Internships at Max Planck Institutes in Computer Science

The Max Planck Institutes for Informatics (Saarbruecken), Software Systems (Saarbruecken and Kaiserslautern), and Security and Privacy (Bochum) offer research internships in all areas of Computer Science. 

An internship at a Max Planck Institute is a way to pursue world-class research in computer science! Our internships are also an excellent way to explore research or new research areas for the first time.

Internships are open to exceptional Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral students worldwide, as well as exceptional individuals from industry interested in gaining academic research experience in computer science. Intern positions are limited and admissions are very competitive

Every intern works directly with an assigned faculty mentor at one of the participating institutes. Internship projects are based on the intern’s academic interests, maturity and prior experience. All internships are fully funded, covering living costs, housing and roundtrip travel costs. A typical internship lasts 12 to 14 weeks, but longer internships are possible.

Internships can be completed at any time of the year, but most interns start during the summer months. We process applications for internships starting in the summer months and those starting outside the summer months differently.

For internships starting during the summer (i.e., starting between May and August), we have a strict admissions process. 

The deadline for applying for a summer internship is November 1 of the previous year. If you apply for this deadline and your application is successful, you should hear from us before 1st of February. If you have not heard back by this date, please assume that you were not selected.

For internships starting outside the summer (i.e., starting between January and April or between September and December), we do not have a fixed deadline and applications are examined based on the availability of projects and the needs of research groups. Apply at least 5 months before your intended starting date. If you do not hear back within 4 months of applying, please assume that you were not selected. All applications must be submitted online at https://apply.cis.mpg.de/register/internship. 

Why Intern at a Max Planck Institute in Computer Science?

• Max Planck Institutes offer an internationally renowned research community, with world-class faculty across the full spectrum of Computer Science.
• Interns get direct, hands-on experience doing cutting edge research in computer science. Successful internships often result in coauthored publications at top academic conferences. Interning at a Max Planck Institute is great way to kick-start your future research career!
• All admitted interns receive a stipend, and their housing cost and the cost of travel from their habitual residence to the hosting institute and back are covered.
• The working environment is English-speaking, multicultural, and diverse.

Who Can Apply?

• Internships are open to exceptional Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral students worldwide with a basic background in Computer Science (roughly, the first three years of a standard Computer Science Bachelors program by the start of the internship) and an interest in CS research. Internship projects are customized to suit the backgrounds of individual interns.
• Industry applicants with a similar background and an interest in academic CS research may also apply.
• Students looking for Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis projects are also welcome to apply. The internship project can be converted to a thesis if the student’s university allows.
• Internships are also an excellent opportunity for pre-doctoral students to explore computer science research prior to embarking on a research career.
• Applicants with interdisciplinary interests in Computer Science and another area, e.g. intersecting social science, economics, and law, may apply. However, the primary focus of internships will be applications of these areas to Computer Science.
• We particularly welcome applications from individuals belonging to underrepresented groups in Computer Science.
• Our internships are very competitive and all applicants are expected to have an excellent academic record, regardless of its length.

Deadlines

Please apply by the following deadlines:

• For internships starting between May and August, apply by November 1 of the previous year
• For internships starting at any other time of the year, apply at least 5 months before your intended starting date

Application Process

Submit your application. Apply online at https://apply.cis.mpg.de/register/internship. You will need to provide your CV, transcripts, contact information for at least one reference, and an optional motivation letter. You can also optionally indicate faculty members at the participating institutes with whom you would like to work and the period during which you would like to intern.

 Note that we do not request references in all cases. Please do not write to us asking why your referee has not received a request for your letter.Matching process. Research groups at participating institutes will review your application. During this period, you might be contacted for a phone interview.

Notification. You will be notified of the outcome of your application by email. If you are selected, you will also be put in touch with your assigned faculty mentor to finalize the exact dates of your internship and settle on an internship project.