CaCTüS Summer Internship 2027 in Germany (Fully Funded)

The CaCTüS Summer Internship 2027 is a fully funded three-month research internship at the Max Planck Institutes in Tübingen and Stuttgart, Germany. Interns receive a salary that covers living expenses, health insurance and accommodation, plus compensation for travel costs.

The internship is for Bachelor’s and Master’s students working in machine learning, neuroscience, cognition and related fields. It is aimed at students whose access to top education is limited by personal, financial, regional or social constraints, and it especially welcomes students who are from and living in low- and middle-income countries. Up to 12 interns are chosen each year.

What is the CaCTüS Internship?

CaCTüS stands for Computation and Cognition Tübingen Summer Internship. It is run by the Max Planck Institutes for Biological Cybernetics and Intelligent Systems and the Tübingen AI Center, two of Germany’s leading places for research on biological and artificial intelligence.

From 1 July to 30 September 2027, you work on a real research project with an experienced scientist. You also join soft-skill courses, career counselling, visits to other research institutes and social events, and you present your work to the scientists on campus at the end.

What you get

• A salary for three months that covers living expenses, health insurance and accommodation
• Compensation for your travel costs
• A place in accommodation arranged by the programme
• One-to-one research supervision from Max Planck scientists
• Courses, mentoring, career advice and cohort events
• Help from the programme’s Welcome Officers with your visa process

Visa fees are not covered.

Research areas

Machine learning, electrical engineering, theoretical neuroscience, behavioural experiments and data analysis. Each year the programme publishes a list of projects, and you choose up to two.

Who can apply

• Bachelor’s or Master’s students, or graduates who have not started a PhD by the time of the internship
• Bachelor’s students must have completed at least four semesters (two years) before July 2027
• For projects 1 to 4 you must be enrolled at a university from January to October 2027. For other projects you must be enrolled or hold at least a Bachelor’s degree by March 2027.
• A strong academic record in a related field, such as computer science, mathematics, physics, engineering, psychology, cognitive science or neuroscience
• Good English
• Strong reasons why your access to first-class education is limited
• Available for the full 90 days from 1 July to 30 September 2027
• Doing a voluntary internship (the programme cannot host interns who need it for course credits)

Is there an age limit?

No age limit is listed. Graduates who finished their Master’s a few years ago can still apply if they have not started a PhD.

Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?

No. You don’t need a certificate. The programme judges your English from your application and interviews. As a guide, they mention a TOEFL score of about 95.

Can I apply if my degree is in another subject?

Yes. There are no strict rules on which degree you study. If your interests match the research at the institutes and you have the skills a project needs, you can apply.

Do I need a reference letter?

No. One reference letter is optional. If you send one, it will be considered.

Is there an application fee?

No application fee is mentioned.

Required documents

• CV of up to two pages
• Transcripts from all your university studies, in English (you can translate them yourself at this stage)
• Degree certificates, if you have them
• One reference letter (optional)
• A motivation statement, written in the portal

How to write your motivation statement

The portal asks for four short pieces of writing. Plan each one.

• Why science: say what pulls you toward research and what you hope to do next.
• A past project: describe one project you did, your role, the method and the result.
• Your two projects: read the project list and explain why each fits your skills. Be specific about methods you’ve used.
• Your constraints: explain plainly what has limited your access to top education, such as money, where you live or family duties. This statement carries real weight, because the programme exists for students in your position.

Apply from a laptop or computer. Past applicants had trouble submitting from a phone.

How to apply, step by step

1. Read the programme page, the FAQ and the application guide on the CaCTüS website.
2. Choose up to two projects from the project list.
3. Translate your transcripts into English and prepare your CV.
4. Register on the application portal and fill in your statements.
5. Upload your documents as PDFs and submit before 16 November 2026.

Selection process

Scientists review the applications and invite shortlisted candidates to interviews in January 2027. Acceptance notifications go out in February 2027. Applicants who show real constraints and comparable qualifications are given preference.

Deadline

Deadline: 16 November 2026

The programme does not accept late applications. The internship runs from 1 July to 30 September 2027.

Have a question?

Ask in the comments and we’ll help where we can.

Related reading

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• DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027/28 in Germany (Fully Funded, for Developing Countries)

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Apply on the Official CaCTüS Website