The Munich Center for Machine Learning (MCML) seeks applications for PhD positions in AI.
We offer several PhD positions in any field of research within the domains of machine learning. The positions are ranked according to German TV-L E13 (100%), for a duration period of 3 years.
Application deadline: 14 November 2025 (Portal closes at 23:59 CET)
Minimum requirements
- Master’s degree or equivalent graduate degree in one of the following fields (must be completed no later than 1 July 2026): informatics / computer science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, mathematics, statistics, data science, physics or a related field from a recognized college or university. If you received your degree from a university outside of Germany, it must be equivalent to the corresponding German degree. A final decision regarding eligibility will require the approval of university officials.
- Final grade of MSc degree (or overall average grade if MSc degree is yet to be awarded) of 2.3 or better, when converted to the German system using the modified Bavarian formula
- A very good command of the English language
- Strong scientific motivation
Welcome to our online MCML PhD Position application tool!
We look forward to reviewing your application and the opportunity to learn more about you. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch with us at: application@mcml.ai.
Timeline for the application round 2026
- Opening of the online application system: 15 October 2025
- Deadline for submitting the applications: 14 November 2025 (Portal closes at 23:59 CET)
- Review and potentially interviews: 1 December 2025 - 31 January 2026
- Decision: End of March 2026
- Starting date: 1 July 2026 (slightly later also possible)
Please note that only complete applications that have been submitted via the online tool before the deadline can be considered. We highly recommend that you submit the application a few days before the deadline. This serves to avoid any submission problems due to server problems, which may occur if too many users try to submit their application at once.
Before starting your application
If you haven’t already done so, please visit our For PhD Applicants website, and be sure to read the PhD Application Checklist, which contains important information about the required application documents, as well as the FAQs.
Important guidelines on how to submit your application
- Register online! For this you have to enter your name, your e-mail address and choose a username. Please use an e-mail address that you can access for up to a year after the date of application. After a successful registration/creating a new account, you will instantly receive a confirmation email with a login link. If that is not the case, please check your JUNK/SPAM folder, as some email accounts might classify the confirmation email as spam.
- Log in to the portal with the link in the confirmation email and set your password. Please create a password immediately after you log in for the first time.
- Click on Apply now
- Fill in the application form. Please fill out the fields on all tabs. All fields marked with a yellow triangle are required for submission. Your data is NOT saved automatically! Please use the “save” button at the bottom of each page to store your information before logging out! You don’t have to fill out the application form in one go. You can come back to it throughout the application period. You can change your entries at any time by clicking on "Edit" until the application is “submitted” by clicking on a separate “Save and Submit” button (see below). If you have already started an application, you will find it in the portal’s Navigation Menu under My Application Form after logging in.
- Upload all required documents. The maximum file size per uploaded document (jpg/png/PDF) is 5 MB and should not be encrypted. If you are having difficulty uploading a document it may be encrypted or too large. In case there is only one “Upload document” request for multiple PDF files, please merge the PDFs into a single file before upload.
- In order to submit the application, you must actively click the "Save and Submit" button at the bottom of the application form. The application can only be submitted, if all required fields (marked with a yellow triangle) are filled out. Once you have submitted your application it is no longer possible to make changes! After submission, a PDF of your application including all uploaded documents will be created automatically. Changes to the online application are allowed at any time prior to submission. After clicking 'Save and Submit,' the application is considered final. There is also an email notification, confirming the successful submission of your application.