Apply Now for the Doucet Scholarship 2026

Apply Now for the Doucet Scholarship 2026 at the Max Planck Institute in Germany

This prestigious, fully funded research stay takes place in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, between January 5 and March 31, 2026. Applications are currently open and must be submitted by the deadline: 15 September 2025.

In this post, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about this exceptional opportunity—from what the scholarship covers, who is eligible, how to apply, and why it’s such a transformative chance for young researchers from the Global South and beyond.

What is the Doucet Scholarship?

The Doucet Scholarship was created to support promising young researchers from outside Frankfurt—especially those from Latin America and the Global South—to conduct high-level academic work using the Doucet Collection, a unique repository of legal documents housed at MPI-LHLT. Now in its eighth year, the scholarship reflects the Max Planck Institute’s ongoing commitment to fostering international academic exchange, broadening access to underutilized archival materials, and enabling early-career scholars to carry out impactful, source-based research in the legal humanities.

The program offers a three-month research stay at the Institute’s facilities in Frankfurt. During this time, selected scholars receive both financial and institutional support, while being granted access to a scholarly community that is deeply rooted in historical and comparative legal studies.

A Look Inside the Doucet Collection

At the heart of the scholarship is the Doucet Collection, a rare and valuable archive named after the legal historian who helped compile it. The collection focuses extensively on early modern Hispanoamerica, with monographs, edited legal sources, and primary texts that shed light on the legal and administrative structures of the Spanish colonial world.

These materials provide insight into how colonial law was written, interpreted, enforced, and lived. They offer scholars the tools to explore critical questions about colonial governance, law and society, indigenous rights, economic regulation, criminal justice, and more.

For researchers whose projects require first-hand engagement with primary legal sources from this period, the Doucet Collection is a treasure trove that is difficult to access anywhere else in the world.

Who Should Apply?

The Doucet Scholarship is aimed at:

• Graduate students (typically master’s or doctoral level) 
• Early-stage researchers (e.g., recent graduates or postdoctoral researchers in the early years of their career) 
• Scholars are currently enrolled in a university program. am 
• Researchers working on projects that deal with legal history in early modern Hispanoameri.ca. 
• Candidates who can demonstrate a clear and direct link between their proposed research and the contents of the Doucet Collection 

Importantly, this opportunity is open to applicants from across the globe, but special consideration is given to candidates from Latin America and the Global South, in line with the Institute’s mission to support historically underrepresented voices in academic research.

This is not a general internship or travel grant; it is a competitive academic scholarship meant for researchers who are already deeply engaged in legal history and who will benefit academically and professionally from direct access to MPI-LHLT’s resources and intellectual community.

What Does the Doucet Scholarship Offer?

The 2026 Doucet Scholarship offers a comprehensive funding package, including:

• A monthly stipend of €1,365 for the duration of the research stay (3 months, January–March 2026). Round-trip airfare reimbursement: 
  • Up to €1,500 for transatlantic flights (e.g., from Latin America or North America) 
  • Up to €750 for flights within Europe 

In addition to financial support, scholars will have:

• Access to the Doucet Collection and MPI-LHLT’s broader research library 
• A workspace at the Max Planck Institute in Frankfurt 
• Engagement with a vibrant community of international researchers 
• Opportunities to attend seminars, workshops, and conferences hosted by the Institute during the research stay 

This combination of funding, institutional support, and research access makes the Doucet Scholarship one of the most attractive short-term academic opportunities in the field of legal history.

Why This Opportunity Matters

The Doucet Scholarship is more than a funding program—it’s a platform for academic growth and international collaboration. For scholars from the Global South, especially, it provides a unique chance to:

• Conduct archival research in Europe, with all major expenses covered 
• Strengthen academic credentials and grow your publication portfolio. 
• Connect with senior researchers and peers from around the wor.ld 
• Elevate your academic profile and open doors to future PhD or postdoctoral opportunities. 

It is especially significant for researchers in Latin America who may not have institutional access to the Doucet Collection or similar legal archives. The chance to conduct in-person research using sources is not only intellectually enriching but also career-defining.

Research Topics and Themes: What Kind of Projects Are Eligible?

Applicants should propose research projects that make direct use of the monographs and edited sources found in the Doucet Collection. Possible topics might include:

• Legal pluralism in Spanish colonial territories 
• Indigenous legal systems and their interactions with colonial law 
• Administration of justice and legal institutions in the Viceroyalties 
• Legal frameworks surrounding land, labor, and taxation 
• Comparative legal history between colonies in Hispanoamerica 
• Translation and interpretation of colonial legal codes 
• The role of legal texts in the exercise of colonial power 

If your work involves close textual analysis, historical legal theory, or comparative approaches to law in the colonial context, you are especially encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Official Scholarship and Institution Links

• Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory (Homepage)
  https://www.mpg.de/institutes/legal-history-legal-theory
  https://www.lhlt.mpg.de/499728/doucet-scholarship

Applications for the Doucet Scholarship must be submitted by 15 September 2025. Although full application instructions are typically provided on the official website of the Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory, the following documents are generally required:

1. Research Proposal

Prepare a compelling and concise proposal (typically 2–4 pages) outlining:

• The topic and objective of your research 
• How your project engages with the Doucet Collection 
• Why a stay at MPI-LHLT is essential to your project 
• Expected outcomes or publications 

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Include academic history, research experience, language skills, and relevant publications (if any).

3. Letter of Motivation

Explain your academic background, career goals, and the broader impact of your research. Be specific about your interest in the Doucet Scholarship.

4. Proof of Enrollment

Provide documentation confirming your current enrollment in a graduate program (or a recent diploma if you’re a recent graduate).

5. Reference Letter (Optional but Recommended)

A letter from a professor or academic supervisor can strengthen your application and demonstrate institutional support.

All documents should be submitted in English or Spanish, and ideally in PDF format.

Tips for a Successful Application

• Tailor your proposal directly to the Doucet Collection. Show that you understand what the collection contains and how it supports your research. 
• Be specific in your goals. Vague topics or overly broad research plans weaken your application. 
• Connect your work to broader questions in legal history, especially those relevant to Latin America. 
• Demonstrate need and impact. Why do you need to be in Frankfurt for this project? How will it shape your future research or publications? 
• Apply early. Don’t wait until the last minute. Give your referees time to write strong letters and allow yourself time to revise your proposal.

Life in Frankfurt: What to Expect

Spending three months in Frankfurt am Main offers more than academic resources. As one of Germany’s financial and cultural hubs, Frankfurt combines modern infrastructure with historic charm. The city is:

• Well-connected via public transport 
• Home to multiple museums, libraries, and archives 
• Internationally diverse, with many English-speaking residents 
• A great starting point for travel within Germany and Europe 

The Max Planck Institute itself is known for its welcoming research environment and interdisciplinary collaboration. Scholars benefit not only from resources but also from the mentorship and feedback of legal historians working on global, European, and comparative topics.

 Why You Should Apply

The Doucet Scholarship 2026 is a rare opportunity for serious researchers in legal history to engage directly with primary sources that are seldom accessible outside of Germany. If you’re pursuing work on early modern Hispanoameria or legal systems under colonial rule, this program offers everything you need to take your research to the next level.

Whether you’re a graduate student looking for your first international research experience or an early-career academic hoping to expand your network and deepen your scholarship, the Doucet Scholarship provides a fully supported path to achievement.

With a generous stipend, airfare support, access to a world-class research library, and a place in an esteemed academic institution, this scholarship is more than a research stay—it’s an investment in your academic future.

Summary at a Glance