First-Year Programme

September 2026

All new researchers are required to attend a few introductory meetings at the beginning of the year. For further information see the Induction Programme.

First-Year Personal Research Plan

By 30 September 2026 at 12:00 (noon), every first-year PhD researcher has to complete, in consultation with their (provisional) supervisor, a Personal Research Plan (PRP), which:

1. identifies the working title and a general profile of the PhD research project;
2. specifies the seminars the researcher will follow as part of their programme in order to earn credits; and
3. specifies any classes in a foreign language or academic skills the researcher aims to take.

The PRP form is available by logging into my.eui portal.

Any future changes to the PRP must be updated. It is the researcher’s responsibility to have these changes registered.

All changes to the thesis working title should also be communicated for amendment at any time by sending an email to LawAdmin@EUI.eu

December 2026 - December Paper and (Research Question) Workshop

On 7 December 2026, first-year PhD researchers will participate in a mandatory one-day workshop where they will be divided into groups and present their proposed research question to receive feedback from professors, Max Weber fellows and other researchers. All first-year PhD researchers are required to submit the Research Question Statement by 12:00 (noon), on 27 November 2026.

February 2027 - February Paper and (Peer Feedback) Workshop

All first-year PhD researchers are required to submit the February Paper by 12:00 (noon), on 12 February 2027.
The researchers will then discuss the February Paper and receive feedback from professors, Max Weber fellows and other researchers at the Peer Feedback Workshop on 25 February 2027.

May 2027 – May Paper and May Paper Defence

All first-year PhD researchers are required to submit a May Paper by 12:00 (noon), on 27 April 2027. May Paper Defences before a panel of three readers will take place between 24 and 26 May 2027.

For further details, see the Researchers' Guide 2026-2027