Max Planck Schools PhD Program 2027 in Germany (Fully Funded MSc/PhD in Biomedical AI, Cognition, Matter to Life and Photonics)

The Max Planck Schools PhD Program is a fully funded graduate programme in Germany run jointly by 30 universities and 33 non-university research institutes. Applications for the autumn 2027 intake are open from 1 September to 1 December 2026, and candidates from around the world can apply to one of four Schools: Biomedical Artificial Intelligence (its first cohort), Cognition, Matter to Life and Photonics. Bachelor's graduates can join through an integrated MSc/PhD track, and Master's graduates can enter the doctoral phase directly, depending on the School. Admission includes full funding for up to five years and no tuition fees. In the first phase (typically for students who join with a Bachelor's degree, and the orientation year at Cognition) candidates receive a stipend of 1,565 euros net a month plus up to 100 euros for health insurance where applicable. In the doctoral phase candidates get an employment contract under the public-sector wage agreement (TVöD/TV-L, E 13). The Photonics FAQ notes that its teaching universities charge semester fees and that FAU Erlangen and KIT charge tuition fees to non-EU students in the Master's phase. Each School has its own rules. Cognition is a four-year doctoral programme (an orientation year then three research years) for graduates in fields such as psychology, neuroscience, AI, linguistics, philosophy and physics. Matter to Life is a five-year integrated programme (a two-year joint Master's at Göttingen and Heidelberg, then a three-year PhD) for Bachelor's graduates in chemistry, physics, biology, bioengineering or related subjects. Photonics has a Master's study phase and a PhD research phase, and Biomedical AI funds a three-year PhD for Master's graduates in computer science, mathematics, statistics, engineering, physics or computational life sciences. You apply online through the Max Planck Schools application portal with certificates and transcripts, a CV, a motivation letter or personal statement, a copy of your passport and two referees; Cognition and Biomedical AI also ask for the names of up to three potential supervisors. Non-native English speakers need proof of English, and some Schools accept it after selection (by 15 July 2027). The deadline is 1 December 2026, and at Cognition and Biomedical AI the same deadline applies to references. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed online in February 2027. Last checked on 26 October 2026 against the Max Planck Schools application page and homepage and the application pages and FAQs of the Schools of Biomedical AI, Cognition, Matter to Life and Photonics.