Applications are now open for the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology Dissertation Writing-up Fellowships 2027, offering doctoral candidates in the final stage of their PhD an opportunity to spend up to four months at the Institute in Halle (Saale), Germany, while completing their dissertations.

The fellowships are offered by the Law & Anthropology Department of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology and are designed specifically for advanced doctoral researchers who are close to completing their manuscripts and whose research is directly relevant to the Department’s academic programme.

For the 2027 cycle, fellows may choose between two possible residency periods:

• Spring 2027: March 1 to June 30, 2027
• Fall 2027: September 1 to December 31, 2027

The fellowship may be awarded for a maximum of four months.

Successful candidates will receive a monthly living stipend from the Institute. According to the announcement, the stipend is not taxable and is free of social security obligations. The exact stipend amount is not specified in the information provided.

While applicants from relevant disciplinary backgrounds may be considered, the call explicitly states that priority will be given to candidates pursuing PhDs in anthropology.

The application deadline is September 15, 2026.

About the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology

The Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, located in Halle (Saale), Germany, is an internationally recognized research institution specializing in social anthropology.

Research at the Institute is broadly concerned with the comparative analysis of social change.

Across its different programmes and projects, researchers investigate changing social relations, institutions, legal systems, political arrangements, cultural practices and economic structures.

The Institute’s research contributes to anthropological theory while frequently engaging with questions that have significant practical, political and policy relevance.

Its institutional setting provides doctoral and postdoctoral researchers with access to:

• An international scholarly community
• Research seminars
• Academic discussions
• Specialized expertise
• Institutional resources
• Interdisciplinary exchange
• Research networks

For doctoral candidates finishing their dissertations, a short period of concentrated residence at the Institute can provide valuable time, intellectual engagement and access to a highly specialized research environment.

About the Law & Anthropology Department

The fellowships are offered specifically by the Law & Anthropology Department of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology.

The Department operates as an interdisciplinary space connecting:

• Social anthropology
• Legal anthropology
• Law
• Socio-legal studies
• Related interdisciplinary fields

Its research is particularly concerned with the interactions among legal systems, communities, institutions and societies.

The Department seeks to create a setting in which anthropologists and legal scholars can engage with one another and undertake research with both scholarly and policy relevance.

Law, Society and Increasing Legal Pluralism

One major intellectual concern of the Department is the increasing intensity of encounters between:

• Different legal systems
• National legal frameworks
• Communities
• Institutions
• Social groups
• Forms of normative ordering

Contemporary societies are frequently characterized by overlapping legal systems and normative frameworks.

These interactions can become especially visible in areas involving:

• Migration
• Religious law
• Family law
• International law
• Customary law
• Minority rights
• Citizenship
• Human rights
• Transnational communities
• Legal pluralism

The Department is interested in research that helps explain these complex interactions empirically and theoretically.

Empirically Grounded and Ethnographic Research

The call emphasizes a growing demand for empirically grounded knowledge, particularly ethnographic research, about contemporary legal and social processes.

Anthropological research can make important contributions because it examines not only what laws formally say, but how legal rules, institutions and normative expectations are actually experienced, interpreted and negotiated in everyday life.

The Department is therefore particularly interested in research capable of connecting empirical findings with broader questions of:

• Law
• Policy
• Governance
• Rights
• Social transformation
• Institutional decision-making

Translating Empirical Knowledge into Normative Thinking

A central concern of the Law & Anthropology Department is the challenge of translating empirically grounded research into forms of knowledge that can contribute to normative thinking and decision-making.

The Department recognizes that anthropological findings and legal reasoning operate through different intellectual traditions.

Nevertheless, there is growing demand for scholars who can help connect detailed empirical understanding with discussions occurring within:

• Policymaking
• Law
• Courts
• Governance institutions
• Civil society
• International organizations
• Public debate

The Department therefore prioritizes research addressing this demand for translation, particularly within an increasingly plural European context.

Applicants should carefully consider how their dissertation relates to this broader research agenda before applying.

What Are the Dissertation Writing-up Fellowships?

The fellowships are designed for doctoral researchers who have already completed most of their PhD research and are now working toward the finalization of the dissertation manuscript.

They are not intended primarily to support:

• Beginning-stage doctoral students
• Major new fieldwork
• Initial research design
• Extensive new data collection

Instead, the fellowship provides advanced doctoral candidates with a temporary academic base where they can focus on writing and completing their dissertations.

The call specifically states that candidates should be in the final stage of their doctoral programme.

Fellowship Duration

Each fellowship may last for:

Up to four months

Applicants can choose between two fellowship periods.

Spring Fellowship Period

March 1 to June 30, 2027

This option may be particularly suitable for candidates expecting to complete their dissertations during the first half of 2027.

Fall Fellowship Period

September 1 to December 31, 2027

This provides a second opportunity for researchers whose dissertation schedules align better with the latter part of the year.

The maximum duration remains four months.

Financial Support

Successful candidates will receive a:

Monthly living stipend

The Institute states that the stipend is:

• Not taxable
• Free of social security obligations

The specific monthly amount is not stated in the information provided.

Applicants should therefore avoid assuming a particular stipend value unless the Institute provides one directly through the application system or subsequent correspondence.

What Fellows Are Expected to Do

Although the principal purpose of the fellowship is dissertation completion, fellows are expected to engage actively with the Department during their residency.

The fellowship is therefore not simply a private writing grant.

Selected doctoral researchers should be prepared to:

1. Work intensively on completing their dissertation
2. Participate in Law & Anthropology Department activities
3. Contribute a working paper
4. Present their doctoral research
5. Engage with the Department’s scholarly community

Participation in Department Activities

Fellows are expected to take part in activities organized by the Law & Anthropology Department during their fellowship period.

These may provide opportunities to interact with:

• Senior researchers
• Visiting scholars
• Postdoctoral researchers
• Doctoral researchers
• Anthropologists
• Legal scholars

Participation can help fellows receive intellectual feedback and situate their own research within broader interdisciplinary conversations.

Working Paper Requirement

Successful fellows are expected to submit:

A working paper addressing the topic of their research

This requirement demonstrates that the fellowship involves active academic contribution in addition to dissertation writing.

Applicants should therefore be prepared to develop part of their dissertation research into a form suitable for circulation as a departmental working paper.

Research Presentation

Each fellow will also present their doctoral research as part of the Department’s:

Seminar series

This offers an opportunity to:

• Present findings
• Receive feedback
• Discuss methodology
• Refine arguments
• Engage with scholars from different disciplinary traditions
• Strengthen the final dissertation manuscript

Applicants should therefore be comfortable discussing their research in an interdisciplinary academic setting.

Relationship With the Home University

One particularly important requirement concerns coordination between the Max Planck Institute and the candidate’s existing doctoral institution.

Before the fellowship begins, a clear understanding must be reached between the Director of the Law & Anthropology Department and the candidate’s principal doctoral supervisor.

The purpose is to determine:

• How the candidate can make the fullest possible use of the writing period
• How the home university and Max Planck Institute can cooperate
• How the fellowship can contribute effectively to dissertation completion
• How the arrangement can benefit both institutions and the candidate

This is important because the fellowship does not replace the candidate’s existing doctoral supervision.

The researcher remains embedded in their home doctoral programme while spending a temporary period at the Max Planck Institute.

Who Should Apply?

The fellowship is intended for advanced doctoral candidates.

Applicants should normally:

• Be enrolled in a doctoral programme
• Be in the final stage of the PhD
• Be sufficiently advanced to complete or substantially finalize the manuscript during the fellowship
• Have a dissertation topic immediately relevant to the Law & Anthropology Department’s research programme
• Be able to spend up to four months at the Institute in Halle (Saale)
• Be willing to participate in departmental activities
• Be prepared to submit a working paper
• Be able to present their doctoral research during the Department seminar series

Priority for Anthropology PhD Candidates

For the 2027 call, the Department explicitly states that:

Priority will be given to applicants working toward PhDs in anthropology.

This does not necessarily mean that every applicant must be formally enrolled in an anthropology department.

However, candidates whose projects are strongly grounded in anthropology, social anthropology or legal anthropology are likely to have the closest alignment with the call.

Applicants from adjacent fields should make the anthropological or interdisciplinary relevance of their work especially clear.

Research Fit Is Essential

The candidate’s dissertation topic must be of immediate relevance to the Department’s research programme.

This is a central requirement.

Applicants should therefore avoid treating the fellowship as a general dissertation-writing opportunity available for any PhD topic.

Before applying, candidates should review the research agenda of the Max Planck Institute and, in particular, the activities and publications associated with the Law & Anthropology Department.

A competitive applicant should be able to explain:

• How their dissertation connects to law and anthropology
• Why their research would benefit from the Department’s expertise
• What they could contribute to Department discussions
• Why a residency at the Institute is intellectually appropriate

Examples of Potentially Relevant Research Themes

The call itself does not provide an exhaustive list of acceptable dissertation topics.

However, research fitting the Law & Anthropology agenda may potentially engage with themes such as:

• Legal pluralism
• Anthropology of law
• Migration and law
• Human rights
• Religious law
• Customary law
• Minority rights
• Legal institutions
• Citizenship
• Governance
• Transnational legal processes
• Dispute resolution
• Social change and legal systems
• Empirical approaches to law
• Law and community
• Normative orders
• Legal translation
• European legal pluralism

Applicants should not assume that every topic in this list is automatically eligible. The central requirement remains direct relevance to the Department’s current research programme.

Application Materials

Applicants must prepare several documents.

1. Cover Letter

A cover letter is required.

A strong cover letter should explain:

• Current doctoral status
• Dissertation topic
• Progress toward completion
• Why the Max Planck Institute is an appropriate environment
• How the research fits the Law & Anthropology Department
• Which fellowship period is preferred
• What the applicant hopes to achieve during the residency

The letter should make clear that the candidate is sufficiently advanced to benefit from a writing-up fellowship rather than still being in an exploratory research stage.

2. Curriculum Vitae

Applicants must submit an academic CV.

The CV should clearly present:

• Education
• Doctoral programme
• Research experience
• Publications
• Conference presentations
• Teaching where relevant
• Research projects
• Grants and awards
• Relevant methodological skills

Candidates should make their anthropological and law-related experience easy to identify.

3. Dissertation Writing Sample

Applicants must submit:

A chapter of the PhD dissertation

This document gives reviewers direct evidence of:

• Academic writing ability
• Research quality
• Theoretical sophistication
• Methodological competence
• Dissertation progress

Applicants should choose a chapter that best represents the quality and relevance of their doctoral research.

4. One-to-Two-Page Dissertation Summary

Candidates must submit a:

1–2 page summary of the PhD work

This summary should provide reviewers with a concise overview of the dissertation.

It should ideally explain:

• Central research question
• Research context
• Theoretical framework
• Methodology
• Main argument
• Findings or emerging findings
• Contribution to the field
• Relevance to the Department

Because reviewers will use this summary to understand the entire project quickly, clarity is especially important.

5. University Degrees and Transcripts

Applicants must provide photocopies of:

• University degree certificates
• Academic transcripts

These documents allow the selection committee to verify academic qualifications and background.

6. Supervisor Recommendation Letter

A recommendation letter from the candidate’s:

Principal doctoral supervisor

is mandatory.

The supervisor must specifically confirm that the applicant is:

Advanced enough to finalize the doctoral manuscript within the period financed by the Law & Anthropology Department.

This is an important requirement because it directly verifies that the applicant has reached the appropriate dissertation stage.

How the Recommendation Must Be Submitted

The supervisor recommendation should be sent directly to the Department, rather than simply uploaded by the applicant.

The specified email address is:

marencakova@eth.mpg.de

Candidates should contact their supervisors well before the application deadline so the recommendation can be prepared and submitted on time.

Application Checklist

Before submitting an application, candidates should make sure they have prepared:

1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Dissertation chapter as writing sample
4. One-to-two-page dissertation summary
5. Copies of university degrees
6. Academic transcripts
7. Supervisor recommendation letter sent directly to the Department

Applicants should also ensure that their proposed research clearly fits the Law & Anthropology Department’s research agenda.

How to Apply

Application materials must be submitted electronically through the Max Planck Institute’s official vacancy and recruitment system.

Applicants can access vacancies through the Institute’s Career section or use the recruitment platform indicated in the call.

More information:
https://lnkd.in/dim6R52d

Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology:
http://www.eth.mpg.de

Candidates should use the official online application system rather than sending the complete application directly by email unless specifically instructed otherwise.

APPLY HERE

Application Deadline

The deadline is:

September 15, 2026

Applicants should ensure that both their own application materials and the supervisor recommendation are arranged well ahead of this date.

Fellowship Timeline

The two possible fellowship periods are:

Spring 2027

March 1–June 30, 2027

Fall 2027

September 1–December 31, 2027

Each award can last for a maximum of four months.

Contact for Application Questions

Questions concerning the application process can be directed to:

Carolin Klevenow
Human Resources Management

Email:

klevenow@eth.mpg.de

Applicants with administrative questions should use this contact rather than relying on unofficial information.

Gender Equality and Diversity

The Max Planck Society states that it strives to ensure:

• Gender equality
• Diversity

Applicants from eligible backgrounds are therefore encouraged to consider the fellowship where their academic profile and dissertation topic match the programme.

The supplied call does not state any gender-specific application restriction.

Why This Fellowship Can Be Valuable

Completing a dissertation can be one of the most demanding phases of doctoral study.

By the final stage, researchers may already have:

• Completed fieldwork
• Gathered data
• Conducted archival research
• Finished major analysis
• Drafted several chapters

Yet transforming these components into a coherent final manuscript requires sustained concentration.

A dedicated writing fellowship can provide:

• Protected writing time
• Distance from routine obligations
• Access to scholarly resources
• New intellectual feedback
• Engagement with specialists
• Structured deadlines

The Max Planck fellowship is especially valuable because it combines concentrated dissertation writing with integration into an internationally recognized research environment.

Benefits of Spending the Fellowship at the Max Planck Institute

Successful fellows will have the opportunity to use Institute resources while finalizing their dissertations.

The intellectual environment may help candidates:

• Strengthen theoretical arguments
• Refine chapters
• Receive interdisciplinary feedback
• Develop future publications
• Build international scholarly connections
• Prepare for postdoctoral or academic careers

The requirement to present research and prepare a working paper can also help fellows transform dissertation material into future scholarly outputs.

Preparing a Competitive Application

1. Demonstrate That You Are Truly at the Writing-Up Stage

This is perhaps the most important consideration.

The fellowship is not aimed at students who still need extensive data collection or major fieldwork.

Applicants should clearly show:

• What chapters are already drafted
• What research has been completed
• What remains to be written
• Why four months is sufficient to make substantial progress toward completion

The supervisor recommendation must confirm this readiness.

2. Make Your Research Fit Explicit

Do not assume that reviewers will identify your connection to the Department automatically.

Clearly explain how your dissertation relates to:

• Law
• Anthropology
• Legal systems
• Social change
• Legal pluralism
• Translation between empirical and normative knowledge

where applicable.

3. Explain Why Max Planck Is Necessary

A strong application should communicate why spending four months in Halle would materially improve the dissertation.

Possible reasons might include:

• Relevant faculty expertise
• Departmental research themes
• Interdisciplinary exchange
• Research resources
• Seminar participation

Use reasons specific to your own project.

4. Select Your Writing Sample Carefully

The dissertation chapter should showcase your strongest research and writing.

Ideally, it should also demonstrate a close relationship with the Law & Anthropology Department’s intellectual agenda.

5. Keep the Dissertation Summary Focused

In only one or two pages, explain:

• The problem
• The question
• The method
• The argument
• The contribution

Avoid using too much space on general background.

6. Contact Your Supervisor Early

Your principal supervisor must submit the recommendation directly.

Give them sufficient time and clearly explain what the letter must confirm.

Important Details at a Glance

Host institution: Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology

Department: Law & Anthropology Department

Location: Halle (Saale), Germany

Opportunity: Dissertation Writing-up Fellowships

Target stage: Final-stage doctoral candidates

Priority discipline: Anthropology

Maximum duration: Four months

Spring period: March 1–June 30, 2027

Fall period: September 1–December 31, 2027

Financial support: Monthly living stipend

Tax treatment: Stipend described as non-taxable and free of social security obligations

Department participation: Required

Working paper: Required

Research presentation: Required

Application deadline: September 15, 2026

Application contact: klevenow@eth.mpg.de

Supervisor recommendation: marencakova@eth.mpg.de

Conclusion

The Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology Dissertation Writing-up Fellowships 2027 provide an excellent opportunity for advanced doctoral researchers to spend up to four months in Germany concentrating on the final stages of their dissertations.

Hosted by the Institute’s Law & Anthropology Department in Halle (Saale), the fellowship is particularly relevant to researchers whose projects examine relationships between law, society, legal pluralism, social change, anthropology and related interdisciplinary questions.

For the current call, priority will be given to PhD candidates in anthropology, and applicants must be sufficiently advanced in their doctoral programme to make meaningful progress toward completing their manuscript during the funded period.

Selected fellows will receive a monthly living stipend while benefiting from the resources and intellectual environment of one of the world’s leading institutes for social anthropology.

The fellowship is not solely a private writing residency. Fellows are expected to participate actively in departmental activities, prepare a working paper and present their doctoral research through the Department’s seminar series.

Applicants can choose between a spring residency from March 1 to June 30, 2027, or a fall residency from September 1 to December 31, 2027, with funding available for a maximum of four months.

Applications require a cover letter, CV, dissertation chapter, one-to-two-page research summary, academic certificates and transcripts, as well as a recommendation from the principal doctoral supervisor confirming that the candidate is advanced enough to finalize the dissertation during the fellowship period.

The application deadline is September 15, 2026.

 

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