Application

The application portal is currently closed. We will reopen for submissions later this year, with a final deadline of November 16, 2025.

We seek students who want to earn a doctorate while contributing to world-leading research in areas such as:

Artificial Intelligence
Biomedical Technology
Computational Cognitive Science
Computer Graphics
Computer Vision
Control Systems
Data Science & Visualization
Haptics
Human-Computer Interaction
Machine Learning
Micro- and Nano-Robotics
Natural Language Processing
Neuroscience
Perceptual Inference
Robotics
Soft Robotics and Materials

Who is eligible to apply?

People with a strong academic background and a master’s degree (conferred or expected soon) in Engineering, Computer Science, Cognitive Science, Mathematics, Control Theory, Neuroscience, Materials Science, Physics, or related fields should apply.

Existing PhD students can apply to IMRPS-IS only within the first year of their doctoral studies.

We seek to increase the number of women in areas where they are underrepresented, so we explicitly encourage women to apply. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our institutions.

Since we seek to increase the number of women in areas where they are underrepresented, we explicitly encourage women to apply. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our institutions.

Do I get financial support?

Admission will be competitive. If selected, you will receive funding via an employment contract, subject to the rules of the Max Planck Society and the two participating universities.

How does the selection procedure work?

Our faculty and staff will carefully review the materials you submit. A selected group of applicants will be invited to personal interviews that will take place in Stuttgart and Tübingen. Interview travel costs will be paid by the IMPRS-IS, so interested students should apply regardless of their financial resources.

Can I indicate my research and supervision preferences when applying?

Yes, interested applicants are encouraged to identify their preferred research areas and supervisors when applying through the online application portal.

IMPRS-IS faculty may serve as full or co-supervisors to IMPRS-IS scholars.
IMPRS-IS associated faculty are only eligible to serve as co-supervisors within IMPRS-IS. Applicants interested in working with a member of our associated faculty must also have a member of our full faculty as a co-supervisor.

How do I apply?

To apply to the IMPRS-IS, please submit the following materials online:

Your personal contact information.
A list of the IMPRS-IS faculty you are interested in working with.
Your current résumé or CV, which should include your educational background, work experience, full citations for any publications you may have, details of research presentations you have given, and any awards you have received.
Unofficial transcripts from all of your university studies.
A two-page motivational letter, which: 1) explains why you want to earn a Ph.D. at the IMPRS-IS and 2) describes research areas and/or particular projects that interest you.
The names and email addresses for three individuals who can provide reference letters; we are particularly eager to hear from your past and current research advisors. Please ask your referees to submit their reference letters within the application deadline.
TOEFL scores or other evidence of English proficiency for individuals who are not native speakers (such as having studied/worked in an English speaking environment, having written a thesis/paper in English etc.)
Optionally, GRE scores.
Optionally, additional documents such as a thesis, published paper, or project portfolio.

Online Application

IMPRS-IS currently accepts applications to its doctoral program once a year.
Our application portal will open once again in September.
The next deadline for doctoral applications will be November 16, 2025 (End of Day, AoE).
Applications submitted by the next deadline will be considered for our 2026 hiring round.
Accepted applicants are eligible to join our program beginning in February 2026 or later.

When will I receive an answer about my application?

For our next hiring round, the review process starts on November 17, 2025. All applicants will be contacted by email no later than February 1, 2026, with a decision about their application, indicating whether on not we would like to proceed further with the interview process. Applicants who are being considered for acceptance will be invited to the IMPRS-IS Interview Symposium, which will take place online from February 5 to 13, 2026.

Applicants participating in our Interview Symposium will not be expected to travel and will therefore not need any travel visa to participate in the event.

Photo credit for all page photos: MPI für Intelligent Systeme / Wolfram Scheible