Applications are currently being accepted for the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS) PhD Program 2026 in Europe. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About ELLIS PhD Program
ELLIS PhD Program 2026 provides joint-supervised PhD positions in machine learning and related fields, pairing outstanding students with leading academic and industrial researchers across Europe. The ELLIS PhD Program supports networking and training activities, and candidates can apply to Academic, Industry or Interdisciplinary tracks.
Benefits of ELLIS PhD Program
- The program also offers a variety of networking and training activities, including summer schools and workshops.
- Each PhD student is co-supervised by one ELLIS Fellow/Scholar or Unit Member and one ELLIS Fellow/Scholar, Unit Member or Member based in different European countries.
- Joint supervision with a CIFAR fellow/Canadian AI Chair holder is also possible as part of our ELLIS/CIFAR partnership.
- Through the collaboration between ELLIS and MP-AIX, candidates can apply to both the MP-AIX and ELLIS PhD programmes.
ELLIS PhD Program Requirements
- Students conduct an exchange of at least 6 months with the secondary advisor during their degree.
- ELLIS PhDs are either jointly supervised by two ELLIS researchers or by combinations involving CIFAR fellows/Canadian AI Chair holders or MP-AIX researchers as specified.
- Recommendation letters: min. 2 referees (max. 3); at least two referees should be professionally established at the level of independent investigator, principal scientist, group leader, lecturer or above.
- References from PhD students or class mates are not accepted; a maximum of one reference may come from a postdoc.
- Applicants must provide unofficial transcripts of all university studies and translations into English where applicable.
Application Date and Process
- Interested candidates should apply online through the ELLIS application portal by 31 October 2026, 23:59 AoE. Applicants first need to register on the portal.
- After registering, applicants will receive their login details for the portal and can submit their application.
- The application consists of three parts: (1) Application form; (2) Documents to be uploaded as PDFs; (3) References requested via the portal.
- Required documents include a two-page motivational letter (with research statement), current CV, unofficial transcripts (with English translations), and optionally a thesis or published paper as a single PDF.
Application Deadline
31 October, 2026
Opportunity Application
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