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Tuition
No tuition fee verified
Duration
54 months
Intake
Winter semester
English
E.G. Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced UNIcert® English: UNIcert® II IELTS Academic: 6.5
About this programme
The Max Planck School Matter to Life offers an integrated MSc/PhD graduate programme. Students receive their joint Master's degree in Matter to Life by regularly studying at the two teaching universities (University of Göttingen or Heidelberg University). Subsequently, the students pursue their own research in the PhD phase of the programme under the supervision of a fellow within the Matter to Life Faculty with a matching research interest.
The joint degree Master's programme will be spent at one of the following two teaching universities, depending on your choice of focus: Complex Systems and Biological Physics (University of Göttingen) Molecular Systems Chemistry and Engineering (Heidelberg University) The universities share a core curriculum with classes taught in connected classrooms. Laboratory rotations at associated institutions during the Master's phase of the programme are encouraged and the students are supported in building their own research networks in this highly interdisciplinary area. All students are given a buddy and a mentor to guide them through the programme. After you have successfully completed your Master's, you can continue with a three-year PhD programme under the supervision of one of the school's fellows. Voluntary preparatory courses in mathematics, chemistry and physical chemistry are offered prior to the start of the Master's programme.
Course details verified 10 Sep 2026 — intakes, entry requirements and course facts · official source
Intakes & deadlines
Winter semester
Dates confirmed for your profile
Open
Most universities admit on a rolling basis — we confirm the exact application deadline for your profile, free.
Entry requirements
English
E.G. Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced UNIcert® English: UNIcert® II IELTS Academic: 6.5
Prerequisites
To be eligible to apply for the programme, you must meet the following requirements: a Bachelor of Science degree (e.g. in Chemistry, Physics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Materials Science, Biotechnology) or a Bachelor of Engineering (e.g. in the subjects Molecular Systems Engineering, Bioengineering) or a completed course of study in a related natural science or engineering discipline in at least six semesters Proof of an above-average Bachelor's degree, demonstrated by either a minimum GPA of 1.7 or evidence that you ranked in the top five percent of your graduating class Subjects related to Natural Sciences including mathematics must compose 50% of the credit points obtained during your degree programme. Of these, one third should be in physics, chemistry and/or mathematics. For example, if your degree program consists of 180 credits, 90 credits should be in Natural Sciences, and 30 of this should be in physics, chemistry and/or mathematics. Proof of English language proficiency
We confirm the exact costs and the scholarships you qualify for at Universität Heidelberg — free, for your profile. Need funding? Check your education-loan eligibility.
Typical graduate salary — Engineering (general), Europe
EUR 49,000–51,000/yr
· ≈ ₹52.1 L–₹54.2 L/yr
This is an indicative early-career range for the whole Engineering (general) field in Europe,
from official graduate-outcome data — not a figure for this programme or university, and not a guarantee of
what you will earn. What you actually earn depends on the role, employer, city and your visa.
Rupee figure converted at the 26 Oct 2026 mid-market rate; your
bank's rate will be worse and currencies move, so use it for planning, not as the amount you will receive.
Max Planck School Matter to Life – MSc to PhD Direct Track Programme — FAQs
5 questions
No tuition fee. Checked against the university's own fees page. We confirm the current fee and the scholarships you qualify for — free.
The main intake is Winter semester. Most universities admit on a rolling basis — we confirm the exact deadline for your profile, free.
To be eligible to apply for the programme, you must meet the following requirements: a Bachelor of Science degree (e.g. in Chemistry, Physics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Materials Science, Biotechnology) or a Bachelor of Engineering (e.g. in the subjects Molecular Systems Engineering, Bioengineering) or a completed course of study in a related natural science or engineering discipline in at least six semesters Proof of an above-average Bachelor's degree, demonstrated by either a minimum GPA of 1.7 or evidence that you ranked in the top five percent of your graduating class Subjects related to Natural Sciences including mathematics must compose 50% of the credit points obtained during your degree programme. Of these, one third should be in physics, chemistry and/or mathematics. For example, if your degree program consists of 180 credits, 90 credits should be in Natural Sciences, and 30 of this should be in physics, chemistry and/or mathematics. Proof of English language proficiency English: E.G. Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced UNIcert® English: UNIcert® II IELTS Academic: 6.5.
The programme runs about 54 months full-time.
Yes — shortlisting, SOP, LOR, Resume, application, scholarships and visa guidance are all free. We're paid by partner universities, not by you.
Apply to Max Planck School Matter to Life – MSc to PhD Direct Track Programme — free help
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