Call for Fully Funded PhD Positions 2026

• Educational background
  Master’s or equivalent graduate degree in computer science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, mathematics, statistics, data science, physics or a related field from a recognized college or university. If you received your degree from a university outside of Germany, it must be equivalent to the corresponding German degree. A final decision regarding eligibility will require the approval of university officials.

• Completion deadline
  Degree must be completed by July 1, 2026.

• Grade requirement
  Final grade of MSc degree at least 2.3 (or overall average grade if MSc degree is yet to be awarded) when converted to the German system using the Bavarian formula; see section PhD Application - Transcript Converter.

• Scientific motivation
  Strong interest in scientific pursuits.

• English proficiency
  Very good command of the English language.

• The PhD position is fully funded for three years under the German TV-L system, i.e. TV-L E13 position (based on the tariff contracts for public service, commensurate with experience). You can find a link to the salary of PhDs in Germany at the bottom of this section.

• You will join one of the top AI research centers in Germany and in Europe with access to an excellent network of scholars and scientists. MCML currently has 80 principal investigators working in one of our three core research areas. LMU and TUM offer high-caliber research facilities with extensive support for developing innovative and cutting-edge research projects.

• Your office will be located at LMU Munich or at the Technical University of Munich.

• LMU Munich and TUM provide diverse benefits for their employees, including support for scientists from overseas. LMU Munich and TUM are interested in increasing the number of female faculty members and encourages women to apply. This position is also possible in a part-time capacity. People with disabilities who are equally as qualified as other applicants will receive preferential treatment.

• Opening of the online application system: 15 October 2025

• Deadline for submitting the applications: 14 November 2025 (Portal closes at 23:59 CET)

• Candidate review and interviews: 1 December 2025 – 31 January 2026

• Decision: End of March 2026

• Starting date: 1 July 2026 (slightly later start is also possible)

• Please submit your application via the online application portal. It opens 15 October 2025.

• Please provide a personal e-mail address that you can access for up to a year after the date of application (for the login credentials and the application form). Other forms of submission will not be considered.

• Please submit your application by 14 November 2025 at 23:59 (local time) at the latest.

• The following documents are mandatory to upload in the online application portal:

  • Academic Curriculum Vitae (CV)
    Keep your CV concise (pdf, max. 2 pages). Prioritize clarity and a clear chronological structure. Focus on the most relevant aspects of your academic background, research and professional experience, key skills, as well as any publications, awards, or other academic achievements. Your CV should be complete and transparent, covering the entire period from your high school graduation to your current academic or professional status. Any significant gaps should be briefly explained.

  • Master’s Degree Certificate (if completed)
    If your degree certificate is issued in a language other than English or German, you will have to provide the original document together with a certified translation prepared by a registered translator. Do not translate the documents yourself!

  • Master's Transcript of Records
    A Transcript of Records is an official academic document issued by your university, detailing all completed course units, the grades you received, credit points earned and the grading system used by the university (i.e. details of highest and lowest passing grade, and which marks count as passing). Please note that only official documents issued by the university are accepted — applicant-created documents or free translations are not accepted. If the original transcript is not in English or German, you must submit the original document together with a certified translation. For MSc degrees in progress, please submit the latest official partial transcripts with your application.

  • Master's Degree Grades Converted to the German System (if applicable)

    If your degree was obtained from a non-German university, you will need to convert your grades to the German grading system using the modified Bavarian formula. You will have to create and submit an Excel file in which you have converted each grade for each course, as well as your final average. To do so, you can download the conversion table Transcript Converter (Example in Excel) at the bottom of the PhD Application - Transcript Converter section and convert your grades as instructed.

  • Bachelor's Degree Certificate
    If your Bachelor’s certificate is not in English or German, you must submit both the original document and a certified translation by a registered translator. Self-translations are not accepted. The certificate should clearly confirm the completion of your degree.

  • Bachelor’s Transcript of Records
    The same requirements apply as for the Master’s Transcript of Records. The transcript must be an official document issued by your university, listing all completed courses, grades received, credit points earned, and the grading system used. If the original document is not in English or German, you must submit it along with a certified translation prepared by a registered translator. Applicant-created documents or unofficial translations will not be accepted.

  • Bachelor's Degree Grades Converted to the German Grading System (if applicable)
    The same procedure applies as for the Master’s degree grades. You will need to convert your grades to the German grading system using the modified Bavarian formula and submit an Excel file showing the conversion for each course grade as well as your final average. To do so, you can download the Excel Transcript Converter at the bottom of the PhD Application - Transcript Converter section and convert your grades as instructed.

• The following documents are optional for submission:

  • Other University Degree(s) (if applicable)

  • High-School Diploma

• Additional information to submit with the application:

  • MCML research area(s) you would like to apply to.
    You will be asked to select one preferred MCML research area and may optionally indicate a second choice.

  • Brief research experience /motivation statement
    Describe any research experience or related activity - such as your master’s thesis, research projects, coursework, internships or related employment - that is relevant to your selected research area(s). If you have no prior experience, that is perfectly fine. Instead, briefly explain why you selected this research area(s). (max. 250 words)

  • Brief statement of research focus and preferred principal investigator(s) (optional)
    Indicate whether there are specific topics within your selected research area(s) that you find particularly interesting. If applicable, explain why these topics appeal to you. For inspiration on research topics feel free to consult our MCML Research Topics Guide at the bottom of this section or propose your own topic of interest. If you do not yet have a specific topic in mind, that is completely acceptable and will not affect your application. We recognize that research interests may develop and change over time. You may also mention any principal investigator(s) (PIs) you would be especially interested in working with. For a list of MCML PIs participating in this year's matchmaking call, follow the link below. (max. 250 words)

  • Overview of publications, internships, and awards (if applicable)

  • Contact information for one reference (2nd optional).

In the course of your application for an open position at MCML, you will be required to submit personal information. Please be sure to refer to the LMU Privacy Policy and the TUM Data Protection Information for processing personal data in relation to your application. By submitting your application, you confirm that you have read and understood the data protection guidelines and privacy policy and that you agree to your data being processed in accordance with the selection process.

Please click below for a list of frequently asked questions.

If your question is not answered there, please reach out to us via application@mcml.ai