Full Program Details
The Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), an international research centre in Dubna near Moscow, is taking applications for the winter session of its START programme. Selected students join a JINR research group for six to eight weeks and work on a real project under a staff supervisor.
JINR books and pays for your hostel, gives you a daily allowance of 2,000 rubles, handles your travel and refunds your visa and insurance costs.
Details at a glance:
- Host: Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR)
- Level: senior undergraduates, Master's students and first-year PhD students under 30
- Location: Dubna, Russia
- Session window: 14 February to 26 June 2027, with each stay lasting 6 to 8 weeks
- Applications opened: 21 September 2026
- Deadline: 16 October 2026 at 5:59 PM, as listed on the START portal
What the Programme Covers
- Free accommodation in a JINR hostel, booked by the institute
- A daily allowance of 2,000 rubles
- Travel to Dubna. Students from outside Russia and Belarus must book their tickets through JINR.
- Refund of visa costs once you submit a copy of the visa and the fee receipt
- Insurance costs
There is no participation fee listed on the programme site.
Who Can Apply
- Students under 30 who have completed the third year of a Bachelor's or Specialist degree, or who are in a Master's programme or the first year of a PhD
- You must be a current student and show proof of enrolment. Recent graduates who are no longer enrolled cannot apply.
- Your field must match one of JINR's research areas in its current topical plan, which centre on physics and related sciences
- Past START participants are not eligible
How to Apply
- Open the Winter Session 2027 page on the START portal and click the +Student button to register.
- Upload your academic transcript or graduation certificate, proof of enrolment, CV, a recommendation letter and a motivation letter. Documents must be in English or Russian.
- Apply for the session straight away. You do not need to wait for your registration to be approved.
- Browse the project list, pick a topic that fits your studies and click Apply.
- Project supervisors review the applications and decide whom to invite, so watch your email.
Timeline
- Application deadline: 16 October 2026
- Supervisors finish selection: 28 October 2026
- Agreement deadline: 20 November 2026
- Final participants list published: 11 December 2026
GizPulse Verdict
Who this is for: Final-year physics, engineering and science students from Nigeria and across Africa who want hands-on lab experience at a large international institute without paying for it.
Who should pause: If you have already graduated and are not enrolled anywhere, you cannot apply. Students whose field sits outside JINR's research plan will also struggle to find a matching project.
One tip to stand out: Supervisors pick students, not a central panel. Read the project description closely and write your motivation letter for that specific project, naming the methods or tools you have already used.
Check the project list and apply on the official JINR START portal.
