University of Vienna Faculty of Law Fellowships 2027 – Apply by 30 November
The Faculty of Law at the University of Vienna is inviting applications for its Fellowship Programme for the Summer Term 2027, offering international researchers an opportunity to conduct research in Austria while engaging with one of Europe’s established legal research institutions.
The programme is designed to strengthen international academic exchange and collaboration between visiting researchers and members of the Faculty of Law. It is open to both established scholars and early-career researchers, including professors, postdoctoral researchers and doctoral candidates.
For researchers working in law and related interdisciplinary fields, the fellowship provides an opportunity to develop a research project in an international academic environment, access the expertise of University of Vienna scholars and establish connections that could support future academic collaboration.
University of Vienna Law Fellowships 2027
The University of Vienna Faculty of Law offers two categories of fellowships for the Summer Term 2027:
- Senior Fellowships: Available to professors, with financial support of EUR 1,050 per month.
- Junior Fellowships: Available to doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, with financial support of EUR 800 per month.
The fellowship period varies according to the applicant’s career stage. Senior fellows and postdoctoral researchers may undertake fellowships lasting between two weeks and three months, while doctoral researchers may receive fellowships lasting between one and three months.
The fellowship is intended to support academic research and does not constitute an employment relationship with the University of Vienna.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is intended for researchers based at universities outside Austria. Applicants must currently be conducting research at a university outside Austria and must not have been employed by the University of Vienna during the previous six months.
Applicants must also have a proposed research project that fits within one or more of the research priorities of the Faculty of Law.
An important requirement is that applicants secure a supervision or endorsement agreement with an academic member of the Faculty of Law. The proposed supervisor may be a university professor, habilitated member of staff, associate professor or assistant professor at the Faculty.
The endorsement should include a brief explanation of why the applicant is particularly suitable for the fellowship and should demonstrate an appropriate academic connection between the applicant’s proposed research and the expertise of the host scholar.
Application Requirements
Applicants are required to submit a complete application package containing several documents.
First, candidates must complete the official University of Vienna application form.
Applicants must also submit a letter of application of no more than three pages. This should explain the proposed research project, demonstrate how the project relates to the Faculty of Law’s research priorities and explain its connection to the academic expertise of the proposed supervisor.
The letter should also explain why the applicant has selected the Faculty of Law at the University of Vienna as their host institution. Applicants should therefore clearly articulate what they hope to gain from the academic environment and how the fellowship would contribute to their research.
A curriculum vitae of no more than three pages is also required. For senior fellows and postdoctoral researchers, the CV should include their five most important publications. Predoctoral researchers should instead provide a recommendation letter from their supervisor.
PhD students are additionally required to submit a recommendation letter from their current supervisor at their home university.
Finally, applicants must provide a signed supervision agreement from the Faculty of Law at the University of Vienna.
How to Apply
Applications for the University of Vienna Faculty of Law Fellowship Programme can be submitted between 1 November 2026 and 30 November 2026.
Applications should be submitted by email to fellowships.law@univie.ac.at.
Applicants should ensure that all required documents are prepared before submission, particularly the supervision agreement and academic endorsement. Because the application requires engagement with a potential host academic, candidates should allow sufficient time to identify an appropriate faculty member and obtain the necessary support.
The selection process will take place after the application deadline, with fellowship decisions expected in December 2026.
Why Consider This Fellowship?
The University of Vienna fellowship provides more than financial support. It offers international researchers the opportunity to spend time within a major European university, develop their research in a new academic environment and interact with scholars working across different areas of legal research.
The programme may be particularly valuable for researchers whose projects benefit from comparative, international or interdisciplinary perspectives. The requirement to connect the proposed research with the Faculty’s expertise also encourages applicants to develop meaningful academic collaborations rather than treating the fellowship simply as a short-term research visit.
For doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, an international research placement can also provide an opportunity to expand academic networks, strengthen research outputs and gain exposure to different approaches to legal scholarship.
Important Dates
Application period: 1 November 2026 – 30 November 2026
Application deadline: 30 November 2026
Selection decision: December 2026
Fellowship period: Summer Term 2027
Senior Fellowship funding: EUR 1,050 per month
Junior Fellowship funding: EUR 800 per month
Final Thoughts
The University of Vienna Faculty of Law Fellowship Programme 2027 is a valuable opportunity for international legal scholars seeking to advance their research within a European academic environment. With separate opportunities for professors, postdoctoral researchers and doctoral candidates, the programme accommodates researchers at different stages of their academic careers.
Applicants should focus on presenting a clearly defined research project, demonstrating a strong connection with the Faculty of Law’s research priorities and securing an appropriate academic host before submitting their application.
Interested researchers should begin preparing early because the 30 November 2026 deadline leaves a limited period for completing the application and obtaining the required supervision agreement.
For official information and application documents, applicants should consult the University of Vienna Faculty of Law’s fellowship announcement and application materials.
