Information for graduates
Contracts for doctoral students at the MPIeR
Each year the MPIeR is able to award a small number of one- to three-year contracts for graduates from Germany who are studying for doctorates in legal history. Please address you application with an exposé of your planned dissertation to the Head of Administration, Ms. Carola Schurzmann.
Contact for further information:
Carola Schurzmann
Head of Administration at the MPI for European Legal History
Fon: +49 (69) 78978 - 103
Fax: +49 (69) 78978 - 211
International Max-Planck-Research School
As an alternative to a contract with the MPIeR, doctoral students from Germany and abroad may apply for a grant from the International Max Planck Research School for Comparative Legal History founded in 2002. The IMPRS is supported by the MPIeR and the Institute of Legal History at the University of Frankfurt am Main, and is structured as a research school. For more information or to make an application please contact the Coordinator of graduate programs, Dr. Isabell Ludewig.
Contact for further information
Dr. Isabell Ludewig, Coordinator graduate programs
Fon: +49 (69) 78978 - 137
Fax: +49 (69) 78978 - 169
Scholarships for scientists from abroad
The MPIeR promotes excellent legal history research projects with its scholarship programme. In exceptional cases, projects from related fields may be considered as long as these projects can be expected to contribute to progress with regard to legal history research questions.
The aim is that the supported projects are well integrated into the institute’s research programme and its subject focus. Excellent projects which meet this objective are given priority in the selection process. In addition, specific subject areas are regularly highlighted as particularly eligible for funding. Joint applications from research groups of 2-4 individuals who would like to work together on a joint research project during a stay of up to three months at the institute are also welcome. In exceptional cases, projects can be supported which address a subject in an outstanding way that is not part of the institute’s research programme but for which a stay at the institute is specifically required.
Applications on the following subject areas will be given priority for 2014
- Historical forms of multinormativity, especially research on the relation between secular law, canon law and moral theology
- Historical research on juridical practices and discourses of conflict management in cultural diverse societies
- Historical research on processes of translation and localization of juridical knowledge
- Legal history of Latin-America in Early Modern times as contribution to a legal history in global perspective
Scholarship holders are expected to actively contribute to the ongoing work of the institute during their stay. Specifically, this means:
- Participating in the institute’s academic events
For a stay of more than 2 month we additonally expect:
- The presentation of your research project
- To offer a working paper for publication to the management of the MPIeR
A scholarship application form is available
here for scientists from abroad who would like to apply. Please complete the form and send it by post or fax it together with the other required documents to our assistant to the Head of Administration, Ms. Rita Semler.
The following documents should be included as an appendix:
- 2-4 page research proposal. This should present the current status of the project and further planning. Particular reference should be made to the connection between the subject and the relevant research projects at the institute.
- Nomination of two referees who are available to assess the project for MPI (do not provide the evaluation yourself)
- CV
- Complete list of publications; you are also asked to name three important publications from the last five years.
Applications must be made by 31.03. of the year preceding the year in which the scholarship is to take place, i.e. the deadline for scholarships in 2015 is 31.03.2014.
Contact for further information:
Rita Semler, Administration
Fon: +49 (69) 78978 - 101
Fax: +49 (69) 78978 - 211
Scholarship application for foreign scholars. Please complete the form and send it by mail or fax to our administration.



IMPRS Homepage