Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | Funded by DAAD
The Integrative Research Institute Law & Society (LSI), in cooperation with the DFG Graduate School “Dynamics of International Law” (DynamInt), invites applications for two fully funded doctoral scholarships in the interdisciplinary field of Law & Society.
The scholarships are funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) under the Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP) and are open to excellent international students with a strong interest in interdisciplinary legal research.
Application deadline: 31 January 2026
Scholarship period: 2026–2030 (up to four years)
Preferred start date: 1 September 2026
Host institution: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany
The Doctoral Programme: Law & Society
The doctoral programme Law & Society, jointly offered by LSI and DynamInt, is dedicated to advancing innovative interdisciplinary legal research. It examines the role and function of law in addressing fundamental challenges facing democratic societies in a global context.
Key thematic areas include, but are not limited to:
- Climate change and sustainability
- The rise of populism
- Democratic resilience and the rule of law
- Legal pluralism and European integration
The programme is hosted at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, offering a vibrant international research environment in the heart of Berlin. DynamInt, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), contributes a strong focus on the balance between harmonisation and plurality in European law.
Courses within the programme are taught in English. While German language proficiency is not required at the time of application, doctoral candidates are expected to acquire a working knowledge of German during their studies. Fully funded German language courses are available as part of the scholarship.
Doctoral theses may be written in English or German.
Eligibility and Application Requirements
The doctoral programme welcomes applications from highly qualified graduates committed to excellence in interdisciplinary legal research.
Applicants must:
- Hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in law, social sciences, or a related field
- Propose a genuinely interdisciplinary doctoral project aligned with the Law & Society programme
- Demonstrate strong academic motivation and research potential
Key selection criteria include:
- Quality and originality of the research proposal
- Relevance to the thematic agenda of the Law & Society programme
- Clear interdisciplinary contribution to legal research
At the time of nomination to DAAD:
- The applicant’s final degree must have been completed no more than six years prior
- Applicants must not have resided in Germany for more than 15 months
International applicants without German citizenship are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Doctoral Scholarship
The DAAD doctoral scholarships are awarded for up to four years and provide comprehensive financial and academic support.
The scholarship includes:
- Monthly stipend of €1,400
- Travel allowance
- Health, accident, and personal liability insurance contributions
- Annual research allowance:
- €460 for applicants from DAC-listed ODA recipient countries
- €260 for applicants from other countries
Additional benefits may include:
- Monthly rent subsidy (approximately €50–€125)
- Family allowances for accompanying dependants
- Disability or chronic illness support (where applicable)
- Preparatory German language course (subject to availability)
- Annual supervision and material resources allowance of €1,000 (paid to the host institution)
Further details are available on the DAAD website.
Application Procedure
The selection process follows a two-step procedure.
Step 1: Nomination by the Doctoral Programme
Applicants must submit a complete application package to the Law & Society programme for internal review and nomination.
Required documents (submitted as one PDF in English or German):
- Letter of motivation (maximum 1,000 words)
- Curriculum Vitae
- Research proposal including abstract and work plan (maximum 5 pages)
- Two academic letters of recommendation (DAAD format)
- Academic certificates and transcripts
- Language certificates:
- English (mandatory)
- German (optional)
- Proof of practical experience (if applicable)
- List of publications (if applicable)
Submission details:
- File size: maximum 10 MB
- Subject line: Application DAAD grant Law & Society
- Email address: [email protected]
- Deadline: 31 January 2026
Step 2: DAAD Selection
Shortlisted candidates nominated by the programme will submit a formal application via the DAAD online portal. The final selection decision is made by the DAAD selection committee.
Contact Information
For further information, applicants may contact:
Eva Herzog
Integrative Research Institute Law & Society
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Email: [email protected]
VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY