THE SOFTWARE LAB (CISPA & UNIVERSITY OF STUTTGART)
CISPA & University of Stuttgart Software Lab PhD Scholarships
full · phd
- Fully fundedSalaried PhD position
- ~EUR 55,000 / year (est.)Gross salary (TV-L E13)
- 30 daysPaid annual vacation
- No German requiredWorking language English
- PhDDegree from Univ. of Stuttgart
- GermanyWhere you study
At a glance
full
Funding
€60k
Max amount
Dec 31, 2026
Deadline
Open to international applicants worldwide
Country
The Software Lab (CISPA & University of Stuttgart)
Provider
The Software Lab, jointly affiliated with CISPA and the University of Stuttgart in Germany, offers fully funded PhD scholarships in software engineering, artificial intelligence and cyber security. Doctoral researchers earn a PhD from the University of Stuttgart while working on software systems and security research alongside an international team and visiting professors from institutions such as Berkeley, CMU, UCLA and KAIST. The working language is English and no German is required. The research spans large language models for software repair and bug detection, static and dynamic program analysis, automated and differential testing, and AI-powered reasoning tools, applied to real-world systems written in Python, Java, C/C++ and JavaScript. The lab's work has earned ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Awards in 2023 and 2025 and appears at top venues including ICSE, FSE, ISSTA and OOPSLA, with tools such as RepairAgent and ExecutionAgent. PhD researchers receive a salaried position with 30 paid vacation days, health insurance and potential internships at companies like Google, Microsoft and IBM. Candidates need a Master's in computer science or a related field, strong coding skills and English writing ability. Positions are filled on a rolling basis, so confirm the current openings, salary band and contact details on the official Software Lab page before you apply.
What's covered
- Salaried PhD position — A fully funded, salaried research position, typically on the German public-sector TV-L E13 scale (around EUR 55,000 gross per year est.), rather than an unpaid scholarship.
- Health insurance — Statutory health insurance coverage as part of the employment contract.
- 30 paid vacation days — Thirty paid vacation days per year alongside German public holidays.
- Industry internships — Potential internships with top companies such as Google, Microsoft and IBM during the PhD.
- Research support and mentorship — Mentorship from leading faculty and visiting professors (from Berkeley, CMU, UCLA and KAIST) plus funding to attend top conferences (~EUR 2,000 per year est. travel support).
How to apply
Applications are made directly to the Software Lab by email, sending a CV and academic transcripts; positions are filled on a rolling basis.
- Prepare your application materials — Assemble an up-to-date CV and your academic transcripts demonstrating your computer science background and coding experience.
- Review the research focus — Read about the Software Lab's research on LLMs for software repair, program analysis and automated testing to tailor your application.
- Email your application — Send your CV and transcripts to the Software Lab's application email address listed on the official page.
- Interview with the team — Shortlisted candidates are invited to discuss their background, research interests and fit with the lab's projects.
- Receive an offer — Suitable candidates receive an offer for a salaried PhD position; positions are filled as soon as strong applicants are found.
Eligibility
DegreeHold or expect a Master's degree in Computer Science or a closely related field.
Technical skillsStrong coding skills and a genuine interest in large-scale software projects.
CommunicationComfortable with technical writing and presentations in English (no German required).
Research mindsetPassionate about high-quality academic research, with a long-term vision and persistence for deep research.
MentoringWilling to mentor undergraduate students as part of the role.
Positions are filled as soon as suitable candidates are identified, so applications are accepted year-round. There is no fixed annual deadline.
Eligible countries
Open to international applicants worldwide
Deadlines
2026 entry (rolling - applications accepted year-round)~Rolling / year-round (est.)
Selection
Candidates are assessed on academic record, coding ability, research potential and fit with the Software Lab's projects in software engineering, AI and cyber security. The lab emphasises quality over quantity, looking for applicants with strong technical writing, a long-term research vision and willingness to mentor. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed, and positions are filled on a rolling basis as suitable candidates are identified.
Verified sources
- The Software Lab - CISPA & University of Stuttgartsoftware-lab.orgofficial
- CISPA - Helmholtz Center for Information Securitycispa.deofficial
About the provider
The Software Lab is a research group led at CISPA - Helmholtz Center for Information Security and the University of Stuttgart in Germany. It focuses on building reliable, efficient and secure software systems using program analysis, automated testing and AI, and its members publish at the top software engineering and security conferences.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Who can apply for these PhD scholarships?
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Applicants who hold or expect a Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field, with strong coding skills and an interest in large-scale software projects.
What does the funding include?
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A fully funded, salaried PhD position (around EUR 55,000 gross per year est. on the TV-L E13 scale) with health insurance, 30 paid vacation days and conference travel support.
Do I need to speak German?
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No. The working language is English, and no German is required to apply or to work in the lab.
Where will my PhD be awarded from?
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The PhD is awarded by the University of Stuttgart, with research affiliation to CISPA.
What research areas are available?
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Software systems engineering, artificial intelligence and cyber security, including LLMs for software repair, program analysis and automated testing.
Is this a scholarship or a salaried job?
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It is a salaried PhD position (an employment contract) rather than a tax-free stipend scholarship, which is the standard model in Germany.
Are internships available?
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Yes. PhD researchers may take internships with top companies such as Google, Microsoft and IBM during their studies.
How do I apply?
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Send your CV and academic transcripts by email to the Software Lab's application address listed on the official page.
Is there a fixed deadline?
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No. Positions are filled as soon as suitable candidates are identified, and applications are accepted year-round.
What achievements does the lab have?
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The lab has won ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Awards in 2023 and 2025 and publishes at top venues such as ICSE, FSE, ISSTA and OOPSLA.
Will I have mentorship?
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Yes. You will work with leading faculty and visiting professors from institutions such as Berkeley, CMU, UCLA and KAIST.
Where can I confirm the latest details?
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Check the official Software Lab website for current openings, the application email, salary band and research projects before applying.