The Research Council of Lithuania (RCL) is launching its annual call for student summer research internships and announces the first stage of the process. Research and higher education institutions, together with internship supervisors, are invited to propose internship topics for prospective interns. Topics selected by RCL from various fields will then be available for students wishing to undertake a research internship in the summer of 2026. Proposals for topics should be submitted by January 9, 2026, at 15:00..
The student summer research internship program, “Science Summer with RCL”, is the longest-running RCL initiative for students. Its aim is to cultivate a new, well-prepared generation of future scientists and engineers by providing students with early, intensive, and high-quality research experience, directly engaging in research conducted by Lithuanian scientists. This initiative contributes to the goals outlined in RCL’s Long-Term Strategic Plan.
How the “Science Summer with RCL” Program Works
The upcoming summer internship will take place July–August 2026, with students receiving a €2,000 stipend (€1,000 per month). RCL plans to allocate €900,000 for next year’s summer internships. During the program, interns will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with advanced research instruments, methodologies, and digital tools. RCL expects these experiences to serve as a significant boost to students’ professional development and to enhance essential skills in a real research environment.
The competition is conducted in two stages:
Stage I: Topic Submission and Selection
In this stage, research and higher education institutions are invited to submit internship topics to RCL. Topics can be proposed from all fields of research. RCL will evaluate submissions based on innovation, relevance, feasibility, and scientific justification. Since 2023, PhD candidates can also serve as internship supervisors, and RCL encourages young researchers to actively participate and apply to supervise student interns. In 2025, 117 PhD candidates (compared to 28 in 2024) gained valuable experience supervising research and arts projects during this internship program.
Stage II: Invitation for Students to Apply
After selecting the most suitable topics from Stage I, RCL will publish a list and invite students to choose their preferred internship topics and supervisors. The competition is open to first- and second-cycle students as well as long-cycle students, except those in their final year, as well as students who received funding for this program in 2022 or later, and PhD students or holders of a doctoral degree.
Internship supervisors will evaluate students applying for their proposed topics according to established selection criteria. Selected students will become interns and will have the opportunity to carry out research or artistic projects during the summer.
The weighted average of all subjects in the student’s final semester must be at least 8 out of 10.
Foreign students are also invited to participate in research internships in Lithuania. Additional funding for accommodation will be provided if necessary.
Last year, 313 students completed summer research internships, including young researchers from universities in Italy, Ukraine, Spain, India, and the United Kingdom.
Student Experiences and Impact
We invite you to watch a video highlighting the unique aspects, topics, and achievements of students in the summer research internship program. The video showcases the internship process, research topics, student accomplishments, and provides information on how to become part of the program.
A survey conducted in September 2025 revealed that participation in RCL-funded researcher career and mobility initiatives helped many students take their first steps in their professional careers—80% of respondents reported this outcome.
Participants particularly valued the internship experience: almost all—94%—rated it as very good or good, and 77% stated that the content of the internship fully met their expectations. Additionally, nearly all respondents—96%—would recommend participating in these programs to other students.
These results confirm that the RCL summer internship not only provides valuable experience and knowledge but also helps students plan their future careers. The program’s quality earns the trust and recommendations of its participants.
“The RCL internship helped me better understand the specialty I am interested in, which is psychiatry. I interacted more with patients, conducted literature analysis, and gained more scientific knowledge,” said Milda Eleonora Griciūtė, a student at Vilnius University (VU).
“The student summer research internship program is a great opportunity for students to experience the role of a scientist,” emphasizes Dr. Joana Smirnovienė, a researcher at the Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University and one of the internship supervisors.
The video about the summer internship is available in Lithuanian and English with subtitles:
Applications can be submitted here.
Information by Research Council of Lithuania