Fully Funded Max Planck PhD Scholarship in Germany 2027 with a Monthly Stipend of €1,565
Applicant criteria
- NationalityNo specific nationality required
- AgeNo specific age required
- GenderBoth
Opportunity criteria
- Opportunity FieldMedical Sciences, Science, Others
- Job locationGermany
- Deadline2026-11-01
Opportunity description
The Max Planck School of Cognition (MPSCog) is now accepting applications for its fully funded international PhD program for 2027 in Germany. The program is designed for outstanding students and researchers interested in cognition, the brain, artificial intelligence, psychology, neuroscience, and other cognition-related fields.
The program lasts four years, beginning with a one-year orientation phase that includes academic coursework, training, and research rotations in laboratories, followed by three years of doctoral research.
Applicants can enter the program either with a Bachelor’s degree through the Fast-Track pathway or with a Master’s degree.
Eligible Fields
The program welcomes applicants from a wide range of cognition-related disciplines, including:
Artificial Intelligence.
Biology.
Cognitive Neuroscience.
Neuroscience.
Genetics.
Linguistics.
Mathematics.
Neurobiology.
Neuroimaging.
Neurology.
Neurophysics.
Philosophy.
Physics.
Psychiatry.
Psychology.
Other related fields.
Benefits
The program is fully funded for all admitted students and includes:
During the first year – Orientation Year, students receive a net monthly stipend of €1,565.
Additional health insurance support of up to €100 per month, where applicable.
After successfully completing the first year, students receive an employment contract under the applicable local public-sector collective agreement during the PhD research phase.
Funding throughout the full four-year program.
Reimbursement of travel expenses for applicants invited to interviews that require travel.
Interdisciplinary academic and research training and courses.
Lab rotations during the first year.
Access to a broad network of researchers, laboratories, and leading research institutions.
The opportunity to conduct the PhD research project with one of the researchers participating in the Max Planck School of Cognition network.
Eligibility criteria
Hold a Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree before the start of the program.
The degree must be in a cognition-related field, such as artificial intelligence, biology, neuroscience, linguistics, mathematics, philosophy, physics, psychiatry, psychology, or another relevant discipline.
The applicant’s academic background should generally include at least 60 ECTS credits or the equivalent of 30 academic credits in the relevant fields specified by the program.
Admitted students typically have an outstanding academic record. The school indicates that successful applicants often have a grade equivalent to approximately 1.3 in the German grading system, although exceptional research or other academic achievements may also be considered.
Students who have not yet completed their degree may apply using their current academic transcript, provided they complete the required degree before joining the program.
Meet the English language proficiency requirements, where applicable.
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