Students & doctoral candidates
Journey into practical research – explorers wanted!
Put your knowledge into practice, acquire new skills and carry out your research project – as a student, DLR is the right place for you. And as a doctoral candidate as well.
Why? Here at DLR, you are not only immersed in our research work, but can also help shape it. You are a valued member of the team who contributes to the work of an institute or facility. And you gain valuable experience in the world of science, which can be the basis for your next career steps. At DLR, for example!
Our programmes for students and doctoral candidates
- Bachelor’s and master’s theses in all locations from Aachen to Zittau and in Almeria, Spain
- Internship in the ‘Flying Lecture Theatre’
- DLR_Summer_School on space propulsion
- Sounding rocket experiments in the REXUS/BEXUS programme
- DLR Design Challenge for Aeronautics
- Participation in parabolic flights – microgravity experiments
- DLR_Graduate_Program
- and lots of exciting projects in our institutes and facilities
Depending on the project and activity, we have unique technological infrastructure at your disposal – from high-performance hardware and software, laboratories and simulators to research vehicles and rocket test stands.
Home office and remote working?
Yes! Depending on the job, up to 80 percent is possible.
International students?
Of course! As an open and internationally orientated research institution, our job advertisem*nts are available to all applicants. Simply check the required and desired qualifications and apply.
VIDEO: Living science – DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation
"We really want to fly this!"
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large-scale research facilities are available for research at DLR. And the largest civilian research fleet in Europe.
You might develop manufacturing processes for shipbuilding, design a test stand for space solar sails or develop new methods for lunar landing site evaluation. We need you for all sorts of exciting projects. You will take responsibility for specific sub-areas right from the start and receive feedback on your technical performance.
How would you like to start?
Internship
Student research project and final thesis
Student employment
Doctorate
Do you enjoy working independently in interdisciplinary teams and are you enthusiastic about highly innovative technologies? Then you should apply now. We look forward to hearing from you!
Internship
An internship at DLR is not just an internship – it is your introduction to research!
Good to know
An internship with us is often the gateway to a thesis.
Here are your tasks:
- Use your knowledge to carry out one of our many projects.
- Expand your skills.
- Gain experience and contacts for your scientific or professional career.
Your first step – apply for one of our open internships or send a speculative application to the institutes and organisations of your choice.
Applying for an internship proactively?
It is better to apply sooner, rather than later. There are only a limited number of internships available at each institute. You should definitely plan one semester in advance.
Key information
- To do an internship at DLR, you must be enrolled at a university.
- Depending on the project, we are flexible regarding the duration of a mandatory internship – from four weeks to six months, as specified in your study requirements.
- As a rule, you will work 39 hours per week.
- Remuneration is specified in the job advertisem*nt or by agreement.
- A voluntary internship is also possible as an orientation for future studies.
- Some institutes and facilities offer a compulsory pre-study internship for admission to university – you would need to enquire about this directly with them: Overview of DLR with institutes, facilities and departments.
- You can send a speculative application for an internship. You should indicate your preferred start date and duration.
- Unfortunately, internships abroad are not possible with us.
Internship in the ‘Flying Lecture Theatre’
Interested in a test flight experience? You can get it during a flying internship in our ‘Flying Lecture Theatre’. Using a single-engine Cessna 208B equipped with sophisticated measurement instruments, we collect meteorological data and carry out tests to determine flight performance and assess flight characteristics and flight control procedures.
Six aerospace engineering or meteorology students at a time can not only experience the flight tests in the aircraft, but also follow the manoeuvres and measurement data live in detail on their own monitor with virtual flight deck instruments. Our Flight Facility in Oberpfaffenhofen organises these internships – which are unique in Germany – on behalf of universities.
Further information can be found in the ‘Flying lecture theatre’ flyer (in German).
Student research project and final thesis
Johann joined the Institute of Future Fuels as a working student but extended his contract to write his master’s thesis at DLR. For his thesis, he is working on the development of a novel reactor concept with particles for the thermochemical production of green hydrogen using solar radiation. “There are still some unanswered questions, but I hope that this technology will be used in a few years or a decade, especially in sunny regions,” says the technical management student.
Johann finds the collaboration with DLR researchers particularly fascinating, but he also thinks the different people, the institutes and the DLR facilities are great. What does he take away from DLR? “Definitely a lot of knowledge and the realisation that researchers are just normal people.”
DLR's most wanted:
highly qualified students of engineering, computer science and . Unleash your full potential at DLR with extraordinary solutions!
Does that sound interesting? We provide you with extensive support for your student research project, diploma, bachelor’s or master’s thesis at DLR. We will appoint a supervisor who will do more than just guide and support you. You will use our unique infrastructure, benefit from the exchange within our interdisciplinary teams and gain an insight into one of Europe’s leading research organisations.
Exciting projects and international networking – these alone are good reasons to do research at DLR for your student project or thesis. With us, you can do real pioneering work in aeronautics, spaceflight, energy, transport, security and digitalisation.
Good to know
An internship with us is often the gateway to a thesis.
We look forward to receiving your application. We advertise topics for student research projects and dissertations on our careers portal. Or you can suggest a topic that fits in with our research areas and send us a speculative application. The best way to find out more about the research areas and projects of our institutes and facilities is to visit their websites.
Key information
- The duration of a student research project or thesis is usually six months. This is stated in the job advertisem*nt.
- The remuneration – if applicable – is also stated in the job advertisem*nt.
- You can also submit a speculative application for a student research project or thesis. You should indicate the desired start date and duration.
Student employment
Work and study go hand in hand. Would you like to work in a research organisation and expand your practical skills at the same time? Research key contemporary issues alongside the best minds in engineering and the sciences – while you are still at university!
Just like Daniel Schenk at the Institute for Software Technology. He is studying for a master’s degree in computational science and engineering and is developing software at DLR to support the use of servicing robots in Earth orbit. Daniel has to familiarise himself with many tools and is gaining valuable practical experience in the process. The fact that he is constantly familiarising himself with new technologies from this area of application is a daily inspiration for him: “I look forward to knowing more after work than before.”
Interested? Your first step is to apply for our open student positions or send a speculative application to the institutes and organisations of your choice.
What can you look forward to at DLR?
- Interdisciplinary teams
- State-of-the-art hardware and software
- First-class technical equipment
- Taking on responsibility early on
- Working together on solutions that will shape the future
- Remuneration according to German TVöD
- Personalised weekly hours
Doctorate
You are about to graduate or have just finished your studies – wow, that is a huge step! And now you want to find a suitable doctoral position and do some pioneering work.
That is great, because DLR has an irresistible offer for you.
> 950
doctoral theses we supervise every year
In addition to numerous exciting topics that make researchers’ hearts beat faster, as well as an appreciative and challenging environment, you will also find the necessary freedom to realise your ideas and scientific projects. At the same time, we provide you with a unique technological infrastructure – powerful hardware/software and modern laboratories and development environments as well as simulators, wind tunnels and rocket test stands.
Kristina Blume, for example, carried out research for her doctorate at the Institute of Solar Research. Her research topic was the influence of wind on the mirrors of solar tower power plants. The wind can cause unwanted movements of the heliostats or even damage them. Kristina now has her doctorate and, as a research assistant, conducts various wind load measurements on DLR’s own solar tower and on a test platform. “It is really exciting to work on such a large research facility as the solar tower,” she enthuses. At the same time, she enjoys discussing problems and finding solutions with her team. Just like she did while preparing her doctoral thesis at DLR.
In addition to your academic supervision, we will also appoint a researcher to assist you. It is not just our colleagues who share their knowledge and experience with you. You will also be in constant dialogue and contact with other doctoral students via our doctoral candidate network.
Key information
- Doctoral positions are usually limited to three years, with the option of extension.
- During the doctoral programme, you will be employed by DLR – usually with a half-time position. However, exceptions are possible.
- Our funding programme for doctoral candidates – the DLR_Graduate_Program – is designed for three years.
- You can also submit a speculative application for a doctoral position.
- DLR is not authorised to award doctorates. In Germany, only universities and similar higher education institutions have this right. But you can carry out the scientific research work for your doctorate at DLR – in a motivating and supportive environment.
A postdoc?
Find out more at:
To help you complete your doctorate efficiently and successfully, you can take advantage of our diverse further training programme and participate in the DLR_Graduate_Program – a qualification programme that accompanies your doctorate. We support you in recognising your strengths and talents, developing them in a targeted manner and laying the foundations for your scientific career.
And then? After your doctorate, you could lead junior research groups in our institutes or work abroad for a while. We also offer mentoring programmes and talent development.
The DLR_Graduate_Program
With our interdisciplinary doctoral programme, you can develop yourself personally and expand your soft skills and expertise. The flexible and modular structure optimally complements your doctorate.
Our offer – make the most of your doctorate!
We teach you key interdisciplinary skills and practical expertise in five basic courses:
- Introductory event
- Project management
- Communication
- Peer-reviewed publishing
- Presenting at scientific conferences
In addition, you have the opportunity to choose your own specialisations from four fields:
- Working techniques and methodological skills
- Project management
- Languages and cultural expertise
- Communication and social skills
Attending the courses gives you the opportunity to engage in professional and interdisciplinary exchange and to network with other participants in the programme. In addition, qualification programmes offered by the various institutes provide professional support and interaction.
