Research Stays

Research Stays

The Institute stands as one of the most important hubs in the global network of legal scholars conducting research on foreign law, private international law and comparative law. Every year, roughly 1,000 domestic and international guests come to our Institute to pursue their academic work and to exchange information and network with colleagues from around the world.

Our guests receive a workspace in the reading rooms and have the extensive library literature at their disposal for their research. Additionally, they are welcome at all times to join in Institute academic life.


For external scholars who would like to complete a research stay at the Institute, there are three basic paths:

Permission to conduct research in the library can be granted where there is a legitimate academic need that cannot be fulfilled by other libraries. Such permission encompasses access to the reading rooms, the library stacks and the journals room. [more]
The Max Planck Institute offers a limited number of scholarships for legal scholars whose primary place of residence is outside of Germany. The scholarships are financed by the Max Planck Society. [more]
The Institute also warmly welcomes scholarship recipients and fellows from other renowned organisations. Each year, the Institute hosts scholars from all over the world who conduct research funded by grants provided by foundations and donors such as the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Swiss National Science Foundation, TÜBITAK and the DAAD. [more]
The Welcome Center helps guests and scholarship recipients prepare for and organise their stay at the Institute and in Hamburg. Regardless of the task – whether filling out a scholarship application, searching for housing, securing health insurance or completing a visa application – Barbara Schröder is here to help you with your needs. [more]

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