We are celebrating a yet another record year! We have recruited more than 85 doctoral researchers for our 10th recruitment round! We also achieved an exceptional offer acceptance rate of over 93%, highlighting its strong global appeal among top candidates.
The International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems (IMPRS-IS) has successfully concluded its latest recruitment round, welcoming the 10th generation of doctoral researchers to the program. In a record-setting year, 85 doctoral researchers have already accepted offers to join IMPRS-IS—the largest cohort in the program’s history—with additional acceptances still expected. Notably, the program also achieved an exceptionally high offer acceptance rate, with over 93% of decided offers accepted—reflecting the strong appeal of IMPRS-IS among top candidates worldwide.
This milestone marks the most successful admissions cycle to date and highlights the program’s growing international reputation in the fields of machine learning, robotics, computer vision, and others.
A Truly Global Applicant Pool For the 2026 admissions cycle, IMPRS-IS received 1,015 completed applications from 77 countries across every continent, underscoring the global appeal of the program. Each application underwent a careful and thorough review by faculty members supported by 128 volunteer evaluators, whose efforts ensured a fair and comprehensive selection process. The program extended its gratitude to the evaluators for their time and dedication in supporting the rigorous review process.
The IMPRS-IS Interview Symposium Selected applicants were invited to participate in the 2026 IMPRS-IS Interview Symposium, held February 5–13, a major annual event that brings together applicants and the IMPRS-IS research community.
This year’s symposium included: 213 invited applicants representing 49 countries An online event attended by more than 300 community members Over 200 applicant research presentations More than 1,000 individual interviews with faculty and research groups
Throughout the nine-day event, candidates engaged with faculty, current doctoral researchers, and staff through research presentations, interviews, virtual meet-and-greet sessions, and discussions about life and research at partner institutions.
As the scientific highlight of the symposium, Michael Muehlebach of the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems delivered the event’s keynote talk.
The symposium ultimately led to the successful recruitment of 85 new doctoral researchers who will begin their studies within the IMPRS-IS community.
A Leading International Doctoral Program Since its launch in 2017, IMPRS-IS has established itself as one of Europe’s leading doctoral programs in intelligent systems. The program is a collaboration between the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, the University of Tübingen, and the University of Stuttgart, bringing together world-class research environments and academic training across three institutions.
This partnership allows doctoral researchers to benefit from a uniquely integrated research ecosystem, accessing interdisciplinary expertise, faculty mentorship, and facilities across all partner institutions.
Today, more than 300 doctoral researchers from over 45 nationalities are pursuing their doctorates through IMPRS-IS. Over 150 scholars have already graduated, forming a rapidly growing global network of alumni advancing research and innovation in intelligent systems.
Supporting Researchers Beyond the Lab In addition to scientific supervision, IMPRS-IS provides extensive professional and personal development opportunities. The program hosts more than 50 workshops and training sessions annually, covering topics ranging from research skills and career development to inclusivity, work-life balance, mental well-being, and intercultural competence.
IMPRS-IS also serves as the official doctoral program of Cyber Valley, further strengthening its role as a hub for collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange in artificial intelligence and intelligent systems research.
Looking Ahead As IMPRS-IS welcomes its 10th generation of scholars, the program continues to strengthen its mission of training the next generation of researchers shaping the future of intelligent systems. With 85 new scholars joining the community—and counting—the future of IMPRS-IS looks brighter than ever.
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