Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology Dissertation Writing-Up Fellowships 2027

The Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology is offering Dissertation Writing-Up Fellowships 2027 for doctoral candidates who are in the final stage of their PhD and need dedicated time and an academic environment to complete their dissertations.

The fellowships are offered by the Institute’s Law & Anthropology Department in Halle (Saale), Germany. Selected researchers can spend up to four months at the Institute, access its research resources, participate in academic activities, and work intensively toward completing their doctoral manuscripts. Priority for this call will be given to applicants pursuing PhDs in anthropology.

About the Fellowship

The fellowship is intended for doctoral researchers who are already at an advanced stage of their PhD and are working toward completing their dissertation.

Rather than supporting the beginning of a doctoral project, the programme provides a temporary research base for candidates who have already completed most of their research and are ready to concentrate on writing and finalizing their dissertation.

The fellowship is hosted by the Law & Anthropology Department, which brings together researchers working across anthropology and legal scholarship. Its research focuses on social change, interactions between legal systems and communities, and the relationship between law, society and political processes.

Fellowship Benefits

Successful fellows will receive:

• A monthly living stipend.
• A stipend that is not taxable and is free of social security obligations.
• Up to four months at the Max Planck Institute.
• Access to the Institute's research environment and resources.
• Opportunities to participate in departmental activities.
• Opportunities for interdisciplinary academic exchange.
• The opportunity to present doctoral research in the Department's seminar series.
• An opportunity to develop a working paper based on their research.

Eligibility Criteria

The fellowship is intended for doctoral candidates who are in the final stage of their programme.

Applicants should:

• Be enrolled in a doctoral programme.
• Be sufficiently advanced in their PhD to finalize their dissertation manuscript during the fellowship period.
• Have a research topic that is immediately relevant to the Law & Anthropology Department's research programme.
• Be prepared to participate in departmental activities.
• Be able to spend the fellowship period at the Institute in Halle (Saale).
• Be prepared to submit a working paper related to their research.
• Be willing to present their doctoral research during the Department's seminar series.

Areas of Research

The fellowship is particularly relevant to research in:

• Social Anthropology
• Cultural Anthropology
• Legal Anthropology
• Law
• Sociology
• Political Science
• International Relations
• Social Sciences
• Development Studies
• International Law
• Public Law
• Related interdisciplinary fields

Required Documents

Applicants are required to submit:

• Cover letter.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• A writing sample, preferably a chapter from the PhD dissertation.
• A 1–2 page summary of the PhD research.
• Copies of university degrees and transcripts.
• A recommendation letter from the principal doctoral supervisor.

Selection Criteria

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Strong academic and research ability.
• Significant progress toward completing their PhD.
• A dissertation topic that fits the Law & Anthropology Department.
• High-quality doctoral research.
• Ability to contribute to interdisciplinary discussions.
• A clear plan for using the fellowship period productively.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should:

1. Review the fellowship requirements.
2. Prepare the required application documents.
3. Select a suitable dissertation chapter as the writing sample.
4. Prepare a concise 1–2 page summary of the PhD project.
5. Request a recommendation from the principal doctoral supervisor.
6. Complete the online application through the Max Planck recruitment portal.
7. Ensure the supervisor sends the recommendation directly to the Department.
8. Submit the complete application by September 15, 2026.

Applications are to be submitted electronically through the official recruitment system.