Are you conducting research in legal history or legal theory? The Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory offers an exceptional opportunity for early-career and senior researchers to further their work through scholarships and residencies in Frankfurt.

The Institute invites PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and senior scholars from around the globe to participate in a research stay of 3 to 6 months. Visitors are expected to pursue independent projects that align with the department’s research agendas, either in the Multidisciplinary Theory of Law (led by Marietta Auer) or European and Comparative Legal History (led by Stefan Vogenauer).

Successful applicants will not only receive generous stipends but will also benefit from the Institute’s vibrant intellectual environment, rich archival resources, and a range of ongoing academic events. Please note that the Department of Historical Regimes of Normativity will not offer scholarships in 2025.

Key Details and Dates

• Application Deadline: 6 months before the stay
• Funding Type: Fully funded scholarship (monthly stipend)
• Organizer: Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory
• Eligible Countries: All countries
• Eligible Gender: Male/Female
• Target Group: PhD students, Postdoctoral researchers, Senior researchers
• Field: Legal History, Legal Theory
• Study Level: PhD, Post-doc, Senior Research
• Duration: 3 or 6 months
• Program Language: English
• Host Country: Germany

Scholarship Benefits

The scholarship provides the following items:

• Monthly stipend of:
  • €1,365 for PhD students
  • €2,500 for post-doc researchers
  • €3,000 for senior researchers
• Access to the library and research resources
• Participation in academic events and discussions
• Research stay in Frankfurt, Germany
• Opportunity to collaborate with global experts

Note: Other income sources will be considered when calculating the final stipend amount.

Eligibility Criteria

All applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Applicants must be from outside of Germany and affiliated with institutions outside Germany
• The application is open to PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, or senior scholars
• Research must align with one of the two departments:
  • Multidisciplinary Theory of Law
  • European and Comparative Legal History
• Department of Historical Regimes of Normativity is not accepting applications for 2025

Required Documents

Below is the list of application required documents:

• Research proposal (max 10,000 characters)
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• List of publications
• Three relevant publications from the last 5 years (PDF format)
• Names and contact information of two referees

How to Apply?

• Prepare your application materials in English.
• Submit the complete application at least six months before your desired start date.
• Apply through the official Visitors’ Programme page using the link below.

Apply Now

For more information, please visit the official website. For queries, contact: [email protected]

Check More Opportunities:

Max Planck Institute Doucet Scholarship 2026 in Germany

University of Gloucestershire International Scholarships 2025/26

Portugal Higher Education Scholarship 2025