The doctoral program awards, whenever possible, two one-year initial scholarships of CHF 30,000 each year.
Applications may generally be submitted at any time.

The initial scholarship enables early career researchers to develop funding proposals during the initial phase of their doctorate, enabling them to apply to the Swiss National Science Foundation or another institution for continued funding of their research project.

Recipients may engage in part-time work amounting to no more than 25% of full-time hours.

The following criteria constitute the application profile:

• A master’s or licentiate degree from a law school in Switzerland or an equivalent degree from a recognized foreign higher education institution. A minimum grade point average of 5.0 according to the Swiss grading system or an equivalent foreign degree. For candidates who are nearing completion of their studies or who come from other academic disciplines, the doctoral boards will decide on admission and the associated additional requirements after consulting with the prospective primary advisor.
• A supervision acceptance must be in place.
• The period between the completion of a university degree or state examination and the application should generally not exceed two years (subject to justified exceptions, such as the bar exam).
• Applicants are expected to demonstrate above-average motivation for academic engagement with the research question, as well as a willingness to engage in interdisciplinary work.