Max Weber Fellowship 2027–2028 in Italy

Overview

The Max Weber Programme for Postdoctoral Studies is the European University Institute's international postdoctoral programme in the historical, humanities and social sciences. Fellows are hosted across EUI academic units including Economics, History, Law, Political and Social Sciences, the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies and the Florence School of Transnational Governance.

EUI says a typical cohort includes around 65 fellows and the programme's annual acceptance rate is below 2%. Awards are normally for one or two years depending on the host unit, with only exceptional extensions beyond that.

Eligibility

• Applicants of any nationality may apply.
• For the 2027–2028 call, candidates should have received or submitted the PhD between 1 September 2022 and 1 September 2027.
• The PhD defence must take place no later than 31 December 2027.
• Extensions to the five-year rule may be allowed for maternity/paternity leave, illness or mandatory military service.
• Applicants are expected to have approximately C1 English proficiency. An English certificate is not required with the application, but successful candidates may need evidence at registration.
• Preference is given, all else equal, to candidates who recently completed the doctorate, have not previously held a postdoctoral fellowship and/or are entering the academic job market.

Funding & Benefits

• €2,500 per month basic fellowship grant at the current rate.
• Health insurance under the EUI basic medical plan unless the fellow keeps another eligible policy.
• €1,500 per year personal mission and research fund for eligible research expenses.
• Eligible incoming and outgoing travel reimbursement up to €1,200 total.
• Eligible visa-fee reimbursement up to €250.
• Household allowance of up to €310 per month where conditions are met.
• Dependent-child allowance of €210 per month per eligible child.
• Paid parental-leave policy and access to EUI academic-career training, research facilities and mentoring.

Funding caveat: EUI describes these as current rates. Applicants should re-check the official conditions before accepting an award because grant and allowance figures can change.

How to Apply

1. Choose the EUI academic unit that best matches your research project.
2. Register in the EUI online application portal early and enter your referee details.
3. Prepare the required documents in the requested formats.
4. Upload the final CV, academic career statement, research proposal and passport copy.
5. Make sure at least two academic referees submit their letters online by the deadline.
6. Submit the complete application by 16 October 2026 at 14:00 CEST.

Required Documents

• CV with publication list in PDF.
• Academic career statement of 1 page in PDF.
• Research proposal of 2 pages in PDF, with realistic fellowship goals and a reflection on how gender and diversity relate to the proposed research.
• Passport copy in JPEG format.
• Names of 2–3 academic referees; at least two reference letters must be submitted online by the deadline.

EUI also states that application documents must follow its responsible-use-of-AI guidance. Candidates should not have generative AI autonomously write substantial or integral parts of the academic career statement or research proposal, and AI-generated novel content must be acknowledged where applicable.

Important Dates

• Application window: open now for the 2027–2028 cohort.
• 16 October 2026, 14:00 CEST: application and reference-letter deadline.
• By mid-May 2027: EUI states candidates are informed by mid-May at the latest.
• 1 September 2027: fellowship programme begins.

Referee warning: reference letters are not accepted after the deadline, so register referee details well before 16 October rather than waiting until the final day.

FAQs

Is the Max Weber Fellowship open to international applicants?
Yes. EUI states that candidates of any nationality may apply.

How much does the fellowship pay?
The current basic grant is €2,500 per month, with additional research, insurance, travel and possible family support.

Can I apply before my PhD defence?
Yes, provided you have official approval to defend by the programme start and the defence occurs no later than 31 December 2027 under the current call rules.

How long is the fellowship?
One or two years depending on the EUI academic unit. Law offers one year; the Florence School of Transnational Governance offers two years; several other units offer either one or two years.

Do I need an English-language certificate when I apply?
No certificate is requested with the application, but successful candidates may need to provide qualifying evidence at registration. EUI expects approximately C1 English.

How competitive is it?
EUI describes the programme as highly selective, with an annual acceptance rate below 2% and a typical cohort of around 65 fellows.

Last verified: September 7, 2026. ScholarshipHubNow independently verified the deadline, eligibility, funding, documents, fellowship length, referee rules and programme start date against the European University Institute's official Max Weber Fellowship pages. FellowshipsGuide.com was used only as a discovery lead.