DAAD-LSM PhD Scholarships 2026 in Plant Science at LMU Munich

If you are a motivated international student seeking top-tier doctoral funding in plant science or related life sciences, the 2026 DAAD-LSM PhD Scholarships at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) could be your gateway. Applications are now open for two fully funded positions, offering you not only financial support but immersion in one of Europe's leading research environments in Munich, Germany. Here's everything you need to know.

🎓 Scholarship Summary

• Location: Munich, Germany

• Host Institution: Graduate School Life Science Munich (LSM) at LMU Munich

• Study Level: PhD / Doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.)

• Target Group: International (non-German) applicants

• Fields of Study: Plant Sciences, Ecology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Evolutionary Biology, Pharmacology, and related life sciences

• Number of Scholarships: 2 (DAAD-LSM)

• Value & Coverage: Monthly stipend ~ €1,350 plus allowances for travel, research, health insurance, and possibly family support

• Award Duration: Up to 3–4 years; DAAD GSSP supports up to four years of funding

• Application Deadline: 24 October 2025, 12:00 noon CET

• Start Date / Earliest: July 2026 (after German language course if applicable)

• Eligible To: International students (non-German), with Master’s or diploma degree, who have not lived in Germany more than 15 months by nomination time

🧭 Scholarship Overview

The DAAD-LSM PhD programme is embedded within the LSM graduate school at LMU Munich and is fully taught in English.

Selected students will be integrated into a structured doctoral programme involving:

• A combination of research work under supervision and complementary training (seminars, retreats, methods courses, workshops in transferable skills)

• Participation in international conferences and scientific networking

• Close mentoring by research groups in biology, chemistry, pharmacy, and life sciences

• On completion, award of Dr. rer. nat. degree from LMU, with transcript, diploma supplement, ECTS equivalents (~180 ECTS) in English

The DAAD GSSP (Graduate School Scholarship Programme) supports doctoral candidates for up to four years of funding.

Open doctoral projects within the DAAD-LSM call span many life science domains. In plant science specifically, possible themes include:

• Sub-functionalization of biosynthetic gene clusters in Solanaceae (genetics, plant metabolism)

• Regulation of defensive diterpenoid biosynthesis in rice (gene regulation, chromatin, plant metabolism)

• Plant–microbe interactions, root symbioses, defense against pests, transcriptional networks in legumes, among others

💡 You may select up to two projects during the application process.

🎁 Benefits

The scholarship offers a comprehensive support package, including:

• Monthly stipend (~ €1,350) to cover living expenses in Munich

• Travel allowance for conference and research travel

• Research allowance (for materials, experiments)

• Health insurance subsidy / coverage

• Family / rent allowance, when applicable

• Structured doctoral training (methods courses, transferable skills, mentoring, retreats)

• Access to LMU’s labs, seminars, and academic network

• No application fee and no postal submissions (online application only)

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the DAAD-LSM PhD scholarship, applicants must satisfy:

1. International status (non-German). German nationals are not eligible.

2. Residence limitation: Applicants must not have lived in Germany for more than 15 months by the time of nomination to DAAD.

3. Academic degrees: Hold a Master’s (or Diploma) degree in a relevant field (biology, plant sciences, life sciences).

4. Recency of degree: Final examination must have taken place within the last six years.

5. Application via online portal only (no email / postal submissions).

6. Recommendation letters: Two academic references required.

7. Completeness & timeliness: Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applicants still completing their Master’s degree may apply with interim transcripts, but the degree must be completed by the time of enrolment.

📝 Application Procedure

Procedure

1. Register on the LSM online application portal (from 1 September 2025).

2. Log in, select “External candidate” for DAAD-LSM, fill in application fields, and upload documents.

3. Provide referee details so the system can request recommendation letters.

4. Submit application before 24 October 2025, 12:00 CET.

5. Referees submit letters by 2 November 2025, 12:00 CET.

6. Interview stage with LSM (mid-December 2025).

7. Nomination to DAAD and full submission (February 2026).

8. Final DAAD selection (March–June 2026).

9. Start of scholarship, including language course (July 2026).

🗂️ Required Documents

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• Bachelor’s and Master’s transcripts and degree certificates (with translations if necessary)

• Interim transcripts if Master’s not yet completed

• Two recommendation letters (submitted by referees)

• Explanation / translation of grading system (if needed)

• Certified copies required later if nominated to DAAD

ℹ️ Additional Tips & Useful Information

• Review available doctoral projects in advance — you must select up to two in your application.

• Contact potential supervisors early for alignment.

• Notify your referees well in advance so they submit on time.

• The selection process is highly competitive; only two DAAD-LSM awards are given.

• Even if not awarded DAAD funding, you may still enter the LSM doctoral programme via other funding routes.

• No fees are charged at any stage of the process.

🔗 Details & Apply

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