Deadline: 7 September 2025
The International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) is now accepting applications for its 2026 Scholarship Programme. This initiative offers legal scholars and professionals from around the world a unique opportunity to engage in advanced legal research at UNIDROIT headquarters in Rome, Italy.
The programme is designed to foster academic exploration and global collaboration in the field of private international law. Each year, a limited number of scholarships are awarded to outstanding doctoral students, academics, legal practitioners, and government officials to pursue research aligned with UNIDROIT’s mandate.
Programme Overview
Selected scholars will be granted a monthly stipend of €1,500 to conduct legal research using the UNIDROIT Library for a period of two months. In exceptional cases, scholars may receive support for a three-month stay.
The research must be conducted in-person in Rome. During their stay, scholars may be invited to deliver a brief workshop on their research topic and are encouraged to submit their final paper to the Uniform Law Review, a peer-reviewed journal published by Oxford University Press.
The programme also benefits from the support of the UNIDROIT Asian Transnational Law Centre, which has made additional scholarships available to candidates from the Asia-Pacific region.
Applicants who are not selected for a funded scholarship may still be offered the opportunity to undertake an unfunded research stay at UNIDROIT.
Research Focus Areas
Scholars may propose research in any of UNIDROIT’s key thematic areas, instruments, or projects. However, priority consideration will be given to proposals related to the following topics:
- Access to Credit:
Cape Town Convention; MAC, Rail, and Space Protocols; Legal and Regulatory Aspects of Investment-Based Crowdfunding; Model Laws on Factoring and Warehouse Receipts - International Commercial Contracts:
International Investment Contracts; Construction and Engineering Contract Law - Private Law and Agricultural Development:
Legal Guide on Agricultural Land Investment Contracts; Legal Guide on Contract Farming; Legal structures for agricultural enterprises - Law and Technology:
Digital Assets and Private Law; Civil Liability for Digital Risks - Capital Markets and Financial Law:
Bank Insolvency; Insolvency of Insurance Enterprises - Transnational Civil Procedure:
Best Practices for Effective Enforcement - Cultural Property:
1995 UNIDROIT Convention; Legal issues related to private art collections - Sustainable Development:
Legal nature of Verified Carbon Credits; Corporate sustainability due diligence in global value chains
These research areas reflect UNIDROIT’s broad commitment to harmonizing private and commercial law across national borders and contributing to international legal development.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must demonstrate:
- A strong academic or professional background in law (particularly in private or international law)
- A clear, feasible, and original research proposal relevant to UNIDROIT’s work
- Proficiency in English or French, both written and spoken, at a professional legal standard
Eligible candidates include:
- Doctoral-level researchers
- Legal academics
- Practicing lawyers
- Government officials working in relevant legal fields
Priority is given to applicants from developing countries or regions underrepresented in the international legal scholarship community.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted online using the UNIDROIT 2026 Scholarship Programme Application Form, available on the UNIDROIT website.
Applicants must upload a single document (PDF or Word) that includes:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) – Mandatory
- Cover Letter – Mandatory
- Supporting reference letters – Optional
- Research Proposal – Mandatory
Applications will be assessed based on:
- Relevance and originality of the research topic
- Applicant’s qualifications and professional experience
- Language proficiency
- Alignment with UNIDROIT’s strategic priorities
- Potential contribution to international legal scholarship
Timeline
- Application deadline: 7 September 2025
- Shortlisting and interviews: October–November 2025
- Final notifications: By end of December 2025
- Research residencies: To be undertaken during 2026
Applicants are expected to self-finance travel, accommodation, and health insurance, as the stipend provided is limited and primarily supports day-to-day living expenses in Rome.
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring organization. For any inquiries, please contact the hiring organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
