MPIA Summer Internship 2026 in Germany (Fully Funded)

The Germany Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA)  Open an Application window for the New internship program for the year 2026 ,The Bachelor and Master’s skilled and Qualified youth are encouraged to submit their Application early Before 16 January 2026.There is no application fee, and IELTS or TOEFL is also not required.

MPIA Summer Internship Field Covered

The program mainly focuses on astronomy and related scientific disciplines, including:

• Astronomy and Astrophysics

• Physics and Applied Physics

• Computational Science and Data Analysis

• Computer Science (scientific programming, machine learning)

• Mathematics (applied and computational)

• Engineering (instrumentation and optics)

Internship Benefits packages

• Monthly salary: approximately €1000 (net) with full social benefits.
• Travel expenses: fully supported by MPIA.
• Accommodation assistance: support in finding housing near the institute or city center.
• Equal opportunity: MPIA encourages applications from underrepresented groups, including women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and first-generation students.
• Special consideration: at least two internships are reserved for candidates from developing countries.

Internship Experience

Interns at MPIA will join ongoing research and instrument development projects in diverse areas such as:

• Exoplanet detection and characterization
• Milky Way and galaxy formation
• Cosmology and star formation
• Telescope and instrument design
• Data analysis and simulation coding

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Who are Eligible to Apply MPIA Summer Internship 2026

• • Open to bachelor’s and master’s students in astronomy, physics, computer science, engineering, or related disciplines.
  • Applicants who obtained a master’s degree in 2023 or earlier, or those already enrolled in PhD programs, are not eligible.

• • Non-EU bachelor’s students must remain enrolled during the internship period (graduation after internship completion).
  • Bachelor’s students must have completed at least four semesters by the start of the internship (May/June 2026).

• Strong motivation, relevant coursework, and basic research or programming experience are highly valued.

Required Documents (must be submitted together as a single PDF file, max. 10 MB)

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

   • Up to three pages.

   • Include academic background, current enrollment status and expected graduation date, average grade, research experience, technical/programming skills, awards, internships, extracurriculars, and contact information.

   • Do not include a photo.

2. Research Statement (1 page)

   • A brief statement explaining your previous research experience, your motivation for applying, your interest in the selected projects, and how the internship fits your academic/career goals.

   • This should be your own original work and clearly reflect your interests and experiences.

3. University Transcript(s)

   • Official or unofficial academic transcripts showing courses and grades.

   • If you have both bachelor’s and master’s transcripts, submit both.

   • Transcripts do not need to be translated if they use a Latin alphabet; otherwise include a transcription of courses/grades.

4. Transcript Attachment Form

   • A special form provided by MPIA where you list relevant astronomy, computer science, and programming courses and convert grades to a common scale.

   • You can extend the table if needed or attach a second copy of the form.

Apply Also: Westfalia Fruit Bursaries Programme 2026

                    Morton and Partners Bursaries 2026

                    EDISS Erasmus (EMJM) Scholarship 2026–2028 Officially Open

 Additional Required Submission (Separate)

✔ Recommendation Letter

• At least one letter of recommendation (arranged separately and sent via the online application portal).

• Applications without a reference letter will not be considered.

Please consolidate all documents in one file (PDF format only, max. 10 MB/file) and in the order listed below.

Application Timeline for MPIA Summer Internships 2026

While dates may vary slightly each year, the typical timeline is:

• Application opens: December 2025

• Application deadline: January 2026

• Selection and notifications: March–April 2026

• Internship period: June–September 2026

Applicants are encouraged to apply early and prepare documents in advance.

How to Apply for the MPIA Summer Internship 2026?

1. Your curriculum vitae (CV). The CV should be up to three pages long. Please include the following information (if relevant): current enrollment status, expected graduation date and average grade; prior post-graduate education, enrollment dates and average grades; other relevant education (e.g., online courses, summer schools, etc.); a short summary of prior research experiences, topics, length and supervisor; computer skills and programing experience; lab and instrumentation experience; awards, scholarships, internships; work and volunteer experiences; extracurricular activities; contact information; links to professional online profiles (e.g., personal webpage, GitHub, LinkedIn); other information relevant to the internship and project requirements. The CV should not include a photo of the applicant. Please use a minimum of 10pt font.
2. A brief one-page research statement that motivates your application. The research statement should include, first and foremost, a brief summary of previous research experiences and clearly explain your role in each project. The research statement can also include some (but probably not all) of the following topics: a discussion of what interests you about the selected projects and why you think you are a good candidate for them; how your skills fit the requirements of the projects; an explanation of what motivates you to do scientific research in astronomy; a discussion of how this internship fits with your future educational and career goals; examples of situations where you demonstrated grit, perseverance or overcame challenges. If your major is not astronomy and/or you do not have any astronomy courses, please describe what other experiences have prepared you for this internship. Please use a minimum of 10pt font. Please ensure that your research statement is your own original work and accurately reflects your experiences, ideas and interests. We discourage the use of large language models (LLMs; e.g., ChatGPT) in drafting your statement, as submissions that rely on AI-generated content lack the depth and originality critical for admission to the program and are usually disadvantaged in the evaluation process.
3. A university transcript (e.g., scans of certificates; pre-university level are not required). For students enrolled in masters programs, please also provide a transcript from your bachelors studies and from your current program if one is available. Transcripts do not need to be translated, but a transcription of classes and grades written in a non-latin alphabet is required. Transcripts are not required for the current semester but if you would like to let us know what courses you are currently enrolled in, please attach a list.
4. A transcript attachment form (pdf, xlsx, web). The transcript attachment form asks you to list astronomy and computer science/programming courses from your degree and convert the grades to a common scale. Courses you are currently enrolled in can be included without grades. Please use one of the provided templates. If you need more space than provided on the template, please extend the table or attach a second copy of the form. If you have taken classes as part of different degrees (e.g., BSc and MSc), please attach two separate forms.

The online application system is HERE.

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)