IMPRS-CPQM PhD 2027: Funded Quantum Materials Research
IMPRS-CPQM is accepting applications for funded quantum-materials PhD research in 2027. Apply by 30 November 2026 to the International Max Planck Research School for Chemistry and Physics of Quantum Materials. The programme joins the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, TU Dresden and the University of St Andrews, with financial support determined by where you perform your research.
Official sources checked: 23 October 2026. Project-fit and offer-comparison advice below is ScholarshipHubNow’s editorial interpretation.
Key details
| Programme | International Max Planck Research School for Chemistry and Physics of Quantum Materials (IMPRS-CPQM) |
|---|---|
| Locations | Dresden, Germany, and St Andrews, Scotland, depending on the project |
| Opportunity | Multiple doctoral positions; experimental and theoretical research |
| Deadline | 30 November 2026 for the current recruitment cycle |
| Start | Expected no later than September 2027 |
| Nationality | Excellent candidates from any country may apply |
The official application page confirms an open call. It states a deadline date without an exact cutoff time or time zone. Follow any additional instruction in the online form, and submit early rather than assuming a midnight cutoff.
Funding: Germany and UK arrangements differ
The financial-support page distinguishes two arrangements:
- Research in Germany: remuneration through the contract basis applying to doctoral researchers at Max Planck Institutes in Germany.
- Research in the UK: the UK national science-student stipend rate, with UK university tuition covered through St Andrews’ contribution to the programme.
The checked programme page does not state a specific euro or pound amount or one fixed funding duration for every project. We therefore do not present a guessed monthly salary, a future UK stipend figure or a universal contract length.
How to compare an offer: ask for the primary research location, gross pay or stipend, deductions, funding period, renewal conditions and tuition arrangements in writing. If time is split between institutions, ask how accommodation, travel and payment arrangements work during each period. A joint programme does not mean every student has the same personal budget.
The institute’s October 2026 recruitment notice confirms funded research and competitive payment based on primary location. For personal planning, the actual offer is more useful than converting a general pay scale into an assumed take-home amount.
Eligibility and academic fit
Applicants should have an outstanding bachelor’s or master’s degree aligned with the programme’s research. Bachelor’s entrants undertake extra graduate courses to reach equivalent master’s level. The institute welcomes applicants internationally.
The FAQ allows applications before degree completion, provided the degree is completed before joining. It also says directly related research experience is helpful but not compulsory. Applicants from a non-standard scientific background can ask the programme whether their preparation fits.
Our fit guidance: start with a scientific question and a method you want to use. Solid-state chemistry applicants might look for a synthesis or characterization problem; physics applicants might focus on a measurement, model or emergent phenomenon. A general interest in quantum technology becomes a stronger fit assessment when you can connect it to the actual project’s daily work.
Research choices: assess methods as well as titles
The available-project list includes materials synthesis, superconductivity, magnetism, spectroscopy, quantum circuits and theoretical work. Projects are designed for active collaboration between an MPI supervisor and a partner-university supervisor, and students may work at more than one institution.
| Your strongest preparation | Questions to ask when reading projects |
|---|---|
| Experimental physics | What physical quantity is measured, what apparatus is involved, and how would an experimental limitation affect the conclusion? |
| Chemistry or materials synthesis | How does sample preparation connect to the property of interest, and which characterization would distinguish competing explanations? |
| Theory or computation | Which assumptions make the model tractable, and what experimental result could test or challenge its predictions? |
These questions are preparation advice, not additional admissions rules. Use them to select projects that match your interests and to identify training needs honestly.
Documents and application instructions
The official guidelines request a cover letter explaining motivation and discussing preferred projects, a CV describing your academic history, and course-and-grade transcripts. Additional supporting documents can be uploaded through the form.
Prepare separate PDF files with meaningful filenames. Explain project priorities in the cover letter if you have them. Inform referees that references may be requested, but do not ask them to send unsolicited letters immediately; the programme contacts them when needed.
The FAQ says not to submit your own research proposal. General admission does not usually require language certificates, but St Andrews has an English-evidence requirement. You may still apply to projects involving St Andrews without a certificate at application stage. Check the conditions that would apply to your eventual university registration. IMPRS-CPQM charges no application fee.
How to apply
- Read the project descriptions. Match your experience to the actual scientific tasks, not only the broad topic label.
- Prepare a focused cover letter. Explain why the selected projects fit your background. Support claims with a specific course, thesis decision, experiment or analysis you can discuss.
- Organize the PDFs. Check the CV and transcript for consistency and include an accurate degree-completion timeline if still studying.
- Use the official online form. Submit through the link on the application page. Applications emailed to the programme or individual principal investigators are not considered.
- Review and submit. Check project selections and uploads, then keep the submission confirmation. Resolve any missing-item request promptly.
Apply Now: official IMPRS-CPQM application page and online-form link →
Selection and interview preparation
The selection page says project supervisors and a panel from participating institutions review written applications. Shortlisted candidates may be interviewed online, in person or both. The programme plans its Dresden recruitment workshop for 22–24 February 2027, with details communicated to invited candidates. The workshop is planned, so wait for an invitation before making travel commitments.
The official call emphasizes academic excellence, motivation and project alignment. No numerical scoring weights are published in the checked sources.
Preparation exercise: explain one previous research problem in five minutes: the question, your own contribution, the result and its main limitation. Then consider how you would improve the work if given another month. This helps demonstrate reasoning and scientific judgment without overstating specialist experience.
Frequently asked questions
Can international candidates apply?
Yes. The official call welcomes excellent candidates from any country.
Must I already have a master’s degree?
No. The application page also describes a bachelor’s-entry route with additional graduate study. Degree suitability depends on alignment with the research and university admission arrangements.
Will every student be based in Germany?
No. Research location depends on the project and collaboration. Confirm the planned locations with the programme.
Is the funding amount identical in Germany and Scotland?
No. The programme uses different financial-support arrangements by research location, as explained above.
Can I apply by emailing a supervisor?
No. Use the online application route. A scientific enquiry is different from submitting an application.
Compare related opportunities
For another UK materials route, review Oxford IMAT PhD studentships. Applicants interested in nanoscience can compare Cambridge NanoDTC funding, while those considering broader quantum research may explore Munich Quantum Valley doctoral fellowships. Check each programme’s own eligibility and deadline.
Official sources
- Current call and application route
- MPI recruitment notice
- Financial support by location
- Application documents and guidelines
- Eligibility, language and application FAQs
- Available projects
- Selection and workshop timeline
