Max Planck Internship 2026 in Germany (Fully Funded)

The Max Planck Internship 2026 in Germany offers exceptional undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students, as well as industry professionals, the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research across various disciplines. Hosted by renowned Max Planck Institutes such as those for Informatics, Software Systems, and Security and Privacy, this fully funded program provides hands-on experience under the mentorship of esteemed faculty members. Interns collaborate on projects tailored to their academic background and interests, contributing to advancements in their respective fields.

Eligibility

Applicants from any nationality
Open to exceptional Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral students worldwide with a basic background in Computer Science (roughly the first three years of a standard CS Bachelor’s program by the start of the internship) and an interest in CS research
Internship projects are customized to fit the individual backgrounds and interests of interns
Industry professionals with a similar background and an interest in academic CS research may also apply
Students seeking Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis projects are welcome; internship projects can be converted into a thesis if allowed by their university
Pre-doctoral students can use the internship to explore computer science research before beginning a research career
Applicants with diverse academic backgrounds and interdisciplinary interests (e.g., social sciences, economics, law, humanities) are encouraged
Strongly encourages applications from individuals belonging to underrepresented groups in CS or other STEM fields
All applicants must have an excellent academic record; the program is highly competitive
Proficiency in English is required; knowledge of German is not required

Program Dates/Location

Application Deadline: November 1, 2025 if you want to start between May and August 2026
- For internships starting at any other time of the year (not summer), apply at least 5 months before your intended starting date
- Applications for internships outside summer months are considered based on the needs of individual projects and research groups. If such an application is successful, you should hear back within 3-4 months from the time you applied
Duration: Internships typically last 12–14 weeks; longer durations may be possible.
Locations: Interns are placed at participating Max Planck Institutes in Germany, including locations in Saarbrücken, Kaiserslautern, and Bochum

Program Benefits

Fully funded program covering
- Round airfare tickets
- Housing
- Visa support and costs
- Monthly Stipend
Opportunity to work closely with leading researchers in the field.
Potential for co-authorship on publications presented at top academic conferences
Exposure to a multicultural and diverse working environment

Research Areas

Algorithms, Theory, and Logic
Computational Biology
Computer Graphics, Vision, and HCI
Data, Knowledge, and the Web
Distributed, Networked, and Mobile Systems
Machine Learning
Programming Languages and Verification
Robotics and Cyber-Physical Systems
Security and Privacy
Social Computing and Computational Social Science

Required Documents

Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Academic transcripts
Contact information for at least one reference
Optional motivation letter
Optional indication of preferred faculty members and internship period

Application Process

Submit applications online via the official application portal
For internships starting between May and August, apply by November 1 of the previous year.
For internships starting outside the summer months, apply at least 5 months in advance.
Applications are reviewed by research groups at participating institutes; selected candidates may be contacted for a phone interview
Notifications of acceptance are typically sent by email

For more detailed information and to apply, visit the official internship page