Max Planck Schools: A National Initiative for Interdisciplinary Graduate Education
Overview of the Max Planck School Initiative
The Max Planck Schools bring together international PhD candidates with Germany’s best scientists in four seminal interdisciplinary research fields: Biomedical Artificial Intelligence, Cognition, Matter to Life or Photonics. Based on a strong network of German Universities and Research Organizations, the Max Planck Schools offer unique PhD programs with fully financed positions for Bachelor and Master graduates in an outstanding scientific environment. PhD candidates benefit from excellent infrastructure, innovative teaching methods and interdisciplinary exchange. Supported by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and our other key partners, the Max Planck Schools aim to advance the system of doctoral education in Germany.
Learn more about the mission of the Max Planck Schools.
For comprehensive information about the Max Planck Schools initiative, including application procedures and program details, please visit the official Max Planck Schools website.
The four Max Planck Schools
Max Planck School of Photonics
The Max Planck School of Photonics explores photonics, the science of light – from its generation and control to its wide range of applications. It brings together different areas of photonics and opens up new perspectives for technologies such as quantum technologies, sensoring, and imaging. With its interdisciplinary approach, the Max Planck School of Photonics brings together research fields such as quantum optics, advanced imaging, and nanophotonics and offers a five-year integrated Master’s-PhD program or, for applicants with a relevant Master’s degree, a three-year doctoral program.
Find out more about the other three schools - the Max Planck School of Biomedical Artificial Intelligence, Max Planck School of Cognition and Max Planck School Matter to Life.
Max Planck School of Biomedical Artificial Intelligence
The school will investigate fundamental scientific questions at the interface between biomedicine and artificial intelligence. Karsten Borgwardt, director at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried near Munich and Speaker for the new school, will be responsible for coordinating the school.
Visit the Max Planck School of Biomedical Artificial Intelligence
Max Planck School of Cognition
The Max Planck School of Cognition focuses on human cognition, bringing together neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, artificial intelligence, and related disciplines. At its core is the interdisciplinary investigation of knowledge, thinking, and cognitive processes. In addition to its dedicated Clinician Scientist Program, the Max Planck School of Cognition offers a four-year doctoral program comprising a one-year orientation phase followed by a three-year research phase.
Visit the Max Planck School of Cognition
Max Planck School Matter to Life
What exactly is life? And can life-like processes, functions, and structures be simulated and recreated in the laboratory? The Max Planck School Matter to Life brings together physics, chemistry, biology, materials science, and engineering to understand the fundamental principles of living systems. Its interdisciplinary program offers an integrated, five-year Master’s-PhD program for students entering with a Bachelor’s degree.