Max Weber Post-Doctoral Fellowships for International Scholars in Florence, Italy [2023/2024]

Applications are now open for the 2023/2024 entry to the Max Weber Fellowship Programme at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy.

Amongst the largest, most prestigious and successful post doctoral programs in the historical and social sciences, and located in one of the most beautiful settings, with truly outstanding research facilities, we offer from 50-60 fully funded 1 and 2 year post doctoral fellowships to applicants from anywhere in the world in the fields of economics, history, law and social and political sciences. All areas and types of research within these fields are considered. Last year 98% of Fellows found an academic position on completing the Fellowship.

Application Deadline

18th October 2022 at 24:00 (Florence Time)

Eligible Country

Citizens of all countries are eligible to apply. This application is open to all and sundry who meet the program eligibility requirement.

Scholarship Study Location

European University Institute (EUI), Florence, Italy.

Level

Post-Doctoral Research

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

• Candidates must have received their Ph.D within the past 5 years or have official approval to defend their thesis by the time of the start of the programme (1 September).
• Candidates must be applying for a research in Economics, History, Law and Social or Political sciences. All areas and types of research within these fields are considered.
• Extensions to the five-year rule are allowed for applicants whose academic career has been interrupted for maternity or paternity leave, illness or mandatory military service. Cite circumstances in the application form in the field ‘Additional Notes’. Successful candidates will be asked to provide supporting documents.
• EUI graduates can only apply for a Max Weber Fellowships after having been away from the EUI and in a full-time occupation or another fellowship for at least a year after defending their Ph.D
• Candidates of any nationality are eligible for the Max Weber Fellowships.
• The expected level of English proficiency is level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Successful candidates will be requested to provide a certificate/supporting document on registration. This can be one of the international certificates listed below, or a supporting document showing that the candidate has written the doctorate, or published an article or a book chapter of at least 6000 words in English, or has studied and hold a qualification from a University where the language of instruction and assessment was English. Native English speakers are exempt of proof.
• The following international certificates of English proficiency are recognised by the EUI:
  • IELTS: From 7.5
  • TOEFL (IBT)
  • Cambridge Proficiency
  • Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Academic accomplishments and potential: Academic excellence is assessed on the basis of the candidate’s contributions (publications, PhD thesis, etc. as outlined in the CV), their plans and commitment to an academic career as outlined in their ‘Research Proposal’ and ‘Academic career statement’, and other supporting evidence (i.e. two letters of reference). Preference is given to applicants in the early stages of their post-doctoral career, who can gain most from the programme.
• Research Proposal: the proposal must be clear and well structured, with well-defined and realistic goals that can be achieved within the duration of the fellowship.
• Mentorship: The capacity and availability of EUI faculty, be it in the departments or the RSCAS, to provide mentorship is taken into account; however, while having common research interests may be helpful, it is not a necessity for mentorship

Number of Scholarships

50 to 60 candidates would be awarded with the research scholarships.

Value of Scholarship

• The Fellowship provides a grant of 2070 euro per month plus – when appropriate – a family allowance.
• The Max Weber Fellows enjoy the superb research facilities of the European University Institute (including an outstanding library, a shared office space, and a personal research fund of 1000 euros).
• The MWP is unique among postdoctoral programmes in helping Fellows to become full members of a global academic community.
• Fellows are given training and support in all aspects of an academic career – from publishing and presenting, teaching, applying for research grants and jobs. A particular focus is placed on communicating effectively in English to different kinds of academic audiences.
• Its placement record is second to none: most Max Weber Fellows secure an academic position in the finest institutions around the world upon completion of the Programme.

Scholarship Duration

The post-doctoral fellowship programme lasts for 1 or 2 years. Candidates are expected to indicate how long they intend to stay in the programme during application.

Application Procedure

Applications have to be submitted through the Online Application Form.
There are two distinct phases in the application process:

1. Register your application as early as possible

You are encouraged to register your application, by inserting your personal details and referee details as soon as possible. This is important to allow sufficient time for your referees to submit the reference letters before the deadline. References will not be accepted after the deadline.

2. Submit your application by the deadline 18 October 2022 at 14:00 (Italian time) (applications may be submitted until 14:00 (Italian time) on Tuesday 18 October 2022).

Once you have registered your application you may continue to work on the application details and attachments until the deadline of 18 October 2022 (14:00 Italian time). Submit the application only when you have filled in all the information correctly and have successfully uploaded the final version of the attachments.