Max Planck Computer Science Internships (Fully Funded)

The Max Planck Computer Science Internships offer fully funded research opportunities across all areas of computer science. The programme welcomes exceptional bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students worldwide, as well as eligible applicants from industry. Interns work directly with faculty mentors and receive support for living costs, housing and round-trip travel.

Quick Overview

Programme: Internships at Max Planck Institutes in Computer Science
Opportunity Type: Research internship
Host Institutions: Participating Max Planck Institutes
Country: Germany
Programme Format: In-person research internship
Duration: Typically 12–14 weeks, with longer internships possible
Funding: Fully funded
Eligible Applicants: Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students worldwide, plus eligible industry applicants

About the Max Planck Computer Science Internships

The programme offers research internships across the full spectrum of computer science.

Interns are hosted by one of three participating institutes:

• Max Planck Institute for Informatics in Saarbruecken
• Max Planck Institute for Software Systems in Saarbruecken and Kaiserslautern
• Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy in Bochum

Each intern works directly with an assigned faculty mentor. Internship projects are developed according to the intern’s academic interests, experience and level of preparation.

The programme accepts interns throughout the year. However, most internships take place during the summer months from May to August.

What the Internship Offers

Interns gain direct research experience by working with a research group at one of the participating institutes.

Research is conducted jointly with faculty mentors and may also involve doctoral researchers and postdoctoral researchers.

The programme offers opportunities to:

✓ Conduct academic research in computer science
✓ Work directly with an assigned faculty mentor
✓ Join an English-speaking research environment
✓ Gain experience within an international and diverse academic community
✓ Explore new computer science research areas
✓ Potentially use internship research for a bachelor’s or master’s thesis when approved by the university and internship mentor

Successful internships may also result in co-authored publications at academic conferences.

Benefits and Financial Coverage

All admitted internships are fully funded.

Confirmed financial support includes:

✓ Monthly stipend sufficient to cover living costs
✓ Housing costs during the internship
✓ Round-trip travel costs between the intern’s habitual residence and the hosting institute

Interns who require a visa receive the necessary documents to support their visa application.

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Eligibility Criteria

The programme welcomes exceptional bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students worldwide.

Applicants should meet the following conditions:

• Have an interest in academic research in computer science.
• Have a strong background in computer science and relevant research areas.
• Have completed coursework approximately equivalent to the first three years of a standard computer science bachelor’s programme by the start of the internship, or have relevant previous research experience.
• Have an excellent academic record.
• Have professional fluency in English.

Industry applicants with a similar computer science background and an interest in academic research may also apply.

Students seeking bachelor’s or master’s thesis projects may apply. Their internship research may become the basis of a thesis if both their university and internship mentor agree.

Applicants with interdisciplinary interests involving computer science and fields such as social science, economics or law may also apply. However, the primary focus must remain on applications to computer science.

The programme particularly welcomes applicants from groups underrepresented in computer science.

Language Requirements

Knowledge of German is not required.

All participating institutes use English as their working language, and applicants must have professional fluency in English.

Applicants do not need to provide formal proof of English fluency. However, they may be interviewed in English before an admission decision is made.

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Required Documents

Applicants need to provide:

• Curriculum vitae
• Academic transcripts
• Contact information for at least one reference
• Optional motivation letter

Applicants may submit unofficial transcripts.

If an English transcript is unavailable, applicants may prepare an English translation themselves. The translation and original non-English transcript should be combined into a single PDF.

Applicants may also indicate preferred faculty members and their preferred internship period.

Only the referee’s name and contact information are required during the initial application. The programme contacts referees directly when a reference letter is required.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted through the official online application system.

The process includes:

• Complete and submit the online application.
• Provide the required CV and academic transcripts.
• Add contact information for at least one reference.
• Optionally submit a motivation letter.
• Optionally indicate preferred faculty members and internship dates.
• Wait while participating research groups review the application.
• Participate in a phone interview if contacted.
• Receive the application outcome by email.

Selected applicants are connected with an assigned faculty mentor. The intern and mentor then finalise the internship dates and research project.

Applicants should submit only one application even if they are interested in more than one research area.

Selection and Matching Process

Research groups across the participating institutes review submitted applications.

During the matching process, an applicant may be contacted for a phone interview.

Selected applicants receive their results by email and are connected with their faculty mentor. The mentor and intern then agree on the exact internship dates and project.

Admission is highly competitive, and applicants are expected to have an excellent academic record.

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Internship Duration and Timing

Internships are available throughout the year.

A typical internship lasts between 12 and 14 weeks. Longer internships are also possible.

The exact starting date and duration are determined through agreement between the intern and mentor.

Most interns participate during the summer period from May through August.

Application Deadlines

Application timing depends on the intended internship period.

• For internships beginning between May and August, applications must be submitted by November 1 of the previous year.
• For internships beginning between January and April or between September and December, there is no fixed deadline. Applicants should apply at least five months before their intended starting date.

Applicants who apply for a summer internship and are successful should receive a response before February 1.

For internships outside the summer period, applicants who receive no response within four months should assume they were not selected.

Official Link

Submit your application through the official application link below.

Apply for Internships at Max Planck Institutes in Computer Science