Apply for an MCQST Doctoral Fellowship

Welcome prospective doctoral candidates!

The Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST) offers Doctoral Fellowships for outstanding, highly motivated students who want to do a PhD in quantum science and technology in Munich. We welcome applicants with a strong academic record and research interests in any of MCQST's research areas.

Who can apply

  • Students from all countries are welcome.
  • You hold, or expect to complete, a Master's degree or equivalent qualification before you start your PhD.
  • The fellowships are open to external applicants only. If you completed your Master's studies or your Master's thesis at a university or research institution in Munich, you are not eligible to apply.
  • The language of the program is English.

Diversity and inclusion

MCQST is committed to recruiting talented doctoral students from diverse backgrounds and to fostering an open and respectful research environment. We particularly encourage applications from women and candidates from underrepresented groups.

Before Applying

As part of the application, you will be asked to indicate your research interests and preferred research areas, as well as potential supervisors among the MCQST members.

Before starting your application, we therefore recommend that you familiarize yourself with the MCQST research members and identify researchers whose work matches your scientific interests.

Your choice of research groups or potential supervisors is not binding. It serves as an indication of your interests. During the selection process, opportunities may also be provided to discuss potential PhD projects with researchers.

Online application

Applications must be submitted through the online application platform (to open 15 Ocotber 2026). Applications submitted by e-mail cannot be considered.


Please complete the following steps:

  • 1. Register online.After registration, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with your registration number.
  • 2. Complete the application form. Please read the questions carefully and provide all requested information.
  • 3. Indicate your research interests and potential supervisors. Select the research areas and MCQST principal investigators whose work is of particular interest to you. Your selection is non-binding and is used to help us understand your scientific interests.
  • 4. Upload the required documents:

    • CV (please do not include a photograph)
    • Letter of interest and motivation
    • Degree certificates and transcripts of current and previous studies
    • If applicable, certificates or documentation of scholarships, prizes, or awards

  • 5. Submit your application.

Once the application form is complete and all required documents have been uploaded, submit your application through the online platform. You will receive an e-mail confirming successful submission.

Application deadline: January 11, 2027.

Reference letters

As part of the application, you will be asked to provide the names and contact details of two referees who can assess your academic and personal background.

After you submit your complete application, the system will automatically send your referees an e-mail requesting their letters. Please contact your referees in advance and allow them sufficient time to prepare and submit their recommendations.

Reference letter deadline: January 15, 2027.

Only letters received by the deadline can be considered. If a referee does not submit a letter in time, your application will still be processed, but the selection committee will evaluate it based on the documents available.

Selection process

Review and first selection

After the application deadline, all complete and successfully submitted applications are reviewed by the admissions committee. Applications are assessed based on academic qualifications, research aptitude and experience, motivation, scientific background, achievements, and letters of recommendation.

In the first round, selected applicants will be invited to online interviews. Depending on the outcome, some candidates may subsequently be invited to an on-site interview.

Incomplete applications or applications submitted by e-mail will not be considered.

Interviews

During the interview process, applicants will give a short presentation of a research project they have conducted as part of their academic training. They will also learn more about potential research opportunities and have the opportunity to meet researchers from the MCQST community whose work matches their interests.

Following the interviews, the admissions committee will select the successful candidates based on the overall assessment of their application and interviews.

Applicants will be informed of the outcome within one to two weeks after the final interviews.

Selected students will be matched with suitable PhD projects and research groups, taking into account both their preferences and the available opportunities.

There is no fixed number of fellowships awarded each year. The number depends on the quality of the applications, available funding, and the research opportunities and capacity within the participating groups.

Application to MCQST and MQV Doctoral Fellowships

The MCQST Doctoral Fellowship and Munich Quantum Valley Doctoral Fellowship programs use a shared application platform.

Applicants can choose to apply for MCQST, MQV, or both programs. All applications are submitted through the same online platform, and you can indicate your preferred program(s) during the application process.

You can register and submit your application online or log in at any time to view and manage your application.

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