The EMBL International PhD Programme, run by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory since 1983, trains doctoral students in interdisciplinary life-science research. Students join an EMBL research group at one of six sites: Barcelona, Grenoble, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Hinxton or Rome.
The degree is awarded by a university the student registers with, or jointly by EMBL and a partner university. EMBL recruits twice a year; the next round opens towards the end of January.
Benefits & funding
- Fellowship initially awarded for 3.5 years, with a possible six-month extension; PhDs at EMBL average about four years.
- Stipend described as competitive by international standards, with benefits including health care and pension.
- Required training: a nine-week molecular biology core course (year 1), a one-week bioinformatics module (year 2) and a career-development module (year 3).
- No fees at any stage of recruitment.
Eligibility
- Open to all nationalities; equally qualified applicants from EMBL member states generally get priority.
- A university degree, held or expected before the October start, that formally qualifies you to enter a PhD in the country that awarded it.
- English proficiency, written and spoken; no GRE, IELTS or TOEFL scores required.
- No strict age limit.
- Anyone associated with EMBL in the 12 months before the deadline is reviewed separately by the Graduate Committee.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“Applicants must hold, or anticipate receiving before starting at EMBL, a university degree that would formally qualify them to enter a PhD or equivalent programme in the country where the degree was obtained.” Eligibility
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Submit the online application form by the round’s deadline (12 October 2026, 23:59 CET in the last round).
- 2Arrange at least two academic references, submitted online by the reference deadline two days later.
- 3During the written evaluation, some applicants get an informal online screening interview (not being contacted does not rule you out); shortlisted applicants then have a 30-minute virtual panel interview with EMBL group leaders.
- 4Up to two candidates per open position attend an in-person interview week at the relevant EMBL site(s).
Program timeline
12 October 2026
Application deadline, 2027 Winter round (closed)
Online screening interviews
27 October–13 November 2026
Virtual panel assessment
1 December 2026
In-person interviews
25 January–4 February 2027
Programme start (flexible)
By October 2027