Doctoral Program in Law, Finance, and Economics - fully funded

Overview

The Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE – Sustainable Architecture for Finance in Europe – is part of Goethe University Frankfurt. The institute promotes scientific research, transfer work to the public and independent policy advice on all aspects relating to the structure and functioning of the financial system. It aims to strengthen a sustainable and resilient financial system that drives innovation and serves the needs of the economy and its citizens. Researchers from economics, law and political science collaborate at SAFE.

Website:

Doctoral Program

SAFE offers a doctoral program with funding for three years, extendable for one additional year. Funding typically translates into a grant of 1,300 € per month in the first program year, and a research assistant position in the following years. The research assistant position starts as a 50 % employment contract in the second program year and upgrades to 70 % from the third year onwards. In the first year, mandatory coursework will bring applicants from the field of law “up to speed” in the methods used in quantitative research.

The doctoral students work in an inter‑and cross‑disciplinary research environment. Methods include law & economics, law & finance, behavioral law & economics. Topics include capital market regulation, corporate governance, regulation of household finance, competition, and judicial enforcement.

SAFE uses a “pool concept” for doctoral students: they choose a supervisor among SAFE professors and are encouraged to interact and write papers with any other SAFE researchers.

Requirements and expectations

• Applicants must have completed a law degree with honours (top 15 %) at a research university.
• Scholarship holders are expected to focus entirely on coursework during the first year.
• They must pass the economics courses taken; a research assistant contract after the first year is conditional on passing these exams.
• SAFE research assistants must choose a supervisor from among SAFE professors no later than by the first month of the second year, although projects with other SAFE researchers are allowed.
• Candidate may choose to write a book or a paper‑based dissertation in English targeting peer‑reviewed international law journals; completion of a publication is not a prerequisite, but the doctoral committee must certify sufficient quality for a decent publication chance.

Application

• Please enclose a CV, letter of motivation, certificates, and transcripts. Reference letters are welcomed but not mandatory.
• Upload all documents in one PDF file.

Apply before using the “Online Application” button.

For more information on the program, visit the detailed article (in German only) on our program by Jurinsight.

Questions? Please send an email to Prof. Dr. Dr. Alexander Morell or Prof. Dr. Tobias Tröger.