DAAD-funded research & Master's pathway

Start your research journey in Germany.

The Lübeck Global Minds Masters (LüGloMMa) offers outstanding international Bachelor graduates a funded research fellowship followed by a student research assistant position during a Master's degree at the University of Lübeck.

Application deadline

31 August 2026

At a glance

3–6 months research fellowship

Pathway to a student research assistant position after successful evaluation.

Fellowship duration

3–6 months

Travel allowance

up to €1,500

Monthly allowance

€992 / month

Eligible MSc programs

8 English-taught

After MSc admission

Student research assistant allowance*

* The student research assistant position depends on a positive fellowship evaluation and successful admission to an eligible MSc program. It is not unconditionally guaranteed after the fellowship.

Is LüGloMMa for you?

A pathway for future researchers.

LüGloMMa is designed for high-potential international students who want to combine a research fellowship with an English-taught Master's degree in Lübeck.

  • You hold, or are about to complete, a relevant Bachelor's degree.
  • You meet the admission requirements of an eligible MSc programme.
  • You can demonstrate C1 English proficiency or qualify for an exemption.
  • You have a strong academic record and a clear interest in research.
  • You are willing to carry out your fellowship and research work in Lübeck.
Detailed eligibility criteria are subject to confirmation by the programme team.
View detailed eligibility requirements

Your path to LüGloMMa

Three steps from application to research career.

Two separate applications are required: the LüGloMMa fellowship application and the regular MSc application to the University of Lübeck.

01


Apply for a research fellowship

Choose a research project matching your background and submit your application before the deadline. Collect all documents to apply for your MSc.

02


Complete your fellowship in Lübeck

Work with a professor from the University of Lübeck for 3–6 months on your chosen research project. Meanwhile, apply for your MSc.

03


Continue into your Master's

After a successful evaluation of your fellowship performance and separate MSc admission, continue with a student research assistant position alongside your studies.

Available research projects

Choose your research project.

Apply to a project that matches your academic background and research interests. Each project is hosted by a professor and connected to an eligible MSc programme.

Infection Biology · Immunology

Next-Generation Vaccine Design

Professor

Prof. Dr. Thomas Krey

Institute

Institute for Experimental Medicine

Related MSc

Infection Biology

Contribute to computational and experimental approaches for designing more effective vaccines against major human pathogens.

Useful background: Life sciences, biochemistry or a related discipline with wet-lab or computational experience.

Explore this project

Medical Robotics · Surgical Systems

Lübeck Innovation Hub for Robotic Surgery

Professor

Prof. Dr. Philipp Rostalski

Institute

Institute of Medical Engineering

Related MSc

Biomedical Engineering

Develop novel robotic tools and control strategies for precise and personalised surgery in an interdisciplinary team.

Useful background: Engineering, computer science or medical engineering with programming experience.

Explore this project

Medical Robotics · Surgical Systems  Lübeck Innovation Hub for Robotic Surgery

AI in Medicine · Personalised Nutrition

Teaching AI to Predict How Your Body Responds to Food

Professor

Prof. Dr. Christian Sina

Institute

Institute of Nutritional Medicine

Related MSc

Nutritional Medicine

Apply machine learning to metabolic and nutritional data to enable personalised nutritional strategies.

Useful background: Data science, statistics, medicine or nutritional sciences with ML familiarity.

Explore this project

IT Security · Agentic Systems

Securing Agentic AI: Threat Modeling and Fragility Analysis

Professor

Prof. Dr. Thomas Eisenbarth

Institute

Institute of IT Security

Related MSc

IT Security

Investigate emerging threats to agentic AI systems and design methodologies for fragility analysis across layers.

Useful background: Computer science or IT security with strong analytical and systems skills.

Explore this project

Eligible Master's programmes

Continue with an English-taught Master's degree.

Choose a programme that connects your Bachelor's background, your LüGloMMa research project and your future academic goals.

Funding explained

Two phases, transparent support.

LüGloMMa offers financial support during your initial research fellowship. Upon successful evaluation and MSc admission, an allowance as student research assistant during your Master's.

Phase 1

Research Fellowship

Duration3–6 months
Monthly allowance€992 / month
Travel allowanceup to €1,500 (once)
Funded byDAAD

Phase 2

MSc & research assistant position

Durationup to 24 months
PositionStudent research assistant
Currently stated amount€600 / month
ConditionPositive fellowship evaluation + MSc admission
Please plan additional funds for living expenses, health insurance and visa requirements. The stated amounts offer some financial support but are unlikely to cover all living expenses. Once accepted, the LüGloMMa support team will provide information about other options to fund your stay.

Study and live in Lübeck

More than a funding programme.

LüGloMMa is an invitation to become part of an international campus community in Northern Germany.

Research at a specialised life-science university

The University of Lübeck focuses on medicine, life sciences, informatics and engineering.

Historic Lübeck — UNESCO World Heritage

Live in a mediaeval Hanseatic city with red-brick architecture and a lively international community.

Nature, waterways and the Baltic Sea

Beaches, forests and Hamburg — approximately 45 minutes away by train — are all easy weekend trips.

Support for international students

We support you every step of the way.

From planning your arrival to settling into life on campus, the LüGloMMa onboarding team and the International Office provide guidance for international students.

Application checklist

Prepare your LüGloMMa application.

Everything you need to submit — in one clear order.

Step 01

Select a research project and write your proposal

Step 02

Check MSc eligibility

Step 03

Prepare all required documents for both applications, the fellowship and the MSc

Step 04

Combine the documents to apply for the fellowship into one PDF

Step 05

Submit your fellowship application via the official application platform

Required documents

01Curriculum

A Curriculum in English documenting your education, research experience, publications, internships and relevant skills. Please include your full contact details. Maximum 2 pages.

02Certificates and transcript

Copies of your Bachelor's certificate (or an interim transcript if not yet completed), including a Transcript of Records with all grades and, if applicable, sworn translations into English or German.

03Research proposal

A concise proposal (typically 4–5 pages) describing what you plan to do during the fellowship connected to the research project you are interested in. Check the project page for expectations and specific requirements from each professor. Include a timeline of your planned activities.

04Motivation letter

A letter explaining why you are applying for LüGloMMa, why you have chosen this research project and MSc programme, and how the fellowship fits your academic and career goals. Maximum 2 pages.

05Recommendation letter

One letter of recommendation from an academic reference (e.g. a Bachelor thesis supervisor or lecturer) commenting on your research potential. Maximum 1 page.

06Voluntary information about special circumstances

You may voluntarily add information about special circumstances that were relevant for your academic path. This section is optional. The selection committee takes this information into account in order to ensure equal opportunities.

Ready to apply?

Combine all required documents into a single PDF and submit them via the official application platform before 31 August 2026.

Start your application

Applications are reviewed by the LüGloMMa selection committee and participating professors.

Timeline

Key dates at a glance.

Confirmed dates for the 2026 application round.

0131 August 2026Application deadline
02September 2026Selection period
03End of September 2026Applicant notification
04October 2026Visa and preparation. Processing times vary by citizenship — the LüGloMMa team will provide details upon acceptance.
05November 2026 – April 2028Earliest to latest possible fellowship start. Apply for your MSc with LüGloMMa support during the fellowship.
06From January 2027Earliest to latest possible fellowship evaluation
07April 2027 – October 2029Earliest to latest possible MSc programme start with student research assistant position

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Answers based on the current program information. For anything not covered here, please contact the LüGloMMa team.

Ask the LüGloMMa team Register for an online Info Session
01Who can apply?

International students who have (or are about to complete) a relevant Bachelor’s degree, who meet the entry requirements for an eligible MSc program, and who demonstrate C1-level English proficiency or qualify for an exemption.

02Can final-year Bachelor’s students apply?

Yes. Students in the final year of their Bachelor’s degree may apply. You will need to provide interim transcripts. Final admission is still conditional upon completing your Bachelor’s degree on time. Students enrolled at a German university at the time of application are not eligible.

03Can I apply to more than one research project?

Yes, but you will need to provide separate documents (research proposal, motivation letter) for each project. Applying to too many projects is not encouraged — focus on those that best match your profile and interests.

04Do I need to apply separately for the MSc program?

Yes. The LüGloMMa fellowship application and the standard MSc application are two separate processes, with different deadlines and requirements. The LüGloMMa team will support you during your fellowship to help you prepare and submit your MSc application.

05Is the student research assistant position guaranteed?

The student research assistant position is subject to a positive fellowship evaluation and successful admission to an eligible MSc program. The position is guaranteed for those who receive a positive evaluation of their fellowship and are admitted to an eligible MSc program.

06Is the funding sufficient to cover all living expenses?

You will very likely need additional funds to cover living costs, health insurance and visa requirements. The DAAD grant and the position as a student research assistant provide core support during the fellowship and whilst you are studying.

07Do I need to live in Lübeck?

Yes. The research fellowship and the associated Master’s program are based in Lübeck.

08What happens if I am not admitted to the MSc program?

If you are not admitted to an eligible MSc program, you will not be able to proceed to Phase 2 of LüGloMMa and will not be offered the position as a student research assistant. Please plan carefully with the program team.

09What happens if the evaluation of the fellowship is negative?

You are still eligible to study the MSc program you applied for; however, you will not be offered a position as a student research assistant.

10Where can I get help with visas and accommodation?

The International Office and the LüGloMMa onboarding team provide general guidance and specific individual services.

11Is the online MSc in Artificial Intelligence compatible with LüGloMMa?

Yes. Although you will be studying online like other students on the MSc in Artificial Intelligence, you are still expected to be in Lübeck in order to be awarded the position as a student research assistant.

12What counts as a ‘special circumstance’ and how is it assessed?

–Disability (with a degree of disability)

–Chronic illness or prolonged serious illness

–Childcare (care of children up to the age of 13)

–Care of relatives in need of care

–Extensive paid employment to finance Bachelor’s studies

–Refugee status

–Pregnancy and childbirth

–Compulsory military service


The information provided should be supported by relevant evidence, such as:

–Disability: severely disabled person’s pass or notification from the regional social welfare office

–Chronic illness: Medical certificate describing the effects and, ideally, specifying periods of absence

–Childcare/care: Children’s dates of birth, care times, level of care required by relatives


The UzL reserves the right to request relevant supporting documents if these have not already been submitted with the application.

The selection committee takes this into account to ensure equal opportunities (compensation for disadvantages) — it will never be used to your disadvantage.

13How does disadvantage equalisation (Nachteilsausgleich) work in the selection process?

The selection committee assesses applications in context. If you have disclosed special circumstances, these are weighed against your academic record so that structural or personal disadvantages do not reduce your chances. The committee treats this information confidentially. The University of Lübeck’s equal opportunities officer will monitor the application process for these candidates.

14What should I include in my CV?

In two pages, provide an overview of your academic and professional background. Some elements that can be included are, for example:


Education

– List your Bachelor’s degree, including the institution, field of study, and expected or conferred graduation date.

–Highlight any relevant coursework, specialisations or electives that demonstrate your academic focus.


Thesis or Capstone Project

– Include the title, a brief description of your work, your supervisor(s), and your final mark (if available).

–Highlight your role, methodology, and key findings—this is a great opportunity to showcase your ability to carry out independent, in-depth work.


Research Experience

–Provide details of any research-related activities: lab rotations, work placements, fieldwork, participation in a research group, or roles as a student research assistant.

–Describe what you actually did during these activities.


Publications, Posters and Presentations

–Include conference abstracts, poster presentations, oral presentations, or co-authored publications. For each, briefly describe your contribution.


Relevant Technical Skills

Be specific and concrete. Instead of ‘computer skills’, write, for example:

–Python (Pandas, NumPy) for data analysis and automation

–Western blotting and ELISA techniques in molecular biology laboratories

–R for statistical modelling and data visualisation

–GIS software (ArcGIS) for spatial analysis

–Confocal microscopy and image analysis using ImageJ


Awards and Recognition

List any scholarships, academic prizes, competitive fellowships or honours that demonstrate your academic excellence.

15I have no formal research experience. What should I highlight on my CV?

Even if your research experience is limited, we value curiosity, initiative and the ability to think and work scientifically. A strong dissertation, a detailed course project or self-directed exploration (e.g. learning a new programming language, conducting a literature review on a topic of interest) can all demonstrate your potential.

16My BSc degree certificate and academic transcript are not in English or German. Do I need to have them translated?

Yes. You must submit a certified translation of these documents into English or German.

17What certificates are accepted as proof of English language proficiency?

Certified English language proficiency at C1 level is required.

Accepted certificates and scores are:

– IELTS 7.5+

– TOEFL iBT 105+

– Cambridge C1 Advanced

18What qualifies for exemption from providing proof of English language proficiency via a certificate?

If your Bachelor’s degree was taught in English or if English is your first language, you do not need to submit an English language certificate.

19What should I write in my motivation letter?

Your two-page motivation letter should explain the professional and personal reasons behind your application and your proposed project.


Some points you might cover include:

– Professional development: why this project is important for your academic and career path; what it will enable you to do in the future.

– Personal reasons: what attracts you to this experience beyond your professional goals; what you expect to gain on a personal level.

–Why UzL: why the University of Lübeck is the right place to carry out this project; consider the university’s research profile, programs, resources or location.

20What should be included in the letter of recommendation?

The letter must be written by a tenured or assistant professor who has supervised or taught you directly. Generic letters of praise carry little weight — reviewers will look for specific evidence of your capabilities.


When requesting your letter, you can ask your referee to:

–Illustrate your research skills, proactivity and critical thinking with concrete examples — from coursework, a thesis, a laboratory session, a project or any setting where they observed you working.

–Explicitly endorse your ability to complete a demanding MSc program and to integrate into a new academic and social environment; this may draw on examples from group work, seminars, laboratory supervision or independent assignments.

Application deadline · 31 August 2026

Ready to begin your research journey in Lübeck?

Explore the available projects, check your eligibility and submit your LüGloMMa application.

Background & funding partners

About the LüGloMMa programme.

LüGloMMa is funded by the DAAD as part of the Academic Horizons initiative and supported by Federal Ministry of Research and Technology.