Program Overview

Introduction to the Amgen Scholars Program

The Amgen Scholars Program at Karolinska Institutet is a summer research program in biomedical sciences for undergraduate students. The program provides an opportunity for international and national undergraduate students to conduct research during 8 weeks in the summer at Karolinska Institutet.

About the Program

The program will begin with a few days of introduction to research at Karolinska Institutet, together with lectures on scientific writing and poster presentation. The program will end with oral and poster presentations of the conducted research, where the students also get trained in critiquing each other's work. Throughout the program, students will be part of a research group and participate in lab work, scientific discussions, journal clubs, seminars, and other topics.

Research Areas

The research areas include:

• Cancer
• Cell biology
• Molecular biology
• Structural Biology
• Circulation and respiration
• Developmental Biology
• Stem Cells
• Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Infection
• Inflammation
• Immunology
• Microbiology
• Neuroscience

Admitted students will be assigned projects based on stated interest and available spaces.

Benefits and Funding

Amgen Scholars will be awarded a stipend of a total of SEK 11,000 per month (approximately 1000 Euro per month, exchange rate as of October 2025) for the period of stay at Karolinska Institutet. Housing and round-trip travel costs are covered, as well as round-trip travel expenses to the Amgen Scholars European Symposium in Cambridge.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply to the Amgen Scholars Europe Program, applicants must be:

• Undergraduate students enrolled in colleges and universities in Europe
• Undergraduate students who have not completed their bachelor's or first degree (or its equivalent) prior to termination of the programme symposium in September
  • Applicants must apply in their first or second year of their studies for their first degree For medical students: eligible applicants must not have completed their pre-clinical training by the start of the Amgen programme, i.e., applicants must apply within the first three years of their studies.

Application Requirements

Program applicants must also have:

• A strong record of academic performance
• An interest in pursuing a Ph.D. Eligible students must attend colleges or universities in countries that are participating in the Bologna Process.

Application Process

Previous research experience is not required, but the student must show a genuine interest in doing investigative work in science. Formal evidence is not required, but Scholars will need a good working knowledge of English in order to participate fully. Applicants who are non-native English speakers may demonstrate adequate knowledge of the English language by a certificate from an academic representative or through internationally recognized tests.

Key Dates

• Noon local time February 1st, 2026: application deadline
• From end of March 2026: notification of selected students
• June 22 August 14, 2026: Amgen Scholars Program dates at Karolinska Institutet
• September 2nd-5th, 2026: Amgen Scholars European Symposium in Cambridge

Program Structure

The program is obligatory, including both the full period of June 22th August 14th and the Amgen Symposium September 2-5, 2026. Up to 10 undergraduate students from Europe will be admitted to the Amgen Scholars Program at Karolinska Institutet in 2026.