Fellowships fpr projects in legal history - Käte Hamburger Kolleg Münster "Legal Unity and Pluralism"

Sept. 4, 2025

For the academic year 2026/27, the Käte Hamburger Kolleg “Einheit und Vielfalt im Recht | Legal Unity and Pluralism” (EViR) at the University of Münster invites applications for fellowships of between 6 to 12 months.

Deadline for applications: 15 October 2025

 Scholars whose research projects are in the discipline of legal history and correspond to the research agenda of the Käte Hamburger Kolleg (in particular to at least one of its annual themes and/or research perspectives) are invited to apply. In exceptional cases we may already award fellowships for the academic year 2027/28 (please give reasons).

Projects in the fields of law and history are also welcome – the relevant calls for applications can be found on the Kolleg's website: https://www.uni-muenster.de/EViR/en/kolleg/ausschreibungen.html. We aim for hosting approximately 10 fellows at the Kolleg at any given time.

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 unusual perspectives on the understanding of law and society in general and the (legal) ways of dealing with forms of cultural diversity in particular.

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. 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.

DURATION AND CONDITIONSFellowships can be awarded for a period of at least 6 and up to a maximum of 12 months. 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 can begin either between 1 September 2026 and 1 October 2026 or between 1 March 2027 and 1 April 2027.

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. 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 is not 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.

APPLICATION MODALITIES
Applications are open to post-doctoral and senior researchers who possess exceptional expertise within the thematic scope of the Kolleg. A completed doctorate/PhD (at the time of taking up a fellowship) is mandatory. The 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 and 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. It should also demonstrate the project’s relevance and contribution to current academic debates and establish 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).

Please send all documents digitally in one PDF file to info.evir@uni-muenster.de by 15 October 2025. 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 info.evir@uni-muenster.de.