Fully Funded MSc & PhD Opportunities in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Related Life Sciences Multiple (ISTA, ETH Zurich, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, University of Göttingen, Erasmus Mundus) in Austria

Explore a curated list of fully funded MSc and PhD opportunities in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Veterinary, and Medical Laboratory Sciences across top European institutions. These programs offer a range of research areas in life sciences, including microbiome, biofilms, and interdisciplinary biological research. Opportunities are available at ISTA (Austria), ETH Zurich (Switzerland), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Germany), University of Göttingen (Germany), and through Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programs (Europe-wide).

PhD Programs:

• ISTA PhD Program (Austria): Fully funded, with salary, social security, and research budget. Focus areas include biology, microbiology, molecular, and interdisciplinary research. Deadline: 8 January 2026.
• INPhINIT Doctoral Fellowships (Spain & Portugal): Fully funded, open to all nationalities, covering salary, tuition, and research costs. Life sciences and microbiology-related research are eligible. Deadlines: 28 January 2026 (Incoming Call), 18 February 2026 (Retaining Call).
• ETH Zurich PhD Positions (Switzerland): Paid doctoral researcher positions in microbiology, microbiome, biofilms, and molecular biology. Rolling deadlines (Jan–Feb 2026).

MSc Programs:

• Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Germany): MSc in Microbiology with no tuition fees. DAAD and external scholarships are possible.
• University of Göttingen (Germany): MSc in Molecular Life Sciences (Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry), English-taught and research-oriented. Admission is restricted and requires application to the faculty.
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s: Fully funded, covering full tuition, monthly stipend, and travel. Multiple microbiology and biotech-related programs are available.

Eligibility Highlights: MSc applicants generally need a bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field, with specific ECTS requirements in biology and supporting sciences. English proficiency at C1 level is required if English is not the first language. PhD applicants typically need a relevant master’s degree or equivalent. Each program may have additional requirements.

Funding: Most PhD positions are fully funded, including salary and research support. MSc programs may be tuition-free or offer scholarships. Erasmus Mundus provides comprehensive funding, including stipends and travel.

Application Window: Deadlines vary by program, with some having fixed dates in January and February 2026, and others offering rolling admissions. Check each program’s official page for details.

How to Apply: Visit the official program links, review eligibility, prepare required documents, and submit your application through the respective portals before the deadlines.