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The doctoral programme at the MPIL is designed to ensure the academic independence and freedom of research of doctoral candidates. It is embedded in the institute’s overall research and no separate or independent programme. It seeks to enable the intellectual flourishment facilitated by the range of research at MPIL while allowing it to focus on individual doctoral projects. Doctoral supervision is based on four pillars:
The responsibility for the organisation lies with the supervising directors. In the weekly research seminars convened by each director, all doctoral candidates, and senior research fellows (postdocs and habilitation candidates) under their supervision are invited. Each seminar is equally open to the other director and his or her research team, and to visiting scholars upon their request and individual invitation. These seminars are also dedicated to the discussion of individual doctoral (and postdoctoral) projects. Frequently, additional seminal texts are studied as well with particular attention to theory, method, coherence of the argument, and writing style. Such texts are intended to serve as models of successful scholarly work. Participants are expected to criticise the work-in-progress constructively and to comment on the other reading. The directors hold regular one-on-one meetings with their doctoral candidates for bilateral discussion and to assist them in digesting the ideas coming out of the group discussion. Doctoral candidates are expected to present their work-in-progress to their group twice a year.
The second pillar of the doctoral programme is the weekly meeting of the research staff (Monday Meeting) in which all research fellows of the institute, as well as many visiting scholars, participate. Two presentations of 20 minutes, given by staff researchers and occasionally by accomplished visiting scholars focus on topics of current relevance in the fields of international law, comparative law, and EU law. These presentations familiarise the doctoral candidates with a wide range of topics. In addition, doctoral candidates are required to give a talk before an expert audience of up to 80 people, which gives them a chance to develop their presentation skills.
Numerous academic events geared to the research interests of the doctoral fellows constitute the third pillar of the doctoral supervision programme. These comprise the Max Planck Masterclass (where a leading scholar in the discipline discusses his or her theories and research methods over a period of several days, open to all researchers), and a wide gamut of academic workshops and conferences. Moreover, the Max Planck Society, the Max Planck Law network, and MPIL itself offer numerous training options, ranging from presentation skills to software and database training, language courses, etc.
Events organised by the doctoral candidates themselves (or by other researchers) are the fourth pillar of the doctoral programme. They include discussion groups on diverse topics (e.g. the ‘theory talks’). MPIL also supports retreats and encourages research and field trips both within Germany and abroad.
Openings for doctoral candidate positions are announced internationally. The goals of any dissertation project and the applicable conditions are normally specified in a supervision agreement under the university's rules of enrolment.
Compliance with the rules of good scientific and scholarly practice is secured by mandatory participation in a 2-hour course offered each year by one of the directors. Every doctoral candidate must participate once during his/her stay.
The institute’s PhD candidates regularly elect two PhD representatives under the Max Planck PhDnet statutes. It is an established tradition that the PhD representatives exercise the office jointly and on equal terms.
Valentin von Stosch is the elected external PhD representative of the MPIL within the Max Planck PhDnet (2023-2025).
Leonie Brassat (2023-2025) and Laurids Hempel (2024-2025) are the elected internal PhD representatives of the MPIL.
We kindly ask that requests concerning the supervision of doctoral theses in the context of an application should be sent to the directorsonly. Please consult our Guidelines for Applicants first.
