Join our Direct Track Program!

Obtain a Master's and PhD in five years

Excellent Research Opportunities!

Built up and benefit from an outstanding network and work in cutting-edge research facilities

Start into your research career!

Learn from world-renowned scientists
All courses taught in english
Generous financial support

The Max Planck School Matter to Life (MPS MtL)

"The Matter to Life program is the perfect choice for me where I could understand what life is from the perspective of Biology, Chemistry and Physics during the Master’s phase and then continue in my area of interest in the PhD phase."

Nitin Bohra, MtL Master Student

Master to PhD Direct Track

The MPS MtL program is structured in two phases. You will enter the program with a Bachelor's degree and begin your two-year master study at one of two teaching universities depending on your specialization. In the subsequent PhD phase, you will conduct your research at any of the almost 60 MPS MtL Faculty labs.

Graphic: Checklist above which a hand with a magnifying glass can be seen

Application

Current Bachelor's students with backgrounds in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Materials Science, Molecular Systems Engineering, Physics, Molecular Cell Biology, Bioengineering, or a related subject are encouraged to apply to the Max Planck School Matter to Life.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

We offer a 10 week research internships for undergraduate students!
When?
Yearly, during the months of June – November in a laboratory of one of our MtL Faculty members.

MtL Lecture Series with Marcus Müller on 25 June, 2025 at 3 pm

Marcus Müller
University of Göttingen

MtL Lecture Series with Andrea Musacchio on 16 July, 2025 at 3 pm

Andrea Musacchio
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund & University of Duisburg-Essen

Future-oriented Continuation of the Max Planck School Matter to Life

March 14, 2025

Starting in 2025, the Dieter Schwarz Foundation will support the Max Planck Schools – A Joint Graduate Program of German Universities and Research Organizations as a national program under joint leadership of the Max Planck Society and the German Rectors' Conference (HRK). This funding will ensure the continuation of the Max Planck School Matter to Life as well as the other two Max Planck Schools and their future-oriented development into an innovative career program for international talents.
Read the full article on the Max Planck Schools website.

Dreaming big in the city that never sleeps

A shared curiosity into the principles governing and underlying the transition from matter to life brought scientists and PhD candidates together at the joint Matter to Life conference between MPS MtL and the Sloan Foundation in New York.