Application - Max Planck School of Photonics

Application process for the Master´s program (Study Phase)

Together with Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen (FAU) and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the joint Master of Science in Photon Science and Technology (MPST Study program) has been developed over the past few years.

The joint degree program will start in the winter semester of 2026. The application process for the master's program will begin on September 15, 2025, and will differ from the previous process. Instructions on how to apply for the new master's program (Study Phase of the MPSP) can be found on this page.

Here you can find the application process for our Master's program (Study Phase).

The application period begins on September 15, 2025.
Please follow the process described below.

The application process for the PhD's program (Research Phase) will begin on September 1, 2025.

All further information on the application process for the Research Phase can be found here:
Application Research Phase

How does the application procedure work?

STEP 1: THE ONLINE APPLICATION

Study or Research Phase?

If you would like to apply for the PhD program (Research Phase), please follow the instructions on this page: Research Phase

If you would like to apply for the Master’s program (Study Phase), please follow the instructions below.

Please let us know if you are not sure which phase to apply for.

A. First: Register at OpenCampus and invite your Referees

Add the contact details ("Add Referee" at the bottom on the right side) of at least two referees and invite them to fill out a reference questionnaire. Doing this first will allow your referees more time to provide their references. You also have the option to upload letters of reference. However, the invitation-based reference is considered the default option and strongly recommended.

Please note:

Please choose referees who can attest to your research, academic, or professional abilities in the context of your interest in pursuing a graduate degree. We recommend that you personally contact the referee regarding your reference form before triggering the email invitation.

You will receive an email of confirmation as soon as a referee has submitted a reference questionnaire.
During the application process, you can change your referees, and it is your responsibility to have at least two references uploaded in the Portal.
In some cases, email invitations may be directed to the spam folder of a referee's email account. Therefore, it may make sense to confirm with the respective referee that email invitation has arrived in the regular folder.
DEADLINES:
- For application submission December 1
- For referee response December 15

B. Continue: Application on Campo

After creating your account on Open Campus and inviting your referees, you must continue your application via Campo, the applicant portal of Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen (FAU). Here you will find a video tutorial on how to apply with Campo: Video Tutorial.

If you have questions concerning the application on Campo, please contact Jürgen Grossmann (juergen.grossmann@fau.de).

To enter your applicant data in Campo, you must first register with IdM. There, you register once to receive your access data for Campo. You will receive an E-mail with your username and a link to set a new password.

Afterwards, log into the IdM-Portal again with the account you just created and click the 'Apply' button.

On the next page, create a Campo account by clicking the 'Request' button.

Click here and Log in to Campo with your IdM username and pasword.

You will be led directly to the application for the MPST Study program. Continue the application in Campo and agree to the data transfer to the MPSP (optional but highly recommended).

After this you can return to Open Campus and finish your application for the MPSP. You can import your information from Campo (this may take up to 30 minutes for synchronization) or you fill in your information manually. You need to upload your documents again and provide some additional information for the MPSP.

C. Finish your Online Application at OpenCampus:

Please fill out the rest of the application form by adding the required information and uploading the required documents. Click Save whenever you add any new content. You may revisit and modify your application at any time prior to final submission. Once the application is completed you submit it ("Submit Application"). Please make sure that you revised the application thoroughly before submitting. Your application is only considered complete if the application form and both letters of reference have been submitted before the corresponding deadlines (Dec 1 and Dec 15). After submission you will no longer be able to edit your application form. But you can still change your referees or remind them. Your submitted data will be available to view throughout the application process.

Which documents are required for the online application? ↓ (Click here to find our more)

Unless specified otherwise, all candidates applying for the study phase must provide the following documents in PDF format:

A copy of the Bachelor's certificate. If you have not yet finished your degree, you may apply with a preliminary Transcript of Records (ToR) including the marks of all completed courses so far. A brief description of the courses would be helpful.
A school leaving certificate with marks.
A comprehensive and up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV). Please list all stages of your education chronologically, as well as a clear statement as to your current status and/or occupation, including information on (un-)employment or parental leave.
A typewritten letter of motivation. The letter should not exceed 500 words and should describe your personal background, your interests, and reasons for applying to the MPSP program.
Contact information of at least two referees that will be contacted through our application portal in order to fill in a questionnaire about you. Letters of reference can also be uploaded. However, it is strongly recommended to use the invitation-based process. For further details, check the FAQ.
A copy of your passport or ID card.
Proof of English proficiency. Please provide one of the following certificates, unless an exemption from the language requirement applies (see below):
- TOEFL, IELTS or an equivalent English test certifying at least B2 level
- Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE) exam or Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) exam
- German “Abitur” with comprehensive coverage of the English language
- Statement from an academic examination office that you completed/are completing a previous degree program where the medium of instruction and examination was solely English.
- Language exemptions: nationals from the USA, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or Canada, as well as B.Sc. or M.Sc. graduates who obtained their qualification in one of these countries, may upload a self-prepared PDF document explaining this circumstance in lieu of a language certificate.

If you have questions concerning the application process, please write us an email (photonics@maxplanckschools.de).

STEP 2: THE ONLINE TEST

We will have a look at your written applications and invite promising candidates to participate in an online test on fundamentals in maths and physics on Master's degree level. This test is similar to GRE subject tests, but more specific to photonics. For applicants to the study phase it will be provided through an online proctoring service and can be taken anytime during a fixed period of 2-3 days. Of course, participation in the test is free. You will also receive more detailed information about the test when you are invited to it.

STEP 3: THE APPLICATION INTERVIEW

Those applicants who performed well enough in the online test will then be invited to an application interview. Here, some of our Fellows will talk to you about your (future) research, you may also have to prepare a short presentation (more details will follow when you are invited to the interview).