit the subject area and can demonstrate solid grades, your chances are good.