Fellowships for Projects in Law
The Käte Hamburger Kolleg “Einheit und Vielfalt im Recht | Legal Unity and Pluralism” (EViR) at the University of Münster invites applications for fellowships of six to ten months in duration.
Possible start dates for six- to ten-month fellowships are:
(1) between 1 September 2027 and 1 October 2027,
(2) between 1 March 2028 and 1 April 2028
and, additionally for six-month fellowships,
(3) between 1 September 2028 and 1 October 2028.
We invite applications from legal scholars who possess specific expertise in the research area of the Käte Hamburger Kolleg and wish to work on research projects that align with the Käte Hamburger Kolleg’s research agenda (in particular with at least one of its annual themes and/or research perspectives). We especially encourage postdoctoral researchers to apply. Please note that a completed doctorate / PhD (defended by the application deadline) is mandatory.
Projects from history scholars are also welcome – the relevant call for application can also be found on this page.
The Käte Hamburger Kolleg “Legal Unity and Pluralism” examines phenomena of an unresolved simultaneity of legal unity and pluralism both from a historical-comparative and from an international-comparative perspective. Its main hypothesis is that legal pluralism should not be regarded as a deficiency or dysfunctionality typical only of earlier historical periods or of non-European societies; rather, it is a feature of law per se, across time and regions. In view of the seemingly universal tendency to standardise and unify law, this dynamic tension between unity and pluralism requires new scholarly assessment. The Kolleg therefore opens up novel perspectives on the understanding of law and society in general and the (legal) ways of dealing with forms of cultural diversity in particular. Three research perspectives structure the Kolleg’s work: phenomena of plural legal orders, judicial practice, and social diversity and legal pluralism.
To find out more about the research agenda of the Kolleg, its annual themes and research perspectives, please visit our website at www.evir-muenster.de.
YOUR TIME AT THE KOLLEG
In Münster, we offer you an inspiring research atmosphere with a special focus on interdisciplinary and international exchange. The goal is to have eight to ten fellows from different disciplines at the Kolleg in person concurrently. Both German and English are the working languages at the Kolleg.
During your fellowship, you will actively participate in the events of the Kolleg and have the opportunity to present your research project and discuss it with the other fellows. There is also the possibility to contribute to the events programme of the Kolleg, for example by organising an (international) workshop. Furthermore, fellows are invited to contribute to publication formats of the Kolleg such as the ‘Münster Glossary on Legal Unity and Pluralism’ and the ‘Münster Source Reader on Legal Unity and Pluralism’, both of which are published open access. However, the primary purpose of the fellowship is to provide you with ample time to focus on your research topic. Of course, a personal workplace will be provided.
CONDITIONS
During your fellowship, you have to be released from your teaching and administrative duties at your home institution and concentrate on working on your research topic. In accordance with the requirements of our funder, emeriti are eligible for fellowships only in exceptional cases and with our funder’s prior approval. For the duration of the fellowship, residence in Münster is required. Please note that during the fellowship it is therefore not possible, for example, to conduct extensive archival research at other locations.
Fellowships are paid either as an individually calculated stipend, or, if you keep your current salary, in the form of a teaching buy-out arrangement with your home institution. Please note that both options – stipend and teaching buy-out – are capped by the regulations of the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. In addition, we will reimburse one-off costs for travel (economy) to and from Münster. While accommodation cannot be provided, the Kolleg is happy to support fellows in their search.
Please note that, irrespective of this call, you are welcome to approach us at any time with a proposal for self-financed stays at the Kolleg – independent of or following a fellowship. You can find more information on this page.
APPLICATION MATERIALS
Your application must include:
- A fully completed cover sheet which can be downloaded here: https://uni.ms/c3kjd;
- A project proposal (ca. 1,000 words) that outlines your research project, its relation to the research agenda of the Käte Hamburger Kolleg ‘Legal Unity and Pluralism’ and to at least one of the annual themes and/or research perspectives of the Kolleg, that demonstrates the project’s relevance and contribution to current academic debates and establishes the intended aims of the fellowship;
- A work schedule (ca. 500 words) conveying a rough idea of how you intend to organise your time at the Kolleg;
- A curriculum vitae (no more than 5 pages), including your most important publications (up to 20).
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Please send all documents digitally in one PDF file to info.evir@uni-muenster.de by 17 January 2027. Fellows are selected in agreement with the Kolleg’s Academic Advisory Board.
CONTACT AND FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information on the Kolleg, please consult our website www.evir-muenster.de or contact andre.dechert@uni-muenster.de.
Fellowships for Projects in History
The Käte Hamburger Kolleg “Einheit und Vielfalt im Recht | Legal Unity and Pluralism” (EViR) at the University of Münster invites applications for fellowships of six to ten months in duration.
Possible start dates for six- to ten-month fellowships are:
(1) between 1 September 2027 and 1 October 2027,
(2) between 1 March 2028 and 1 April 2028
and, additionally for six-month fellowships,
(3) between 1 September 2028 and 1 October 2028.
We invite applications from history scholars who possess specific expertise in the research area of the Käte Hamburger Kolleg and wish to work on research projects that align with the Käte Hamburger Kolleg’s research agenda (in particular with at least one of its annual themes and/or research perspectives). We especially encourage postdoctoral researchers to apply. Please note that a completed doctorate / PhD (defended by the application deadline) is mandatory.
Projects from legal scholars are also welcome – the relevant call for application can also be found on this page.
The Käte Hamburger Kolleg “Legal Unity and Pluralism” examines phenomena of an unresolved simultaneity of legal unity and pluralism both from a historical-comparative and from an international-comparative perspective. Its main hypothesis is that legal pluralism should not be regarded as a deficiency or dysfunctionality typical only of earlier historical periods or of non-European societies; rather, it is a feature of law per se, across time and regions. In view of the seemingly universal tendency to standardise and unify law, this dynamic tension between unity and pluralism requires new scholarly assessment. The Kolleg therefore opens up novel perspectives on the understanding of law and society in general and the (legal) ways of dealing with forms of cultural diversity in particular. Three research perspectives structure the Kolleg’s work: phenomena of plural legal orders, judicial practice, and social diversity and legal pluralism.
To find out more about the research agenda of the Kolleg, its annual themes and research perspectives, please visit our website at www.evir-muenster.de.
YOUR TIME AT THE KOLLEG
In Münster, we offer you an inspiring research atmosphere with a special focus on interdisciplinary and international exchange. The goal is to have eight to ten fellows from different disciplines at the Kolleg in person concurrently. Both German and English are the working languages at the Kolleg.
During your fellowship, you will actively participate in the events of the Kolleg and have the opportunity to present your research project and discuss it with the other fellows. There is also the possibility to contribute to the events programme of the Kolleg, for example by organising an (international) workshop. Furthermore, fellows are invited to contribute to publication formats of the Kolleg such as the ‘Münster Glossary on Legal Unity and Pluralism’ and the ‘Münster Source Reader on Legal Unity and Pluralism’, both of which are published open access. However, the primary purpose of the fellowship is to provide you with ample time to focus on your research topic. Of course, a personal workplace will be provided.
CONDITIONS
During your fellowship, you have to be released from your teaching and administrative duties at your home institution and concentrate on working on your research topic. In accordance with the requirements of our funder, emeriti are eligible for fellowships only in exceptional cases and with our funder’s prior approval. For the duration of the fellowship, residence in Münster is required. Please note that during the fellowship it is therefore not possible, for example, to conduct extensive archival research at other locations.
Fellowships are paid either as an individually calculated stipend, or, if you keep your current salary, in the form of a teaching buy-out arrangement with your home institution. Please note that both options – stipend and teaching buy-out – are capped by the regulations of the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. In addition, we will reimburse one-off costs for travel (economy) to and from Münster. While accommodation cannot be provided, the Kolleg is happy to support fellows in their search.
Please note that, irrespective of this call, you are welcome to approach us at any time with a proposal for self-financed stays at the Kolleg – independent of or following a fellowship. You can find more information on this page.
APPLICATION MATERIALS
Your application must include:
- A fully completed cover sheet which can be downloaded here: https://uni.ms/c3kjd.
- A project proposal (ca. 1,000 words) that outlines your research project, its relation to the research agenda of the Käte Hamburger Kolleg ‘Legal Unity and Pluralism’ and to at least one of the annual themes and/or research perspectives of the Kolleg, that demonstrates the project’s relevance and contribution to current academic debates and establishes the intended aims of the fellowship;
- A work schedule (ca. 500 words) conveying a rough idea of how you intend to organise your time at the Kolleg;
- A curriculum vitae (no more than 5 pages), including your most important publications (up to 20).
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Please send all documents digitally in one PDF file to info.evir@uni-muenster.de by 17 January 2027. Fellows are selected in agreement with the Kolleg’s Academic Advisory Board.
CONTACT AND FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information on the Kolleg, please consult our website www.evir-muenster.de or contact andre.dechert@uni-muenster.de.
Visiting Researchers Programme
The Käte Hamburger Kolleg ‘Legal Unity and Pluralism’ (EViR) at the University of Münster welcomes self-funded visiting researchers. Residencies lasting between 1 and 6 months are possible.
We offer you:
- an inspiring research environment with a particular focus on interdisciplinary and international exchange (working languages are both German and English);
- the opportunity to participate in events organised by the Kolleg and the chance to discuss your research project with members of the Kolleg;
- a workspace within the Kolleg.
We invite applications from postdoctoral researchers with research projects aligned with the research agenda of the Käte Hamburger Kolleg (particularly relating to at least one annual theme and/or research perspective).
Your application must include:
- a project proposal (approximately 1,000 words) outlining your research project and demonstrating its relevance to the research programme of the Käte Hamburger Kolleg “Legal Unity and Pluralism”, as well as to at least one annual theme and/or research perspective of the Kolleg. It should also highlight the project’s relevance and contribution to current research debates and specify the planned objectives of the stay at the Kolleg;
- a curriculum vitae (maximum 5 pages), including up to 20 of your most important publications.
Please submit all documents digitally in one PDF file to info.evir@uni-muenster.de.
The Kolleg’s directors will review applications on a rolling basis. Please note that the Kolleg’s capacity is limited, so early application is recommended.
For further information about the Kolleg, please visit our website www.evir-muenster.de or feel free to contact the Managing Director of the Kolleg, Dr. Andre Dechert (andre.dechert@uni-muenster.de).
