- €2,200/month (~€26,400/yr)Monthly stipend
- Up to 9 positions/yearPlaces available
- Up to 36 monthsFunding duration
- 6-month secondmentAt another NHR center
- All nationalitiesOpen globally
- No application feeFree to apply
At a glance
full
Funding
€26k
Max amount
Sep 15, 2026
Deadline
Open to students of all nationalities
Country
NHR Graduate School (NHR Alliance)
Provider
The NHR (Nationales Hochleistungsrechnen) Graduate School is part of the NHR Alliance and offers up to 9 fully funded PhD positions each year at major German universities affiliated with NHR Centers. The programme is built for students specialising in high-performance computing (HPC) and its applications, including numerical simulation, machine learning and AI in HPC, computational fluid dynamics, parallel and distributed computing, and scientific modeling. Selected candidates receive a monthly stipend of 2,200 EUR for up to 36 months (about 26,400 EUR per year), enrolment at top-tier German universities with access to HPC infrastructure, a 6-month research secondment at another NHR center, and ongoing training, mentoring, and career coaching. For the most recent round the application deadline was 15 September, the programme start was 1 April 2026, and funding ended 31 March 2029; the equivalent 2026/2027 cycle keeps the same calendar structure, with funding ending after 36 months. Applicants must hold a Master's in computer science, mathematics, natural sciences, engineering, or a related field, meet the NHR center's doctoral admission rules, and prove English proficiency (TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.5). There are no application fees. Because the number of places, stipend, and dates are confirmed annually, verify the current 2026/2027 figures and deadline on the official NHR Graduate School page before applying.
What's covered
- Monthly stipend — A stipend of €2,200 per month for up to 36 months, totalling about €26,400 per year.
- University enrolment — Enrolment at a top-tier German university affiliated with an NHR Center, with access to state-of-the-art HPC infrastructure.
- Research secondment — A 6-month research secondment at another NHR center to broaden experience and collaboration.
- Training and mentoring — Ongoing training, mentoring, career coaching, and soft-skills development throughout the doctorate.
- Research networks — Access to national and international HPC research networks and supervision by senior experts, complementing the ~€26,400 (est.) annual stipend.
How to apply
Applicants compile their documents into a single PDF and submit by email to the NHR Graduate School, with the recommendation letter sent separately.
- Prepare your documents — Assemble the completed application form, a 1-2 page motivation letter, a CV of up to 2 pages, a 1-2 page research statement naming preferred NHR center(s), academic transcripts, and proof of English proficiency.
- Combine into one PDF — Merge documents 1-6 into a single PDF file no larger than 10 MB.
- Email your application — Send the PDF to scholarship@nhr-verein.de using the subject line 'Application NHR Graduate School'.
- Arrange the recommendation letter — Ensure your recommender emails their letter of recommendation separately to the same address; incomplete applications or missing letters are not considered.
Eligibility
DegreeA Master's degree (or equivalent) in computer science, mathematics, natural sciences, engineering, or a related discipline, completed before the programme starts.
AdmissionFulfilment of the doctoral admission criteria of the NHR center being applied to.
LanguageEnglish proficiency: TOEFL iBT at least 79, IELTS at least 6.5, or an equivalent qualification.
CommitmentA demonstrated commitment to research in HPC or computational science.
There are no application fees, and applicants may name their preferred NHR center(s) in the research statement. The Master's degree must be finished before the programme begins.
Eligible countries
Open to students of all nationalities
Deadlines
2026/2027 PhD cohort~15 September 2026 (est.)
Selection
Applications are assessed on academic background, the strength of the motivation letter and research statement, fit with the chosen NHR center and HPC research priorities, and English proficiency. Up to nine positions are awarded each year, and incomplete applications or those missing the recommendation letter are excluded from review.
Verified sources
- NHR Graduate School — Official Pagenhr-verein.deofficial
- NHR Alliance (Nationales Hochleistungsrechnen)nhr-verein.deofficial
About the provider
The NHR Graduate School is part of the NHR Alliance (Nationales Hochleistungsrechnen), a network of German national high-performance-computing centers at major universities that trains doctoral researchers in HPC and computational science.
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.
Is this scholarship open to all nationalities?
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Yes. International students from any country are eligible to apply.
What is the monthly stipend amount?
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Successful applicants receive a stipend of 2,200 EUR per month for up to 36 months, about 26,400 EUR per year.
Can I apply if I haven't completed my Master's yet?
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You may apply, but your Master's degree must be completed before the programme starts.
Can I choose which NHR center to study at?
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Yes. You can specify your preferred NHR center(s) in your research statement.
Are there any application fees?
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No. Applying to the NHR Graduate School is completely free of charge.
What happens if I submit after the deadline?
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Late applications are not accepted, so apply by the published deadline, which fell on 15 September in the recent cycle.
How many PhD positions are available?
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Up to nine fully funded positions are offered each year.
How long is the funding?
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Funding runs for up to 36 months from the programme start date.
What English scores are required?
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TOEFL iBT of at least 79, IELTS of at least 6.5, or an equivalent qualification.
How do I submit my application?
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Combine documents 1-6 into a single PDF (max 10 MB) and email it to scholarship@nhr-verein.de with the subject 'Application NHR Graduate School'.
What field is the programme focused on?
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High-performance computing (HPC) and its applications, including AI, computational fluid dynamics, and scientific modeling.
Does the recommendation letter go in the PDF?
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No. The recommender must email the letter separately to the same address.