The IMPRS programme is designed for international students. Therefore, all the teaching and communication is in English. Nevertheless, we provide the possibility and funds for the IMPRS students to attend German classes.
Application deadline is 15 November every year. The application portal will be accessible starting in August. If you want a notification as soon as the portal will be opened again, please send a short e-mail to office@imprs-astro.mpg.de.
The International Max Planck Research School on Astrophysics is a graduate school that offers a PhD programme in Astrophysics and Cosmology. Open for students from all countries worldwide, the school intends to attract highly-qualified and motivated young scientists aiming for a graduate degree in Physics and Astronomy. Outstanding research facilities and training programmes as well as grants for all PhD students provide a unique environment for participants.
The IMPRS on Astrophysics is a joint programme of:
Together, we form one of the largest centres of astrophysical research in the world, covering every subject from planets, stars, and galaxies to cosmology. Access to the world's largest telescopes and a stimulating scientific environment provide our students with the ideal conditions for their PhD research.
The IMPRS provides a programme consisting of an Introductory Course and a set of Advanced Courses.
The IMPRS Introductory Course is combined with the LMU's MSc course. It is mandatory for all IMPRS students to write an exam at the end of the Introductory Course. The exam mostly provides an evaluation of the student's general astronomy background and should indicate where further learning is desirable.
The Advanced Courses consist of nine one-week morning lectures on various topics of modern astrophysics taught throughout the year. They are given by professors and lecturers from all member institutions (MPE, USM, MPA, ESO). It is mandatory to participate in at least seven of these lectures within the three year PhD period.
In addition to the courses taught at and relevant for the IMPRS, most lecturers teach other courses at the LMU or TUM in the framework of the university’s regular course programme. IMPRS students do have access to these courses.
At the IMPRS, PhD projects are carried out under the supervision of an IMPRS professor from one of the member institutes or from a research group associated with the IMPRS. A thesis committee will monitor the student's progress regularly. The official and project supervisors will automatically be members of the thesis committee. Other members will be chosen following the suggestions of the student and his/her supervisor.
A two-day IMPRS student symposium takes place twice a year. The participation in the symposium is mandatory for all IMPRS students. It is organised by the students and for the students. IMPRS students are expected to give at least two talks during their participation in IMPRS on their own research or on journal papers.
Regular student excursions are part of the IMPRS programme, too. These activities encourage IMPRS students of different age groups and institutes to develop an "esprit de corps".
MSc in Physics or Astrophysics or an equivalent university degree including a Master's thesis that corresponds to a research project of at least 60 ECTS points
Candidates whose native language is neither English nor German are required to provide a certificate documenting proficiency in English, for example, TOEFL (of at least 550 points/computer-based: 220 points) or IELTS (of at least six points) or equivalent.
Application deadline is 15 November every year. The application portal will be accessible starting in August. If you want a notification as soon as the portal will be opened again, please send a short e-mail to office@imprs-astro.mpg.de.
We support all students in finding suitable accommodation in the Munich/Garching area.
We also support them with visa, insurance and other related issues.
IMPRS students get broad support from different facilities within the institutes (e.g., there are specified career seminars and recruitment days as well as a lot of possibilities for networking with high-ranking scientists from all over the world).
Our PhD students work in one of our participating institutes. These institutes include the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE), the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, the Observatory of the Ludwig Maximilians University (USM), and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). Together, these institutes form one of the largest centres for astrophysical research in the world.
Additionally, our PhD students are enrolled either at the Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU) or at the Technical University (TUM). The relevant university depends on the supervisor's affiliation. Both universities are top listed both in national and international rankings.
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More information about living and studying in Munich can be found on Munich's official website: http://www.muenchen.de/int/en/living/studying-in-munich.html.
