FELLOWSHIPS AT THE KÄTE HAMBURGER KOLLEG MÜNSTER “LEGAL UNITY AND PLURALISM”
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 for the academic year 2025/26, subject to the final approval by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for a second funding phase. In exceptional cases we may already award fellowships for the academic year 2026/27 (please give reasons).
The Käte Hamburger Kolleg “Legal Unity and Pluralism” examines phenomena of an unresolved simultaneity of legal unity and pluralism both from a historical perspective and from an international comparative perspective. Its main hypothesis is that legal pluralism should not be regarded as a deficiency or dysfunctionality or as historical baggage, but as a structural characteristic of law per se. The project opens up novel perspectives on the understanding of law and society in general and the (legal) ways of dealing with forms of societal diversity in particular. The goal of the Kolleg is to assess the interrelations of legal unity and pluralism afresh and to offer a new analytical approach to diverse phenomena of coexistence of these phenomena for discussion.
Scholars from the humanities and social sciences whose research clearly relates both to the general aims of the Käte Hamburger Kolleg and to at least one of its annual themes and/or research perspectives are invited to apply. The focus of the Kolleg is on the disciplines of history, law, legal history, and legal anthropology. Applications from other disciplines such as sociology, Islamic studies, Jewish studies and political science are also welcome. To find out more about the aims of the Kolleg, its annual themes and its research perspectives, please visit the 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 central purpose of the fellowship is to provide you with free time to focus on your research topic. Of course, a personal workplace will be provided.
DURATION AND CONDITIONS
Pending final approval by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany, fellowships 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, fellowships can only be awarded to emeriti in exceptional cases and with our funder’s prior approval. 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 commence either between 1 September and 1 October 2025/26 or between 1 March and 1 April 2025/26.
Fellowships are paid either as an individually calculated stipend, or, if you keep their current salary, as compensation for a teaching buy-out at your home institution. For organisational reasons, the latter is only possible for stays from March/April 2026 at the earliest. Both options – stipend and teaching buy-out – are capped by the regulations of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. In addition, we will reimburse one-off costs for travel (economy) to and from Münster. Accommodation cannot be provided. However, 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 focus of the Kolleg. The application must include:
- A fully completed cover sheet which can be downloaded here;
- A project proposal (ca. 1,000 words) that outlines your research project and makes clear its relation to the research programme of the Käte Hamburger Kolleg “Legal Unity and Pluralism” and at least one of the annual themes and/or its research perspectives. It should also demonstrate the project’s relevance and contribution to current academic debates and identify the intended aims of the fellowship;
- A work schedule (ca. 500 words) that should convey 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 22 December 2024. 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.