Max Planck Computer Science Research Internship 2027

The Max Planck Computer Science Research Internship is an official research internship programme offered jointly by participating Max Planck Institutes in Germany. The programme gives talented students and early-stage researchers the opportunity to work directly with faculty mentors on academic research projects across a wide range of Computer Science fields. Participating institutes include the Max Planck Institute for Informatics in Saarbrücken, the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems in Saarbrücken and Kaiserslautern, and the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy in Bochum.

Research areas span the full spectrum of Computer Science, including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Algorithms and Theory, Computational Biology, Computer Vision and Graphics, Computer Systems, Data and Web, Programming Languages, Robotics, Security and Privacy, and Social Computing. Every intern is assigned a faculty mentor. The exact project is usually decided after selection and is tailored to the intern’s academic background, interests, maturity and previous experience.

Interns work closely with research groups that may include faculty members, doctoral researchers and postdoctoral researchers. The programme is highly research-focused rather than industry-oriented. It is particularly suitable for students who want to explore academic research, strengthen their preparation for graduate study or develop experience that could contribute to a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis where permitted by their home university.

Internships are available throughout the year. Summer internships starting between May and August follow a fixed annual deadline, while internships beginning at other times are considered according to project availability and research-group needs.

• Applicants may be from any country worldwide.
• Bachelor’s students may apply.
• Master’s students may apply.
• PhD students may apply.
• Industry applicants with a comparable Computer Science background and an interest in academic research may also apply.
• Applicants should have a strong basic background in Computer Science, broadly equivalent to the first three years of a standard Computer Science Bachelor’s programme by the internship start date, or relevant research experience.
• Applicants are expected to have an excellent academic record.
• Applicants should have a genuine interest in academic Computer Science research.
• Interdisciplinary applicants may apply where Computer Science remains the primary research focus.
• Applicants who have completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and are between degree programmes may still apply if they meet the stated eligibility criteria.
• German language proficiency is not required.
• Professional fluency in English is required.

• Monthly stipend sufficient to cover living costs.
• Full housing costs covered during the internship.
• Round-trip travel costs covered from the intern’s habitual place of residence to the host institute and back.
• Direct supervision from a Max Planck faculty mentor.
• Hands-on experience in cutting-edge Computer Science research.
• Access to an internationally recognised research environment.
• Opportunity to work with faculty, PhD researchers and postdoctoral researchers.
• Potential for research outputs and, in some cases, co-authored publications at major academic conferences.
• English-speaking, multicultural research environment.
• Possibility of using the internship research towards a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis where permitted by the applicant’s university.

Applicants must provide:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Academic transcripts.
• Contact information for at least one academic or professional reference.
• Motivation letter — optional.
• Preferred internship period — optional.
• Preferred faculty member(s) or research group(s) — optional.

Additional official guidance confirms:

• Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the application stage.
• Unofficial English translations of transcripts are acceptable.
• Applicants only provide the referee’s contact information initially.
• Max Planck contacts the referee directly if a recommendation letter is required.
• Applicants should not email recommendation letters or application materials directly.

The programme does not publish a numerical scoring system, but official guidance indicates that selection considers:

• Strength of the applicant’s academic record.
• Depth of Computer Science coursework and background.
• Relevance of the applicant’s skills to available research groups.
• Interest in academic Computer Science research.
• Previous research experience where available.
• Academic maturity.
• Fit with available projects and faculty mentors.
• Information provided by academic or professional references where requested.
• Performance in a phone or online interview where applicable.

• Conduct research at internationally recognised Max Planck Institutes.
• Work directly with world-class Computer Science faculty.
• Gain practical research experience before applying for Master’s or PhD programmes.
• Explore new research areas before committing to a long-term academic specialisation.
• Strengthen your academic CV and research profile.
• Work in an international, English-speaking research environment.
• Develop research skills across areas such as AI, systems, security, robotics and computational science.
• Potentially contribute to academic publications and conference papers.
• Use the research towards a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis where permitted.