The CubeSat Hands-On Training Week is a five-day, in-person ESA Education Office course for 30 university students. Participants work in pairs with Educational Satellite models and learn about CubeSat subsystems, software, assembly, integration, verification, testing, communications, and operations.
The October 2026 edition takes place at ESA ESEC-Galaxia in Transinne, Belgium. Its application deadline has passed, and ESA lists the call as closed.
Benefits & funding
- ESA covers accommodation and meals for selected students.
- ESA provides up to €350 toward travel to and from Belgium.
- ESA pays for the daily bus between the hotel and ESEC-Galaxia.
- Participants who complete the course receive a certificate and course transcript that they may use to request ECTS credits from their universities.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
- Applicants must be nationals of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom.
- Applicants must be enrolled in a Bachelor, Master, or PhD programme during the 2026–2027 academic year.
- Applicants must study engineering or science and have good knowledge of space technology.
- ESA considers students with no or limited professional experience in relevant scientific, engineering, or other space-related topics.
- Selected students must attend the full five-day course.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Austria · Belgium · Canada · Cyprus · Czechia · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary
+ 16 more
Ireland · Italy · Latvia · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · UK
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Master Enrolled · PhD Enrolled
Age requirement
≥ 18 yrs
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Application process
- 1Create or access an account on ESA Learn when the next call opens.
- 2Complete the online application in English.
- 3Upload a one-page motivation letter without images.
- 4Upload a Europass-format CV of no more than two pages and a signed one-page recommendation from a current university professor or academic supervisor.
- 5Upload grades from the previous two semesters or, if unavailable, the previous graded academic year.
Program timeline
October edition announced
Jun 15, 2026
Application deadline at 23:55 CEST
Jul 19, 2026
Selection announcement
Aug 3, 2026
Expected arrival at Rochefort-Jemelle station
Oct 25, 2026
Training starts
Oct 26, 2026
Training ends; first departure window after 19:30 CET
Oct 30, 2026
Final departure window before 11:00 CET
Oct 31, 2026