Programs

Structured doctoral programmes in Germany from the official DAAD International Programmes database. 157 of them charge no tuition.

171 of 171 programmes

• International Max Planck Research School for Molecular Plant Science (IMPRS MolPlant) (opens in new tab)

  Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology · Potsdam

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters, 7 semesters, 8 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: How to join the IMPRS MolPlant Path 1: Apply in Application Call . There is one call per year. The application portal is usually open in December and January. Application deadlines are announced here . Path 2: Apply for a Project . Individual PhD positions are advertised throughout the year at MPI-MP Job Offers . Path 3: Apply for your own scholarship or funding. Note that you first need to establ

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semesters, 7 semesters, 8 semestersStart: Any time
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• International Max Planck Research School for Molecules of Life (IMPRS-ML) (opens in new tab)

  Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry · Planegg

  English · No tuition fees · 8 semesters · Winter semester

  Deadline: Register by 7 October 2026

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 8 semestersStart: Winter semester
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• International Max Planck Research School for Quantitative Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution from Lab to Field (IMPRS-QBEE) (opens in new tab)

  University of Konstanz · Radolfzell am Bodensee

  Deadline: No deadline stated

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• International Max Planck Research School for Science and Technology of Nano-Systems (IMPRS-STNS) (opens in new tab)

  Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics · Halle (Saale)

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Any time
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• International Max Planck Research School for the Mechanisms of Mental Function and Dysfunction (opens in new tab)

  University of Tübingen · Tübingen

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Other

  Deadline: New calls always start in autumn. Deadlines will be announced on the website.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Other
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• International Max Planck Research School of Marine Microbiology (IMPRS MarMic) - MSc/PhD Programme (opens in new tab)

  Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology · Bremen

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Winter semester

  Deadline: Register by 28 February 2027

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Winter semester
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• International Max Planck Research School on Cognitive NeuroImaging (IMPRS CoNI) (opens in new tab)

  Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences · Leipzig

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Winter semester

  Deadline: Register by 2 November 2026

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Winter semester
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• International Max Planck Research School on Earth System Modelling (IMPRS-ESM) (opens in new tab)

  Max Planck Institute for Meteorology · Hamburg

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: Register by 15 September 2027

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Any time
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• International Max Planck Research School on Trustworthy Computing (opens in new tab)

  Max Planck Institute for Informatics · Saarbrücken

  English · No tuition fees · 8 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: The application deadline is flexible. Please check https://www.imprs-trust.mpg.de .

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 8 semestersStart: Any time
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• International Max Planck Research School Physics of Light (IMPRS-PL) (opens in new tab)

  Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light · Erlangen

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Any time
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• International Max Planck Research School – Biological Intelligence (opens in new tab)

  Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence · Planegg

  English · No tuition fees · 8 semesters · Winter semester

  Deadline: A call for new applications is announced in autumn every year. Please visit the IMPRS-BI website to learn more about recruiting faculty members, eligibility and requirements as well as the deadline for applications.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 8 semestersStart: Winter semester
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• International Max Planck Research School – Moduli Spaces and their Applications in Algebra, Differential Geometry, Topology and Mathematical Physics (opens in new tab)

  Max Planck Institute for Mathematics · Bonn

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Winter semester, Summer semester

  Deadline: Register by 15 November 2026 + 1 more

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Winter semester, Summer semester
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• International Max Planck Research School – Physics and Medicine (IMPRS-PM) (opens in new tab)

  Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin · Erlangen

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Any time
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• International Max Planck Research School — From Molecules to Organisms (opens in new tab)

  University of Tübingen · Tübingen

  English · No tuition fees · 8 semesters · Winter semester

  Deadline: When can I apply? We have an annual application round. The next recruitment round starts in December 2026. Applying outside the application rounds You may submit a speculative application directly to Max Planck Institute or Friedrich Miescher Laboratory faculty members outside of the application rounds. To submit a speculative application please send an e-mail to the faculty member you would like

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 8 semestersStart: Winter semester
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• International PhD Programme (IPP) Literary and Cultural Studies (opens in new tab)

  Justus Liebig University Giessen · Gießen

  German · English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Winter semester

  Deadline: Register by 1 February 2027

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: German, EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Winter semester
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• International PhD Programme (IPP) Mainz (opens in new tab)

  Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) · Mainz

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: Our programme recruits PhD students via two calls per year, in winter and summer. The respective call times including application deadlines can be found on our website .

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Any time
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• International PhD Programme for Agricultural Economics, Bioeconomy and Sustainable Food Systems (IPPAE) (opens in new tab)

  Justus Liebig University Giessen · Gießen

  English · No tuition fees · 7 semesters · Winter semester

  Deadline: Register by 31 August 2027

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 7 semestersStart: Winter semester
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• International PhD Programme in Molecular Medicine (IGradU) (opens in new tab)

  Ulm University · Ulm

  English · Tuition varies · 6 semesters · Winter semester, Summer semester

  Deadline: Register by 1 July 2027 + 1 more

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: Tuition variesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Winter semester, Summer semester
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• International PhD Programme: Science and Health in Football (opens in new tab)

  Saarland University · Saarbrücken

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Any time
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• Jena School for Microbial Communication (JSMC) (opens in new tab)

  Friedrich Schiller University Jena · Jena

  English · German · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: English, GermanTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Any time
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• Jena Schumpeter Center for Research on Socio-Economic Change (JSEC) (opens in new tab)

  Friedrich Schiller University Jena · Jena

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Any time
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• Joint Doctor of Philosophy Degree in a Nexus Approach to the Sustainable Management of Environmental Resources (opens in new tab)

  Dresden University of Technology · Dresden

  English · No tuition fees · 7 semesters · Other

  Deadline: February–April

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 7 semestersStart: Other
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• Joint Research Academy in Biomedical Engineering and Science of Hearing and Sensory Systems (opens in new tab)

  University of Oldenburg · Oldenburg

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Winter semester, Summer semester

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Winter semester, Summer semester
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• Konrad Zuse School of Excellence in Reliable Artificial Intelligence, relAI (opens in new tab)

  Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München · München

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Any time
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• Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB) (opens in new tab)

  University of Konstanz · Konstanz

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Winter semester, Summer semester

  Deadline: Available open positions are announced on the KoRS-CB homepage

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Winter semester, Summer semester
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