NHR Graduate School PhD Scholarships 2026, Germany (Fully Funded)
The NHR Alliance offers fully funded PhD scholarships through the NHR Graduate School for talented doctoral students from around the world. This prestigious program allows international students to pursue a PhD in High-Performance Computing (HPC) and related research areas at leading universities in Germany.
Each year, the NHR Graduate School awards up to nine PhD scholarships to outstanding candidates with a strong academic background in computer science, mathematics, natural sciences, or engineering. The program provides financial support, world-class supervision, and access to cutting-edge research facilities in HPC, numerical simulations, and artificial intelligence.
The NHR Graduate School is a specialized doctoral training program in Germany that supports international and domestic students who want to pursue a PhD in High-Performance Computing (HPC) and related fields. It is operated by the National High-Performance Computing (NHR) Alliance, a network of nine leading German supercomputing centers and universities that collaborate on advanced computational research. The program offers three-year fully funded PhD scholarships, providing a monthly stipend, expert supervision, and access to state-of-the-art supercomputing infrastructure. Doctoral researchers work on topics such as numerical simulation, artificial intelligence, parallel computing, and scientific computing, while also participating in summer schools, workshops, and networking events. A distinctive feature of the program is a six-month research placement at another NHR center, allowing students to gain interdisciplinary experience and collaborate with researchers across Germany’s HPC network.
Degree Level
The NHR Graduate School Scholarship supports students pursuing:
PhD / Doctoral Degree
Available Subjects
The program focuses on research areas related to High-Performance Computing (HPC) and advanced computational technologies, including:
Computer Science
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Machine Learning (ML)
Numerical Simulation
Data Science
Mathematics
Engineering
Computational Sciences
Research projects are conducted at NHR Centers affiliated with leading German universities.
Benefits
The NHR Graduate School Scholarship provides generous financial and academic benefits:
Monthly stipend of €2,200
Funding for up to 36 months
Supervision by internationally recognized researchers
Opportunity to work on advanced HPC research projects
Six-month research stay at another NHR Center
Access to high-level training programs and workshops
Professional networking opportunities in the HPC community
Additional support such as career coaching, mentoring, and soft-skills training
Eligible Nationalities
Students from all countries worldwide are eligible to apply for the NHR Graduate School PhD Scholarship in Germany.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements to qualify for the NHR PhD Scholarship in Germany:
Hold a Master’s degree in one of the following fields:
Computer Science
Mathematics
Natural Sciences
Engineering
Or a closely related discipline
Meet the doctoral admission requirements of the supervising NHR Center’s university
Demonstrate strong academic performance and research potential
Provide proof of English language proficiency
The program promotes equal opportunities and encourages applicants from all genders and backgrounds.
English Language Requirements:
Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through one of the following:
TOEFL iBT: Minimum score 79
IELTS Academic: Minimum score 6.5
Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE): Minimum score 180
Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE)
Applicants who studied in English may submit a certificate confirming English as the medium of instruction.
Application Procedure
Follow these steps to apply for the NHR Graduate School PhD Scholarship:
Visit the official NHR online application portal.
Complete the online application form.
Upload all required documents.
Submit your application before the deadline.
Important: Applications submitted via email are not accepted.
Required Documents
Applicants must submit the following documents:
Completed online application form
Letter of motivation (1–2 pages)
Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages)
Research statement (1–2 pages describing dissertation topic)
Academic transcripts and degree certificates
Proof of English proficiency
Letter of recommendation from a university professor or faculty member
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application Timeline
Application Deadline: September 15
Funding Start: April 1 of the following year
Funding Duration: Up to three years
