This interdisciplinary graduate programme, launched in January 2022 at the Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin (MPZPM) in Erlangen, trains students at the intersection of physics and medical research. It brings together research and teaching from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (MPL), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), and the Universitätsklinikum Erlangen (UKER), offering a structured, research-focused curriculum delivered in English. The school aims to prepare a new generation of scientists comfortable working across both physics and biomedical contexts.
Students admitted to the IMPRS-PM enter one of several master's programmes at FAU while participating in the IMPRS training activities. Master’s students are enrolled either in the International Master’s Programme Integrated Life Sciences (ILS), the Master of Science in Physics (Faculty of Natural Sciences), the Master’s Programme Medical Engineering (Faculty of Engineering), or the Master’s Programme Molecular Medicine (Faculty of Medicine). The IMPRS also supports MSc stipend recipients and offers PhD positions for students progressing into doctoral research.
Instruction and daily interactions are conducted in English, so knowledge of German is not required; German classes are available through MPL, MPZPM and FAU for those who wish to learn. For programme details and application instructions, consult the IMPRS-PM information page and the MPL master fellowship application guide:
Admission requirements (concise)
The detailed curriculum for this interdisciplinary master’s pathway is published on the IMPRS program website; MSc course descriptions and individual module information are available on the FAU course pages. Those official pages contain the up-to-date module lists, credit (ECTS) arrangements, and the formal learning outcomes and assessment formats for each course.
When you consult the curriculum pages, look for sections that describe core and elective modules, research components (projects/thesis), seminars and journal clubs, and any compulsory training in transferable skills or research ethics. The program web pages are also where you will find precise learning outcomes for each module, the intended competencies on completion (e.g., research design, data analysis, interdisciplinary problem solving), and information on how coursework integrates with laboratory research supervision.
For international applicants it’s especially useful to review the FAU MSc course pages for timetables, language of instruction, credit conversion, and any programme-specific registration or administrative steps. If anything on the websites is unclear, contact the IMPRS programme office or the MSc coordinators listed on the FAU pages for authoritative, current answers.
Requirements / next steps
This master's program requires applicants to hold an undergraduate degree in a discipline that provides the scientific foundation for its interdisciplinary coursework and research. Specifically, the program is designed for students who completed a Bachelor's in one of the core fields that bridge physics and biomedical sciences.
If your background combines elements of these areas or comes from a closely related subject, you may wish to contact the admissions office for guidance on eligibility and preparation. International applicants should be prepared to document and, if necessary, clarify how their home-country qualification corresponds to the listed degree types.
Winter Semester (International)
15 January 2027
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
31 May 2026
Graduates are prepared for interdisciplinary research careers in academia (MSc-to-PhD progression is actively supported) and for roles in clinical research, medical technology development, and industry positions that require combined expertise in physics and life sciences. The programme’s close ties to research institutes and a university hospital also facilitate careers in translational research and collaborative projects between basic science and clinical applications.
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