The UNIDROIT Library is more than just a study centre for those who take part in the legislative activities of the Organisation and for visiting researchers; it is also a meeting-place for people of different legal cultures where the legislative work being carried out by UNIDROIT for more than three quarters of a century constitutes a stimulus for research in the exceptional setting of the Villa Aldobrandini located right in the centre of Rome.

INDEPENDENT VISITING RESEARCHERS

Government officials and members of the legal profession, not only academics and practitioners but also law students from all over the world, are welcome to use the UNIDROIT Library, subject to the Librarian's approval of their application. Applicants may use such approval to support their requests to potential sponsors (which may be the institution to which they belong, private or public donors, sponsoring institutions that promote legal research and legal reform, etc.) to finance their stay in Rome. Projects relating to UNIDROIT’s past legislative activities as well as subjects on the current UNIDROIT Work Programme are given special attention in this connection. A good working knowledge of English and/or French is indispensable.

Information: Mme Laura Tikanvaara : l.tikanvaara@unidroit.org

RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAMME

In line with UNIDROIT’s legal co-operation activities, a Research Scholarships Programme has been set up for top-level lawyers, with special attention given to applicants from developing countries or countries in economic transition. Since 1993, when the Programme was first launched, it has hosted roughly 200 researchers from some 60 countries. Between 12 and 15 scholarships are awarded each year for an average research period of two months.

A list of researchers and a forum for them are under construction.

The Programme is funded partly from the general budget of UNIDROIT and by donors. Among the latter are the Government of the Republic of Korea, the UK Foundation for International Uniform Law, the American Foundation for International Uniform Law. UNIDROIT appeals to potential sponsors to support the Research Scholarships Programme. For further information see Information for donors .

A scholarship (average duration: two months, minimum duration: six weeks, depending also on the special terms and conditions attached to each single scholarship) may cover all or part of the cost of living in Rome for the designated period, but beneficiaries are in principle expected to meet their own travel expenses.

Scholarships are awarded by the UNIDROIT Governing Council or by the Secretary-General acting on its behalf, upon the recommendation of the Scholarships Committee and applying the following criteria (subject to any specific requirements on the part of donors):

• the subject of the candidate’s research project, which must be related to uniform law / international private law (see details of the holdings of the UNIDROIT Library indicated in the Library's on-line catalogue), preference being given to subjects that fit in with the Organisation’s Work Programme;

• the project’s potential for practical application in the beneficiary’s country of origin, preference being given to projects relating to the drafting of national laws or which aim at promoting the study, the implementation or the adoption of uniform law instruments;

• the candidate's qualifications (“graduate” or “post-graduate”) and position (academic, civil servant, judge, practitioner);

• a good working knowledge of English and/or French is indispensable (please attach a certificate of proficiency TOEFL / DELF level).

Candidates who are not granted a scholarship may nevertheless be accepted for a period of independent research at their own expense (see below).

UNIDROIT Research Scholarships Programme : Regulations

At the end of their stay, scholars are required to submit a report on the research they have carried out at UNIDROIT. Contributions of a sufficiently high scientific level may be submitted for possible publication in the Uniform Law Review / Revue de droit uniforme, subject to acceptance by its Editorial Board.

Applications are to be sent using the form in pdf or in WORD together with the requested documents.

UNIDROIT Scholarships,
To the attention of Ms Laura Tikanvaara,
Via Panisperna 28,
00184 Rome, Italy
e-mail : l.tikanvaara@unidroit.org

JOINT SCHOLARSHIPS WITH NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES OR RESEARCH CENTRES

The Secretariat is open to any project for co-operation with national universities or research centres or other international organisations with a view to organising joint scholarships in accordance with the objectives of each of the institutions involved. Possible co-operation formulae include the granting of a UNIDROIT research period as a bonus in the framework of doctoral studies or competitions among young professors, such a period to be funded in full by the associated institution or a third party of its choice, or jointly with UNIDROIT. This type of co-operation has been successfully implemented since 2002 with the Universidad argentina de la Empresa (UADE) (Buenos Aires).

Another option is to organise a research period at UNIDROIT followed by a research period at another institution, subject to that institution's conditions for admission. This type of cooperation has been successfully implemented since 2002 with the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law (SICL).

Co-ordinator: Ms Frédérique Mestre : f.mestre@unidroit.org