The Department of Foreign and International Social Law offers scholars a limited number of guest workplaces to engage in research projects on subjects relating to comparative social law and social policy, as well as international and European social security law.

We expressly welcome research activities of guests sponsored by third-party funds (grants from other research institutions, political foundations, etc.). If available, a PC workplace with Internet access and telephone will be placed at the disposal of such external grant holders. Guests who plan to stay for at least one month are requested to submit an informal application for allocation of a workplace. The application should comprise a tabular CV, a list of publications as well as a brief outline of the envisaged research project. Please address your application directly to Prof. Dr. Ulrich Becker.

On a limited scale, research grants funded by the Max Planck Society (MPS) are available; these are usually awarded for stays of between two and four months. Shorter or longer stays are possible. Preference is given to the research projects of outstanding junior scholars, i.e. younger university graduates prior to or after attainment of their doctorate degrees, as well as university lecturers whose field of study lies within the scope of the research interests of the Institute. The grant amount is dependent on attained academic qualifications and previous research experience. Please note that the scholarship of the MPS cannot be combined with another one. If guest researchers already receive a scholarship, grant or salary during their stay at our Institute, they cannot apply for the MPS fellowship programme.

Applications for grants must be submitted to Prof. Dr. Ulrich Becker in writing. The informal application should include the following particulars: academic training and activity, current position, important publications, subject of the envisaged research project, language skills, desired duration of stay, as well as two letters of recommendation.

Knowledge of the German (also the English or French) language is desirable in order to facilitate scientific exchange and integration into the Institute.

Guests are invited to participate in the meetings and lectures of the Institute. Invitations will be sent by email. If a research stay exceeds one month, the guest will be asked to deliver a short lecture on his or her work.

Upon giving prior notice of their visit, guests are welcome to use the reference library of the Institute with its broad selection of specialist literature on social policy and social law. The reading room is open Mondays to Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For the library regulations and further information on the library, please consult our website.

Living and working in Germany (PDF)