The Max Planck Schools, German graduate schools that link universities and research institutes, are taking applications through one portal until 1 December 2026 for a start in 2027. Admission brings full funding for up to five years and no tuition fees, with a scholarship in the first phase and a contract on the E 13 pay scale after it.
The School of Biomedical AI has 25 PhD positions on a three-year programme starting in September 2027. Applicants need a master's, or current master's enrolment, with a strong computational component in both degrees.
The School of Photonics takes graduates with a bachelor's into a two-year MSc followed by a three-year PhD, and those with a qualifying MSc straight into the PhD. Matter to Life takes bachelor's graduates into a five-year master's and PhD, with entry at the master's phase only.
The School of Cognition's own page gives a different window, running to the end of March, so check it directly if that is your field. Recommendations for Biomedical AI are due by 10 December, and those for Photonics by 15 December.
Our pages have the details for Biomedical AI, Photonics and Matter to Life, and the DAAD page covers other funding for Germany.
