Call for Climate Futures Scholarships for Exceptional B.Sc. Graduates with Strong Research Determination
The Early Admittance Program (EAP) of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (MPI-M) in cooperation with the University of Hamburg (UHH) offers outstanding B.Sc. graduates a unique, fully funded pathway into climate research. The program provides competitive scholarships that cover the M.Sc. period at UHH (up to 18 months + 6 months extension). This allows fellows to focus entirely on their studies and research development. Beyond financial support, the EAP integrates students into the partners' scientific environments at an early stage, fosters close interaction with group leaders, and provides access to cutting-edge climate research and modeling.
At the conclusion of the M.Sc. phase, participants undergo a comprehensive evaluation based on clearly defined academic and research criteria: development of initial research direction, thesis proposal talk after 3rd semester, outstanding M.Sc. thesis.
Successful candidates may be offered direct admission to the International Max Planck Research School on Earth System Modeling as doctoral candidates, creating a transition into the doctoral research.
Target Group: The scholarships are aimed at outstanding B.Sc. graduates applying for a Master’s program with a strong determination to pursue research and to advance within the academic system by pursuing a PhD or doctoral degree.
We especially encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including students from the Global South, women, and first-generation university graduates. The scholarships aim to provide financial support for Master’s studies, including related academic and research activities. If you are a member of one or more of these groups, we encourage you to reflect your previous academic and professional experiences in the application documents on this background.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Admission to a participating M.Sc. program (Atmospheric Science, Ocean Climate Physics, Integrated Climate System Sciences)
- Excellent academic record in B.Sc. program, demonstrated by B.Sc. grades, a letter of motivation and one or two relevant reference letters
- Strong determination to pursue research and to advance within the academic system by pursuing a PhD, demonstrated in the letter of motivation.
Application Process: The application for the Early Admittance Scholarship is done together with the application for the M.Sc. program. However, to apply for the Early Admittance Program, additional documents need to be submitted in addition to the materials required for the Master’s program. Only applications that are successful for the respective M.Sc. program will subsequently be considered for the Early Admittance Program.
Application Documents:
- Letter of motivation outlining your interest in and motivation for the Early Admittance Program. Including your previous academic and professional experiences, your future goals, and, if applicable, your background as a member of an underrepresented group. Please address this in your letter of motivation (in total max. 2 pages).
- One or two recommendation letters by relevant academic mentors (e.g. supervisor, academic tutor) using the template (download here) to be sent to: eap@mpimet.mpg.de
Submission: Please submit your complete Early Admittance Program application along with your study application for the UHH M.Sc. program.
Note: The Early Admittance scholarship is designed to support BSc Graduates during their Master’s studies at University of Hamburg. It does not constitute an employment or service relationship. The funding complies with the Directive for the awarding of scholarships at Universität Hamburg (excluding UKE) and the funding guidelines of the Max Planck Society for scholarships in International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS).
Contact: eap@mpimet.mpg.de
Application Deadline: March 31st of each year
Type of Scholarship: Early Admittance Scholarship
Funding Amount: EUR 992 per month
Duration: 18 months (with various options for a 6-month extension)
Institutions: Max Planck Institute for Meteorology and University of Hamburg