1. June 2026 | Max-Weber-Kolleg, Religion, Society, and World Relations, Research, Service

Max Weber Prize for Young Researchers 2026 announced

The Max Weber Centre for Cultural and Social Science Studies at the University of Erfurt invites applications for the Max Weber Prize for Young Researchers. This prize is intended to honour outstanding work by an early-stage researcher within the framework of Weber's research programme, i.e. in the field of interdisciplinary cultural and social science research with historical depth and/or an interest in normative issues.

Dissertations or post-doctoral theses from the following and related disciplines are eligible for funding: sociology, history, religious studies, economics, law, Philosophy and theology. The aim is not to provide an exegesis of Max Weber's work, but to apply his research programme to issues in the cultural, religious and social sciences.

The prize is awarded every two years and is endowed with 1,500 euros, which can be used for research purposes, in particular to cover printing costs and/or to finance a one-month research stay at the Max-Weber-Kolleg. Theses completed between 2024 and 2025 and written in German or English can be submitted.

The award ceremony will take place in Erfurt in 2027. Applications can be submitted until 15 July 2026 to: Max-Weber-Kolleg of the University of Erfurt, Directorate, Nordhäuser Str. 63 99089 Erfurt and electronically to: dekanat.mwk@uni-erfurt.de.

call for applications