Call for Applications: re:constitution Fellowships

In light of the existing and future challenges in the European Union and its neighbourhood, re:constitution aims to strengthen the common ground for the rule of law and democratic principles by encouraging pan-European mobility, interdisciplinary debate and the formation of a network of scholars and practitioners of law and democracy.

The programme enables Fellows to contribute to the debate on the state and future of the constitution of democracy and rule of law in Europe, encourages critical debates across and within national positions, across academia and practice. Based on a unique concept centred around Europe-wide mobility for collaboration combined with opportunities of exchange and a European Alumni Network, the Fellowship programme is designed to contribute to safeguarding and strengthening the rule of law, democracy and the respect of fundamental rights.

Tracks

• Track 1 – Full Time
  • 10 Fellowships available
  • For scholars and practitioners
  • Mobility period of 6 months to be taken flexibly between October 2025 and July 2026.
  • Research stays at TWO host institutions in EU / non-EU EEA / EU candidate countries / UK or CH during mobility period, divided between a research institution and an institution working in a practical context and on a full-time basis each. The host institutions’ locations must differ from the country of residence during the time of the Fellowship.
  • Participation in 3 Fellows’ Exchange Meetings over 2-3 days each mandatory:
  • First meeting: September 2025 in-person in Berlin
  • Second meeting: February 2026 online
  • Third meeting: June 2026 in-person outside of Germany
  • Presentation of re:constitution research project and full participation in Online Fellow Talks series
• Track 2 – Shorter mobility period with part-time option
  • 5 Fellowships available
  • Exclusively for practitioners
  • Research stay at ONE host institution in EU / non-EU EEA / EU candidate countries / UK or CH during mobility period, with a duration
  • Of 3 months on full-time basis, OR
  • Of 6 months on a part-time basis.
  • The location of the host institution must differ from the country of residence during the time of the Fellowship. Since the Fellowships are designed to converge academia and practice, they encourage practitioners to approach host institutions in academia if beneficial to their projects.
  • Participation in at least 2 out of 3 Fellows’ Exchange Meetings. Attendance of the first in-person meeting in September 2025 in Berlin is mandatory. Subsequently, Fellows should attend at least oone of the additional meetings:
  • Second meeting: February 2026 online,
  • Third meeting: June 2026 in-person outside of Germany.
  • Presentation of re:constitution research project in Online Fellow Talks series, participation in full series optional, but encouraged.

Benefits

• Independence to research and publish on an issue of choice conneced to democracy and the rule of law in Europe.
• Funding for mobility via collaboration with selected host institutions across the EU, non-EU EEA, EU candidate countries, the UK or CH, offering new personal and remote work and exchange opportunities.
• Exchange and debate on topical issues in interdisciplinary, high-quality and flexible environment of mutual learning and professional development among scholars, legal practitioners and journalists from across Europe.
• Networking through multi-faceted exchange about democracy and the rule of law in personal meetings with leading experts and decision makers from across Europe and different backgrounds offering diverse perspectives.
• Shaping the re:constitution alumni network to build a sustainable community of knowledge and discussion with potential for further collaboration and support.
• Support by the coordination team and access to a secure digital collaborative working space provided by Forum Transregionale Studien.
• Opportunities to become involved in the broader analytical work of the re:constitution programme run by DRI, based on interests and availability.
• Training courses to promote Fellows’ further career development, particularly in the areas of interdisciplinary, intersectoral and transregional competences and to expand methodological knowledge.

Funding Information

• Track 1 – Full Time
  • € 2.500 per month during mobility periods between October 2025 and July 2026.
• Track 2 – Shorter mobility period with part-time option
  • 2.500,- € per mobility month to cover 3-month full-time, OR
  • 1.250,- € per mobility month to cover 6-month part-time mobility phase.
  • Mobility period of 3 months full-time (or 6 months part-time) to be taken flexibly between October 2025 and July 2026

Eligible Projects

• With accepting the Fellowship, the applicants will agree
  • To pursue an independent research project about an issue pertaining to the programmatic scope of re:constitution,
  • To select host institutions across the EU, non-EU EEA, EU candidate countries, UK or CH and to manage their own research stays of 6 months at two host institutions working in academia and practise,
  • To attend the Fellows’ Exchange Meetings in September 2025, February and June 2026,
  • To ensure their participation in the Fellow Talk series to present their research and discuss other Fellows’ research projects,
  • To publish the project results and outcomes in a suitable format. These can be re:constitution Working Papers (for any academic papers) or alternatively, other output formats (e.g. policy papers, op-eds, reports, essays, podcast episodes, blog posts etc). Producing one type of outcome is the minimal requirement; further publication and dissemination is welcome. Please specify your preference/s in the application!

Eligibility Criteria

• Re:constitution invites applications from residents in the European Union, non-EU EEA countries, EU candidate countries in active accession negotiations or pursuing the start of negotiations, as well as from residents in Switzerland and the United Kingdom in the early stages of their careers as:
  • Scholars (Track 1)
    • Holding/finishing a PhD in law/legal studies and/or political sciences, social sciences, philosophy or other neighbouring disciplines (focusing on issues on and around democracy and/or the rule of law in Europe). Your PhD research should either be almost completed or should have been completed no more than 10 years ago. Scholars who are still working on their dissertation may be eligible if their PhD will be completed within one year.
  • Practitioners (Track 1 And 2)
    • Government officials (e.g. policy advisors) from central authorities and local selfgovernment bodies,
    • Judges, magistrates, prosecutors, law clerks and other legal professions or practising lawyers (attorneys),
    • NGO/think tank legal/policy experts working on the rule of law and/or democracy in Europe,
    • Journalists reporting on the rule of law and/or democracy in Europe,
    • General researchers/legal experts working on questions pertaining to the rule of law and/or democracy in Europe.

Application Requirements

• As part of your application, you will be asked to prepare and upload the following:
  • Curriculum vitae including a list of publications (2-3 pages),
  • Project outline (max. 1500 words)
  • Short abstract of your project (max. 300 words),
  • Two references (university faculty members or practitioners in a field relevant to your project).
  • Please note: Letters of recommendation are Not Required.
• Potential host institutions (your preferred research and practice institutions in Europe to spend part of your mobility period, ideally including an indication of preferred dates and/or existing personal contacts. By the time of submitting your application you are not yet required to organise your stays.)
• The working language of re:constitution is English.
• The diversity of their societies should also be reflected in the Fellowships. They therefore welcome applicants of all cultural and social backgrounds, ages, religions, world views, disabilities or sexual identities. The applications will be evaluated by an evaluation committee of scholars and practitioners working in the fields of democracy and the rule of law. All applicants will be informed of the outcome of the evaluation process by early July 2025.

For more information, visit Forum Transregionale Studien.