Are IMPRS PhD Fellowships open?
Yes. Several International Max Planck Research Schools currently have active calls.
Are they fully funded?
Current Max Planck calls describe paid, fully funded doctoral positions with social benefits and no tuition fees.
What is the deadline?
There is no single deadline. Current examples range from 1 October to 15 November 2026 depending on the research school.
What does this scholarship actually cover?
IMPRS is a network of structured Max Planck PhD programmes. Several current 2026 calls provide fully funded doctoral positions, but deadlines and salary structures differ.
Other verified benefits
Fully funded doctoral researcher positions, often via employment contracts with social benefits, plus structured training, supervision, mentoring and no tuition fees.
Costs not confirmed or not covered
There is no one universal IMPRS stipend or benefit package; employment salary, travel and housing support vary by school.
Who is eligible to apply?
Typically requires an excellent master's degree or equivalent in a relevant scientific field; some schools accept exceptional four-year honours bachelor's graduates.
Examples currently open include IMPRS Living Matter (1 October 2026), Molecules of Life (7 October 2026), Astrophysics (1 November 2026) and Nano-Systems (15 November 2026).
Eligible countries
International and German applicants; exact academic requirements depend on the selected IMPRS.
Language requirements
Most current IMPRS programmes operate in English.
Which documents should you prepare?
- CV or résumé
- Academic transcripts
- Degree certificate
- Two reference letters
Which documents may be required conditionally?
- Research proposal
- English test certificate
What should you do next?
- Choose the IMPRS that matches your research field.
- Read that school's live call and project list.
- Prepare academic records, CV and references.
- Submit through the selected IMPRS application portal before its own deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Are International Max Planck Research School PhD positions fully funded?
Many current IMPRS calls explicitly offer fully funded doctoral researcher positions, often through employment contracts with social benefits, no tuition fees and additional support for scientific training.