The Biology Undergraduate Summer School 2027 is an eight-week research program at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, running July 5 to August 27, 2027. Students from any country can apply if they study biology, medicine, or a close relative of those fields. The deadline is November 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET.
You may also see this program called the UNIL summer school or the SUR Programme. They are the same thing. UNIL’s official name is the Summer Undergraduate Research (SUR) Programme, and that is the name you will find on the application page. This guide sticks to UNIL’s own rules and adds the parts that trip students up: the third-year rule, the time zone, and what the stipend really covers.
November 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET (11:59 PM Central European Time, Lausanne). That is Sunday, November 15 at 5:59 PM Eastern and 2:59 PM Pacific, and Monday, November 16 at 3:59 AM in Pakistan (PKT).
Quick Facts: Biology Undergraduate Summer School 2027
Here are the facts most students look for first: dates, funding, level, and the deadline. Everything comes from UNIL’s own pages, and anything I could not confirm is marked as such in the Verification Note further down.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Program | Summer Undergraduate Research (SUR) Programme, School of Biology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine (official page) |
| Host university | University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Level | Bachelor students who have completed two years and are enrolled in their third year |
| Subjects | Biology, medicine, and related fields with a strong biological focus |
| Duration and dates | Eight weeks, Monday, July 5 to Friday, August 27, 2027 |
| Funding | Paid housing, a scholarship of about CHF 1,500, and travel reimbursement up to CHF 500 (Europe) or CHF 1,200 (overseas) |
| Eligible nationalities | Students from around the world |
| Deadline | November 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET |
| Status | Applications open (UNIL application page) |
| Seats | About 15 students |
| Source | UNIL application page and UNIL School of Biology page |
Numbers at a Glance
Six numbers explain most of this program: how long it lasts, how small it is, what it pays, and when to apply. Each one below comes from UNIL’s pages, except the decision date, which I calculated from UNIL’s own six-week estimate.
CHF 1,500
Approximate scholarship for living expenses beyond housing.
CHF 500 / 1,200
Reimbursement limit for Europe and overseas travel.
About 6 weeks
UNIL notifies applicants by email roughly six weeks after the deadline.
23:59 CET
November 15, 2026, a Sunday night in Switzerland.
- What Is the Biology Undergraduate Summer School 2027 in Switzerland?
- Who Can Apply? Eligibility Criteria
- Benefits and Funding
- Working Hours and Payment
- Required Documents
- Application Procedure Step by Step
- Deadlines and Time Zones
- How UNIL Selects Participants
- What Happens During the Eight Weeks
- Do You Need a Swiss Visa?
- International Applicant Guidance
- What Your Application Should Say
- Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
- Verification Note and Source Conflicts
- Is This Program Right for You?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Official Sources
- What to Do Next
- Disclaimer
1. What Is the Biology Undergraduate Summer School 2027 in Switzerland?
The Summer Undergraduate Research (SUR) Programme is run by the School of Biology at the University of Lausanne. About 15 bachelor students spend eight weeks in July and August on an individual research project in a host laboratory. English is the working language, selection is competitive, and the program carries no academic credit.
You are not sitting in a lecture hall. UNIL’s program page says each participant carries out a project in a different laboratory of the Faculty of Biology and Medicine. UNIL combines biology and medicine in one faculty, and a UNIL listing on a summer school directory says medical students are welcome to do research too.
“about 15 students with both biological and medical studies background”
Participants often share weekly activities with students from the sister program at EPFL. If you would rather aim for EPFL itself, our guide to the EPFL E3 Summer Research Internship 2027 covers that route separately, with its own deadline and rules.
2. Who Can Apply? Eligibility Criteria
You can apply if you study biology, medicine, or a related field with a strong biology focus, have finished two years of your bachelor’s degree, and will be in your third year when the program starts. You must also attend all eight weeks. UNIL welcomes applicants from around the world, so nationality is not a barrier.
Eligible Nationalities
UNIL describes the program as open to students from around the world. An earlier UNIL description on a summer school directory goes further: students of any nationality, studying in any country, are welcome, and applications from students already in Switzerland are fine too. So a Pakistani, American, Nigerian, or Brazilian student starts from the same line. What differs by country is the visa and the paperwork, covered below.
UNIL asks for very good English. I did not find a test score such as IELTS or TOEFL on the pages I reviewed, but program rules can change. Read the application page once more right before you submit, and email sur@unil.ch if your university teaches in another language.
Available Subjects
UNIL words it broadly: biology, medicine, or a related discipline with a strong focus on biological sciences. These are the backgrounds that fit that description most clearly.
Core biology
Biology, Biological Sciences, Life Sciences, Genetics.
Lab-heavy degrees
Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology.
Medicine and biomedical
Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Related Biological Sciences.
If your degree title is not on that list, look at your transcript. A one-line email to the coordinator costs nothing and beats spending a week on a questionnaire you cannot submit.
The Third-Year Rule Explained
UNIL’s rule is that you must have completed two years of your bachelor’s degree and be enrolled in your third year at the time of the program (UNIL application page). The program runs in July and August 2027, so the cleanest reading is this: you are finishing your second year now and will start your third year in autumn 2027.
That describes a U.S. sophomore, a Pakistani BS student finishing semester 4, or a UK student finishing year 2. One caution: an earlier UNIL description of the 2025 call said the program suited students at the end of their second or third year (Charles University repost of the 2026 call shows the newer wording). The rule may have tightened. If you are finishing year 3 of a four-year degree, do not guess. Email sur@unil.ch first.
Eligibility Decision Table
Where do you fit? Use this table, then confirm with UNIL if your row says unclear or unconfirmed.
| Your situation | Likely fit | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Finishing year 2 of a 3-year or 4-year bachelor’s | Fits the stated rule | Apply, and make sure your transcript shows two full years. |
| Currently in year 1 | Does not fit yet | Wait for a later cycle. |
| Finishing year 3 of a 4-year degree | Unclear | Email sur@unil.ch before you apply. |
| Graduating before July 2027 | Probably not | The program is aimed at students still in their bachelor’s degree. |
| Master’s or PhD student | Not the target group | UNIL describes the program for bachelor students. |
| Nursing, dentistry, physical therapy, or veterinary science | Unconfirmed | Some summaries of earlier calls list these as excluded. The 2027 page I reviewed does not say, so ask. |
| Cannot attend all eight weeks | Does not fit | UNIL requires students to be present for the entire program. |
3. What Does the Scholarship Cover? Benefits and Funding
Selected students get housing arranged and paid by the program, a living-expense scholarship of about CHF 1,500, and a capped travel reimbursement of up to CHF 500 within Europe or CHF 1,200 from overseas. Visa fees are not covered. UNIL also advises students to bring extra money for personal spending.
Is It Really Fully Funded?
Many listings call this program fully funded. That label is close, but it hides some limits. The program coordinator arranges and pays for housing, which partner universities describe as a furnished apartment of a UNIL student association (UBC Go Global, NUS exchange sheet). Earlier descriptions mention single or double rooms with a shared kitchen and bathroom.
The stipend is about CHF 1,500 for other living costs, and UNIL tells students to bring extra money. Travel is reimbursed only up to a cap, and visa fees are not covered (UNIL application page). I found no program tuition fee on UNIL’s pages, so you should not expect one, but a short email to sur@unil.ch gets you a written answer.
Funding and Tuition Chart
The chart below puts the published amounts side by side. Notice how the travel caps compare with the stipend: an overseas flight can eat most of the money you receive.
Travel Reimbursement and Out-of-Pocket Example
UNIL reimburses justified travel costs to Lausanne at the end of the program, after you check out of your housing. UNIL can deduct cleaning, damage, or lost key costs from that payment. In plain terms, you pay up front and get part of it back in late August.
Illustrative budget: swap in your own prices before you decide.
| Item | Assumption (mine, not UNIL’s) | What you carry |
|---|---|---|
| Round-trip flight from overseas | CHF 1,500 | You pay CHF 1,500 first. The cap is CHF 1,200, so CHF 300 stays with you. |
| Schengen visa fee, if your passport needs one | EUR 90, so check the current fee | Not covered, so the full amount is yours. |
| Cash buffer before reimbursement | Your own estimate | You front travel costs for about two months until the program ends. |
4. What Are the Working Hours and How Is Payment Made?
UNIL does not publish fixed daily hours on the pages I reviewed. The program is a full-time lab placement, so expect your host laboratory to set your schedule. Payment comes as a scholarship, not a salary: about CHF 1,500 for living expenses, plus a travel reimbursement paid after you check out of your housing.
That leaves a few practical questions open. Ask them once you are accepted, and ask in writing so you have the answer later.
Working hours and payment: what is confirmed and what is not.
| Question | What UNIL publishes | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly hours | Not published. The program is described as individual lab research. | Ask your host lab supervisor after acceptance. |
| When the stipend arrives | Not published. | Ask the coordinator, and keep a cash buffer for the first weeks. |
| Salary or stipend? | Described as a scholarship for living expenses. | Treat it as a stipend, not a wage. |
5. Which Documents Do You Need? Required Documents
UNIL’s 2027 application page lists two items: a PDF questionnaire completed on the official template, and your official academic transcripts as a PDF with no password or encryption. If a transcript is not in English or French, an authenticated translation goes inside the same PDF. Check the page for any extra items.
Application questionnaire
A PDF built from the SUR Programme 2027 questionnaire template on the application page.
Official transcripts
Official academic transcripts as one PDF, with any authenticated translation in the same file.
Some registrar systems send secured PDFs. UNIL says the file must not have password protection or encryption. If yours does, ask the registrar for an unlocked copy.
If your PDF is too large for the portal, shrink it with our PDF compressor, then open the result to confirm it still has no password.
Document Checklist by Country
Transcript checklist by country.
| Country | Where to get the transcript | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Registrar office or your school’s e-transcript service | An official copy, not a screenshot of your student portal, and an unlocked PDF. |
| Pakistan | Controller of Examinations or registrar office | Your semester-wise record to date. Allow extra days, since offices get busy near semester ends. |
| Other countries | Your registrar or examinations office | If the transcript is not in English or French, add an authenticated translation in the same PDF. |
What About Recommendation Letters?
Earlier SUR cycles used a recommendation letter form, and the 2025 call text named letters of recommendation as part of the selection. The 2027 page I reviewed lists only the questionnaire and transcripts, so I cannot confirm a letter is required this year. Check the application page. If a letter turns out to be required, ask your professor at least three weeks ahead.
6. How Do You Apply? Step-by-Step Application Procedure
Start with the official 2027 page, download the questionnaire template, finish your answers, get an official transcript, and submit everything online before November 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET. UNIL says it will email results about six weeks after the deadline. The flowchart below shows all eight steps in order.
Check that you have completed two years of your bachelor’s degree and will start your third year in autumn 2027. If your situation is unclear, email sur@unil.ch.
Open UNIL’s application page and read it fully. Read it again before you submit, because that page controls if anything here has changed.
Use the SUR Programme 2027 questionnaire template from the application page. Templates from earlier years are the wrong version.
Answer every question with specifics, then export the finished document as a PDF.
Request official transcripts as a PDF with no password or encryption. Add an authenticated translation inside the same PDF if the transcript is not in English or French.
Use the online application on UNIL’s page. Finish at least two days before November 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET.
UNIL says results arrive by email about six weeks after the deadline. Watch your spam folder.
If you are selected, check your visa needs right away and book travel with the reimbursement caps in mind.
Earlier cycles used a SWITCH edu-ID account to reach the online form. I could not confirm that for 2027, so follow whatever link the application page gives you.
7. What Are the Deadlines and Time Zones?
The official deadline is November 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET. That is a Sunday night in Switzerland and early Monday morning in Pakistan. Results should arrive by email about six weeks later, which points to late December 2026. The program itself runs July 5 to August 27, 2027.
“The new annual application deadline is November 15th at 23:59 CET.”
Deadline conversions by time zone (daylight saving has ended in both Europe and the U.S.).
| Place | Time zone | Deadline in local time |
|---|---|---|
| Lausanne, Switzerland | CET | Sunday, November 15, 2026, 11:59 PM |
| United Kingdom | GMT | Sunday, November 15, 2026, 10:59 PM |
| U.S. Eastern | EST | Sunday, November 15, 2026, 5:59 PM |
| U.S. Pacific | PST | Sunday, November 15, 2026, 2:59 PM |
| Pakistan | PKT | Monday, November 16, 2026, 3:59 AM |
| India | IST | Monday, November 16, 2026, 4:29 AM |
Key dates.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications | Open now, per UNIL |
| Deadline | Sunday, November 15, 2026, 23:59 CET |
| Decision emails | About six weeks after the deadline (late December 2026 by my count) |
| Program starts | Monday, July 5, 2027 |
| Program ends | Friday, August 27, 2027 |
My advice: treat Friday, November 13 as your real deadline. If you live in Pakistan or India, your own calendar day ends hours before the Swiss deadline does, so submitting “on Sunday” can go wrong. Add the date to our scholarship deadline tracker so it does not slip.
8. How Does UNIL Select Participants?
UNIL calls the program highly selective and takes about 15 students from around the world. The 2027 page does not publish a cutoff. Earlier call text pointed to grades near a 3.75 GPA or top 5 percent of the class, plus personal statements and recommendation letters. Treat those numbers as past guidance, not a 2027 rule.
The same earlier text said prior research experience is not a selection criterion (Charles University repost of the call). That is good news if you have never worked in a lab. UNIL does not publish how many people apply. With about 15 places and a worldwide pool, I would treat this as a reach even with strong grades.
If your university grades on a scale other than 4.0, convert your result with our CGPA calculator so you know where you stand against that older 3.75 benchmark.
9. What Happens During the Eight Weeks?
Most of your time goes into one laboratory and one project. Once a week, participants come together for shared academic activities. The program ends with a poster presentation and a written report. UNIL does not award academic credit or a certificate, so plan the summer as research experience rather than coursework.
“present the results of their research on a poster”
Earlier descriptions of the program list introductory student presentations, short lectures from faculty, and career workshops. Those details come from past cycles, so check the 2027 schedule when UNIL shares it with accepted students.
10. Do You Need a Swiss Visa?
It depends on your passport. The program lasts about eight weeks, which fits inside the 90-day short-stay limit. Citizens of visa-exempt countries such as the United States can usually enter without a visa, while Pakistani citizens need a Schengen Type C visa. UNIL’s scholarship does not cover visa fees.
Entry rules by passport (general rules, so confirm for your nationality).
| Passport | Short-stay entry | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Usually no visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period | Check the status of the EU’s ETIAS travel authorization before you book flights. |
| Pakistan | Schengen Type C visa required (Pakistan MOFA page) | Apply as soon as you are accepted. Type D is only for stays longer than 90 days. |
| Other countries | Look up your nationality in the Swiss FDFA entry guidance | Most visa-required nationals need a Type C visa for a stay this short. |
The program runs 54 days from start to finish, so a long-stay visa is not the issue. Timing is. Decisions arrive around late December, and consulate appointments can be scarce in spring. Start collecting documents for your visa file before the email arrives. The standard Schengen fee has been EUR 90 for adults since 2024, but confirm the amount with your consulate or visa center.
11. International Applicant Guidance: Can Students From Your Country Apply?
Yes. UNIL describes the program as open to students from around the world, and the application is entirely online. What changes by country is the paperwork, the grading scale, the visa type, and the academic calendar. Use the sections below for the United States, Pakistan, and every other country.
For U.S. Applicants
A sophomore finishing this academic year fits the stated rule. Your 4.0 GPA translates directly, which makes the older 3.75 benchmark easy to compare. Order your official transcript early and test the PDF, because e-transcript services sometimes lock files.
Check your calendar too. The program starts Monday, July 5, 2027, the day after the Fourth of July weekend, so summer jobs, internships, and summer classes need to end before then. The deadline falls at 5:59 PM Eastern on Sunday, November 15. Since UNIL gives no credit, ask your department whether an independent study could be arranged on your side.
For Pakistani Applicants
A BS student finishing semester 4 this academic year fits the stated rule. Request your semester-wise transcript from the Controller of Examinations or registrar office well before the deadline, and make sure it is a clean PDF with no password. Your CGPA is usually on a 4.0 scale, so comparing it with the older 3.75 benchmark is simple.
Mind the clock. The deadline lands at 3:59 AM on Monday, November 16 in Pakistan, so aim to submit by Friday, November 13. Pakistani citizens need a Schengen Type C visa. Check that no summer semester overlaps July 5 to August 27, because UNIL requires attendance for the entire program.
For Other International Applicants
Check three things first: your grading scale, your transcript language, and your visa category. If your transcript is not in English or French, add an authenticated translation to the same PDF. If your university uses percentages or a different GPA scale, translate it to the scale UNIL’s past guidance used only as a rough guide. Then look up your passport on the Swiss entry page, because short-stay rules differ by nationality.
12. What Should Your Application Say?
Be specific. UNIL reads a questionnaire from every applicant, and vague enthusiasm does not separate you from the other applicants. Earlier questionnaires asked about your reasons for applying, academic background, scientific interests, long-term goals, and any research experience. Check the 2027 template for the exact questions.
Avoid this
“I am passionate about biology and want research experience.”
Aim for this
“In my [course name], we [specific task]. I want to see how a working lab designs [kind of question].” Fill the brackets with your own real details.
Tie your interest to the kind of work UNIL laboratories do, name a course or project you actually completed, and say what you hope to learn. If you have no lab experience, say so plainly and show what you did instead. Our guide on writing a winning motivation letter applies here too, even though this is a questionnaire.
13. What Mistakes Do Applicants Make Most Often?
The most common mistakes are using an old deadline, assuming “fully funded” means zero cost, and applying in the wrong year of study. Each one is easy to avoid if you check UNIL’s application page, not a listing site, and read the funding limits before you commit.
- Trusting an old deadline. Earlier cycles closed on December 31 or January 31. The 2027 deadline is November 15, 2026.
- Reading “fully funded” literally. Visa fees and extra spending money are yours, and travel has a cap.
- Applying as a graduating student. The program targets students heading into their third year.
- Uploading a locked transcript. UNIL requires a PDF without password protection or encryption.
- Submitting at the last minute. Time zones make a Sunday night deadline feel like Monday morning in South Asia.
- Expecting credit. UNIL awards no credit and no certificate.
14. Verification Note and Source Conflicts
Every fact in this guide was checked against the UNIL pages listed under Official Sources on November 3, 2026. Where sources disagree, I follow the live UNIL application page. These are the conflicts and gaps I found.
- Old deadlines online. Some pages still show December 31, 2025 or earlier January dates. Those belong to earlier cycles. The 2027 deadline is November 15, 2026.
- Class size. UNIL says about 15 students. One partner university page says about 20. This guide uses UNIL’s number.
- Selection numbers. The 3.75 GPA and top 5 percent guidance comes from an earlier call, not from the 2027 page.
- Excluded fields. A few third-party summaries exclude nursing, dentistry, physical therapy, and veterinary science. I could not confirm that on UNIL’s 2027 page.
- Recommendation letters and portal. Earlier cycles used both. The 2027 page I reviewed does not state them.
15. Is This Program Right for You? Decision Checklist
It is a strong fit if you want real lab experience in Switzerland, can attend all eight weeks, and can cover the gaps that funding leaves. It is a weaker fit if you need academic credit, cannot front your travel costs, or want a guaranteed stipend large enough to live on.
Strengths
- Housing is paid by the program.
- A scholarship of about CHF 1,500 helps with living costs.
- You get an individual project in a real laboratory.
- A poster and report give you something concrete to show.
Limits
- No academic credit or certificate.
- Travel is capped and reimbursed late.
- Visa fees are not covered.
- You must attend the full eight weeks.
Before you submit, check these:
- You will have finished two years of your bachelor’s degree by July 2027.
- You can be in Lausanne from July 5 to August 27, 2027.
- You used the 2027 questionnaire template.
- Your transcript PDF opens without a password.
- You know your visa category and the likely cost.
- You can pay travel first and wait for reimbursement.
- You will submit before the weekend, not on deadline night.
16. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for the Biology Undergraduate Summer School 2027?
The deadline is November 15, 2026 at 23:59 CET, according to UNIL's application page. That equals 5:59 PM Eastern Time and 2:59 PM Pacific Time on November 15, and 3:59 AM on November 16 in Pakistan. Submit at least two days early so a time zone mix-up or a slow upload does not cost you your place.
Is the Biology Undergraduate Summer School in Switzerland fully funded?
Mostly, but with limits. UNIL arranges and pays for housing, gives a scholarship of about CHF 1,500 for living expenses, and reimburses travel up to CHF 500 within Europe or CHF 1,200 from overseas. Visa fees are not covered, and UNIL advises bringing extra money for personal spending. You pay travel costs first and get reimbursed after the program.
Who can apply for the UNIL SUR Programme 2027?
Bachelor students in biology, medicine, or a related field with a strong biological focus can apply. You must have completed two years of your degree and be enrolled in your third year when the program runs. You also need very good English and must attend all eight weeks, from July 5 to August 27, 2027.
Can students from Pakistan or the United States apply?
Yes. UNIL describes the program as open to students from around the world, so neither nationality is excluded. Pakistani students need a Schengen Type C visa for the short stay, while U.S. citizens can usually enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Check the transcript rules and your academic calendar before you apply.
Do I need to speak French to join the program?
No French requirement appears on the UNIL pages I reviewed. They ask for very good English instead. French will help with daily life in Lausanne, but it is not a listed condition. Only your transcript has a language rule: if it is not in English or French, you need an authenticated translation inside the same PDF.
Does the summer school give academic credit?
No. UNIL says participants receive no academic credit and no certificate when the program ends. The value comes from the lab experience, the poster, and the final report. If your home university might grant credit for research, ask your department about it separately before you travel.
How many students does UNIL accept?
UNIL says it hosts about 15 students from around the world, so the program is small and competitive. One partner university page mentions about 20, but UNIL's own wording of about 15 is the safer number. Each student works in a different laboratory on an individual research project.
When will I hear back about my application?
UNIL says applicants are notified by email about six weeks after the deadline. Counting from November 15, 2026, that points to late December 2026, though UNIL has not published an exact date. Check your spam folder, and start looking at visa appointments early if your passport requires a visa.
Does the scholarship pay for a Swiss visa?
No. UNIL states that the scholarship does not cover visa fees for accepted applicants. Pakistani citizens and other visa-required nationals need a Schengen Type C visa for this short stay, and the fee is yours to pay. U.S. citizens usually need no visa for stays of up to 90 days.
17. Official Sources
These are the pages behind the facts above, all last checked on November 3, 2026. UNIL pages come first, followed by partner university and government pages.
- UNIL: Participating in the SUR Programme (deadline, documents, funding, eligibility)
- UNIL Faculty of Biology and Medicine: SUR Programme (program overview)
- UNIL School of Biology: SUR Programme (poster symposium, accommodation and travel sections)
- UBC Go Global: Universitรฉ de Lausanne SUR Program (housing and stipend)
- NUS Global Relations Office: UNIL SUR information sheet (housing, program activities)
- Government of Pakistan: visa requirements for travelling to Switzerland
- Swiss FDFA: Visa, entry to and residence in Switzerland
Program contact: sur@unil.ch, SUR Programme, University of Lausanne School of Biology.
18. What Should You Do Next?
Open UNIL’s application page today, download the 2027 questionnaire, and email your registrar for an official transcript. Those three actions cover most of the work. Then set your own finish date for Friday, November 13, 2026.
Ready to apply?
Start on the official UNIL page, then track the date with us.
Open the UNIL application pageOpen the deadline trackerRelated Guides
- UNIL Master’s Grants 2027 for students who plan a master’s at the same university.
- Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship for postgraduate research stays in Switzerland.
- ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 for another Swiss route.
19. Disclaimer
This guide is educational and is not an official UNIL publication. Study Abroad with Arbaz is not affiliated with the University of Lausanne. Rules, dates, and funding can change, so confirm everything on UNIL’s pages before you apply. If you spot an error, tell us through the contact page and we will correct the post and update the date. Read the full disclaimer and our editorial policy.
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