The Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology (MPIIB) offers three-month, paid summer internships in Berlin from 1 September to 30 November 2027 for international Bachelor's and Master's students. Interns receive a €1,400 monthly stipend, travel compensation and accommodation close to the institute, and applications close on 27 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the official call and application guide so every requirement and document is in one place.
What the MPIIB-ISI Programme Offers
The MPIIB International Summer Internship (MPIIB-ISI) is a three-month internship from September to November 2027. Interns come to Berlin to work on research projects under the supervision of experienced scientists.
💶 Stipend: €1,400 per month, covering living expenses in Berlin
✈️ Travel compensation: Provided by the institute
🏠 Accommodation: Provided close to the institute
🧑🔬 Research work: Hands-on projects supervised by experienced scientists
🤝 Administrative support: Help before and during the internship, especially with the sometimes confusing German public administration
Who the Programme Is Designed For
The MPIIB-ISI programme aims to enable talented students who have faced or are facing significant difficulties in their scientific education to pursue an academic career. It is specifically designed for motivated students who are constrained by personal, financial, regional or societal issues that negatively affect their future education.
Students gain access to a leading scientific institution, hands-on research experience and the extensive scientific network of Germany's capital. If you are comparing training formats, our guide on fellowship vs internship vs traineeship explains how they differ.
The Complementary Programme for a PhD Application
The second key feature of the internship is the complementary programme, designed to equip interns with the soft skills needed for a successful PhD application.
🎤 Scientific presentations: Courses on presenting your research
❓ Finding a research question: Training on developing one
📑 Application training: Preparation for PhD applications
🏛️ Excursions: Visits to other research institutes in Berlin
🎉 Social events: Activities with the other interns
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Who Can Apply
The internship is open to students who meet all of the following conditions:
🎓 University enrolment: You are enrolled in a university; without enrolment, it is not possible to obtain a visa
📅 Study progress: If you have not yet received your Bachelor's degree, you have completed at least 4 semesters (2 years) at the time of application
📊 Academic record: You have a strong academic record
🧬 Relevant field: Your background is in a field relevant to the proposed projects, such as biology, medicine, biochemistry, epidemiology or any other related field
🗣️ English: You have a good command of English
💭 Motivation: You can express your motivation for both the internship programme and the specific project you apply for
🧱 Access barriers: You have strong reasons why your access to first-class higher education is constrained
🗓️ Availability: You are available for the entire period from 1 September to 30 November 2027, because due to visa regulations you cannot extend your stay beyond the internship
🆓 Voluntary internship: You are doing a voluntary internship; interns who need credit points as part of their course requirements cannot be accepted
Diversity and Encouragement for Low- and Middle-Income Countries
The Max Planck Society recognises the positive value of diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of gender, disability, marital or parental status, race, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. Women are strongly encouraged to apply, and applicants with severe disabilities receive preferential consideration if their suitability, qualifications and professional performance are otherwise substantially equivalent.
For this programme, applications from students living in low- and middle-income countries are strongly encouraged.
How the Selection Process Works
📋 Pre-selection: All applications are evaluated and a shortlist of suitable candidates is compiled
💻 Interviews: Shortlisted candidates are invited for an online interview
📧 Acceptance: Selected candidates receive an email with their official MPIIB-ISI offer letter
Programme Timeline
🟢 November 2026: Call for applications starts
⏳ 27 November 2026: Application deadline
📌 February 2027: Final selection and commitments
🛫 1 September 2027: Internship begins
🛬 30 November 2027: Internship ends
Because of the high volume of applications, individual feedback cannot be provided. If you have not been contacted by 1 March 2027 after submitting your application, you may assume that your application has not been retained. Check your spam folder regularly.
Documents You Need to Submit
Applications are submitted through the online application portal, where you provide personal information and these documents:
📄 CV: Maximum 2 pages
✍️ Motivational letter: Use the template provided on the application page
🏫 Enrolment information: Details about your enrolment and study programme
🎯 General motivation: Your motivation for a career in science and for this internship
🧪 Previous projects: A description of your earlier projects
🔎 Project motivation: Why you want the specific MPIIB-ISI project you apply for, chosen from the available projects
🧱 Access statement: A statement on factors that may limit your access to higher education at an internationally renowned institution, such as financial, regional or personal circumstances
📨 Letter of reference: From a professor or postdoc
📚 Transcripts: All undergraduate and graduate records
🎓 Diploma: If you have already completed your Bachelor's degree
Unofficial academic records are sufficient, because only a list of the classes you took and your grades is needed. If your university does not provide official English translations, provide one yourself.
How to Build a Strong CV
The CV and the motivation letter are the two most important documents. The CV gives the reader a quick overview of your academic and professional background, accomplishments, relevant extracurricular activities and skills.
📏 Length and font: No longer than 2 pages with a font size of at least 11 pt
🚫 No photos: Do not include any photo of yourself, which helps reduce unconscious bias
🗂️ Template: A CV template is available on the application page, but you can design your own
⏪ Order: Arrange information in reverse chronological order, or by importance when there are no dates
🎒 How far back to go: Do not go back further than your high school graduation unless you have significant relevant skills or achievements
🔢 Grades: Whenever you include your GPA or average, give the lowest and highest possible grades in your grading system
For more help, see our guide on how to make a Europass CV.
The Motivation Letter: Four Parts and Word Limits
Save the letter as a PDF using the template provided. The letter is very short, so be concise: tell a story and highlight only the most relevant points. Applications with too many words, even within one section, will not be considered. Our guide on how to write a scholarship motivation letter can help you structure it.
✨ General motivation (max. 150 words): What brought you to your field, which research questions interest you, your academic background, any previous research experience, and how the internship and a stay in Berlin and Germany will benefit you
🧑💻 Project description (max. 150 words): A course you took, an independent project or an earlier internship: your responsibilities, results, skills developed and challenges you faced
🔬 Motivation for the project (max. 150 words): Why this project interests you, what you expect to learn, and point by point how you meet the requirements
✊ Statement on limiting factors (max. 300 words): A short essay on the challenges that make it difficult to pursue higher education, especially at a top research institution, such as financial disadvantage, lack of access to resources and information, discrimination based on gender, race, caste or sexuality, physical disability or class
The Letter of Reference
Ask a professor or postdoc with whom you have worked or taken a course to write a letter of reference. It is typically a positive, one-page letter endorsing you as a suitable candidate for the internship, and it should include the contact information of the person writing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the MPIIB-ISI internship pay?
Interns receive a stipend of €1,400 per month covering living expenses in Berlin. The institute also provides travel compensation and accommodation close to the institute.
When does the internship take place?
It runs for three months, from 1 September to 30 November 2027, in Berlin. You must be available for the whole period, because the visa does not allow you to extend your stay.
Can I apply by email?
No. Only complete applications submitted through the online application portal are considered, and applications sent by email are not reviewed.
Can I change my application after submitting it?
No. Once the application is submitted, no further changes or additional document uploads are possible. You receive a confirmation email when it has been submitted successfully.
Can I join if I need the internship for course credit?
No. The programme accepts only voluntary internships, and interns who need credit points as part of their course requirements cannot be accepted.
When will I hear back?
Final selection is in February 2027. If you have not been contacted by 1 March 2027, you may assume your application has not been retained.
Deadline
⏳ 27 November 2026
Links
🔗 Application guide and portal: https://www.mpiib-berlin.mpg.de/2155069/mpiib-isi-application-guide
🌐 Programme page: https://www.mpiib-berlin.mpg.de/mpiib-isi
