Max Planck Schools Doctoral Programmes in Germany 2027/2028
Differs: closes 2026-12-01, no university offer needed first
ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems) · Application cycle 2027/2028
ELLIS PhD Program in Machine Learning and AI, 2027 Intake
Applications open
Varies by track?Partial fundingThe scholarship covers part of the costs. Identify what is covered and which remaining costs you would need to fund.
Read in the glossary One day left
Read in the glossary One day left
About this scholarship
One central application for PhD positions with about 200 advisors in machine learning and AI across Europe, for students starting in 2027. Each student has two advisors and usually spends at least 6 months with the second one.
Funding type
Covers: at least 3 years of funding from the advisors' resources, as an employment contract or a stipend. The amount depends on the country, the institution and the advisor, and the ELLIS office cannot give it in advance. You can ask about it at the interview. ELLIS itself does not fund students, except for small travel grants from its mobility programme.
- Tuition fees
- Not specified
- Living costs
- Covered
- Travel
- Partially covered
- Insurance
- Not specified
Eligibility requirements
- Nationalities
- All nationalities
- Residence condition
- No residence condition
Open to all nationalities At least a bachelor's degree. Some institutions also need a master's, and the advisor's profile on the portal says so Final year students can apply Research interest in machine learning, AI or a related field You must meet the admission rules of the university where your main advisor works
- Minimum grade
- Not stated
- Work experience asked for
- Not stated
- Return condition
- Return condition not stated
- How to apply
- Straight to the provider
Language requirements and exemptions
Language test not mentioned
ELLIS sets no language test. Language rules such as tests depend on your advisor's institution. Transcripts must come with an English translation.
University admission details
Required later?University admissionA university’s offer of a place in a program. University admission and scholarship funding may be separate decisions.
Read in the glossary
Apply on the ELLIS portal by 31 October 2026 at 23:59 AoE (Anywhere on Earth, UTC-12). This deadline is firm. Send the reference requests from the portal before 31 October. Referees have until 25 November 2026 at 23:59 AoE, and applications still missing references then are not considered. Review runs in November and December 2026, interviews in January and February 2027, and decisions from late February to March 2027. The start date depends on the advisor. Some advisors need you to apply to their university at the same time. Their portal profile says Parallel application necessary. Fewer than 5 percent of registered applicants are accepted. An offer is conditional until the degree-granting university admits you.
Required documents
Two-page motivational letter that also covers your past research and future research plans CV with education, work experience, publications, talks and awards Unofficial bachelor's and master's transcripts with an English translation Details of 2 or 3 referees, at least 2 of them at the level of group leader, lecturer or above Optional: a thesis, paper or project portfolio as one PDF under 20 MB
Application steps
Register on the ELLIS application portal to receive your login details. Read the advisor list on the portal and choose up to 10 preferred advisors. Upload your documents and send the reference requests before 31 October 2026. If an advisor asks for a parallel application, apply to that university as well.
Requirement checklist
ELLIS portal registration and application form Required
You give your research areas and up to 10 preferred advisors from the advisor list on the portal.
Motivational letter Required
Two pages on why you want a PhD in the ELLIS network, with a statement of your past research and future direction.
CV and transcripts Required
A CV with publications and awards, and unofficial bachelor's and master's transcripts with an English translation.
Two or three referees Required
You send the reference requests from the portal before 31 October, and they submit by 25 November.
Parallel application to the advisor's university Conditional?Conditional offerAn offer that requires specified conditions, such as a language result or graduation document, before admission becomes final.
Read in the glossary
If the advisor's profile says Parallel application necessary.
Extra documents Optional
A thesis, published paper or project portfolio as one PDF under 20 MB.
Scholarship contacts
ELLIS PhD Coordination Office: [email protected]
Universities and contacts
European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS)
Germany
No official contact email published
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