Summer Schools

Join the World Food System Summer School and become part of a community of motivated, like-minded students, researchers, and practitioners across the food valu echain. Together, you will design ideas to support sustainable food systems in a time of rapid change.

The Summer School takes place at the LFW Building at ETH Zurich. Participants are immersed in the world of food systems, where they engage with real-world challenges through a mix of case studies, field visits, creative workshops, and design-thinking sessions. The program’s integrated approach, including guest speakers and reflective practice, is designed to develop the competencies required to drive meaningful change.

During this Summer School, you will:

• Explore challenges, opportunities, and innovations in food systems across disciplines, sectors, and scales.
• Collaborate with producers, leading research institutes, industry partners, policy makers, and civil society actors.
• Learn how to apply a food systems perspective that accounts for environmental, social, political, and economic dimensions.
• Co-create solutions in diverse, interdisciplinary teams, working on case studies and applying creativity and design thinking methodologies to address contemporary food system challenges.
• Communicate your ideas through visual and auditory storytelling techniques to effectively pitch your solutions and contribute to change.

Applications will open on 30 November 2026.

A complete application will have to be submitted by 21 January 2027 and included:

• CV (PDF)
• Short video (max. 2 minutes) introducing yourself, your studies, and your motivation to participate
• Completed application form

The application process is competitive, and all applicants, including ETH Zurich students, must submit a complete application.

Participants will be notified by 19 February 2027 and will have to confirm their attendance by 26 February 2027.

Applicants must be currently enrolled in a Swiss higher education program (minimum 3rd-year Bachelor, Master’s, or PhD) or have recently graduated from one of these programs. Students from institutions within the ENHANCE Alliance are also eligible to apply. International applications are welcome, but spots are limited.

As the Summer School is designed primarily to strengthen interdisciplinary, project-based teaching at ETH Zurich, priority is given to ETH Zurich students. A limited number of additional places are available for students from other Swiss higher education institutions, from ENHANCE partner universities, international universities and non-academics. 

Diversity is a core component of the program. If the number of applications exceeds the available 40–50 spots, selection will be based on eligibility as well as the goal of forming a diverse cohort in terms of disciplinary backgrounds, gender, nationality, culture, and life experiences.

Successful applicants will demonstrate:

• A strong interest in food system challenges and solutions
• Motivation for interdisciplinary and cross-​sector collaboration
• Openness to working with peers from diverse academic and personal backgrounds
• Relevant academic or practical experience

The course is taught in English, and we welcome participants from all disciplines.

The costs per affiliation are outlined below. 

The Summer School will take place in person from 21 June to 2 July 2027 at ETH Zurich.

Participants are expected to be present for the entire duration of the program. Please note that this is a full-time, immersive course, and it is not possible to work or pursue other studies in parallel.

ETH Zurich awards 4 ECTS credits and a certificate of completion to participants who successfully complete the course. Recognition of these credits within study programs at other institutions is the responsibility of each participant and must be clarified individually.

The course is organized by the World Food System Center at ETH Zurich, which works toward the vision of a healthy world supported by sustainable food systems. The Center brings together professorial members from multiple departments who engage in interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach in collaboration with partners across sectors.

ETH Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, is one of the world’s leading universities in science and technology. It hosts more than 25,000 students from over 120 countries and employs around 560 professors dedicated to advancing research and education at the highest international level.

Participants work in interdisciplinary teams on real-world challenges in the food system, guided by mentors from both the academic field as well as from industry. Throughout the week, teams move from identifying a problem to developing a concept that combines real-world implementation considerations, and visual and auditory storytelling. The program culminates in a final pitch to an expert panel.

Prior expertise in food systems is not required. While participants with food systems expertise are strongly encouraged to apply and will play an important role in the interdisciplinary teams, others should have a clear affinity with related domains such as agricultural and environmental systems, policy, economics, or innovation.

No. The Summer School is free of charge for 3rd year Bsc, Msc, and PhD students. Postdoc and non-academic participation costs CHF 1000.

Local travel and all program-related activities are organized and covered by the course team. Participants are responsible for arranging and covering their accommodation, travel to and from Zurich and LFW Building at ETH Zurich, and meals throughout the program. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide scholarships to support these expenses.

Applicants must be currently enrolled in a Swiss higher education program (minimum 3rd-year Bachelor, Master’s, or PhD) or have recently graduated from one of these programs. Students from institutions within the ENHANCE Alliance are also eligible to apply. International applications are welcome, but spots are limited.

As the Summer School is designed primarily to strengthen interdisciplinary, project-based teaching at ETH Zurich, priority is given to ETH Zurich students. A limited number of additional places are available for students from other Swiss higher education institutions, from ENHANCE partner universities, international universities and non-academics. 

Diversity is a core component of the program. If the number of applications exceeds the available 40–50 spots, selection will be based on eligibility as well as the goal of forming a diverse cohort in terms of disciplinary backgrounds, gender, nationality, culture, and life experiences.

The Summer School is intended for 3rd-year Bachelor, Master’s students, PhD candidates, early-career researchers, and young professionals. Applicants should have a background to at least one relevant field.

• CV (PDF)
• Short video (max. 2 minutes) introducing yourself, your studies, and your motivation to participate
• Completed application form

Applications will open on 30 November 2026.

Please first check your spam or junk folder. If the confirmation email cannot be found, the email address may have been entered incorrectly during submission. In that case, we always advise you to submit your application again, using the exact same answers.

If the issue persists, please contact us and confirm that you have already attempted to submit the application twice.

The Summer School is designed for a limited group of up to 50 participants, and applications are reviewed through a selection process. Candidates are selected based on the quality of their application, their motivation, and their overall fit with the program, while also aiming to assemble a diverse and balanced group of participants.

Applications need to be submitted until 21 January 2027. Participants will be notified by 19 February 2027 and will have to confirm their attendance by 26 February 2027.

This website provides an overview of the structure and themes of the Summer School. The detailed schedule and speaker lineup will be released in Spring. Insights into previous years' programs are available here. 

Yes. The program is designed to encourage interaction between participants, speakers, and mentors. The two weeks include informal moments such as a community dinner, immersive experiences and excursions.

The program is supported by facilitators who help ensure a constructive working environment and healthy group dynamics. They accompany the teams during the program, support collaboration when needed, and help maintain a respectful and productive atmosphere for all participants.

The Summer School takes place in the LFW building at ETH Zurich. The building has a barrier-free side entrance, with barrier-free signage providing the most important building information. Lecture classes are accessible by lift. For the excursions, we are committed to provide barrier-free access as well where possible. 

There is unfortunately no assistive hearing device available.

Diversity is a core component of the program. If the number of applications exceeds the available 40–50 spots, selection will be based on eligibility as well as the goal of forming a diverse cohort in terms of disciplinary backgrounds, gender, nationality, culture, and life experiences.