Scholarship for Young International Law Researchers
The International and Comparative Law Research Center recognises the importance of supporting young professionals who have chosen the academic path and intends to provide scholarships to young researchers each year to encourage them to conduct research in international law.
The Scholarship may be awarded to applicants who wish to devote sufficient time to working on academic research in one of the thematic areas determined annually by the ICLRC and attending the ICLRC Library on a compulsory basis.
Applications for 2025-2026 are accepted until 24 November 2025.
Conditions
Scholarship term: from 3 to 6 months with the possibility of a single extension for no more than 3 months.
Maximum number of Scholarship recipients: 3.
The Scholarship amount: 60,000 rubles per month (after taxes and fees). In certain cases, it may be increased up to 80,000 rubles per month (based on the recipient's financial situation).
The Scholarship may be granted to a researcher under 35 years old with a completed higher legal education of at least a specialist or master's degree (at the time of the selection announcement).
The Scholarship may also be awarded to a master's student who has demonstrated a deep interest in researching international law issues and sufficient competencies to prepare a high-quality paper.
Any person may become the Scholarship recipient regardless of their citizenship or place of residence, provided that they meet the requirement to visit the ICLRC Library (at least 25% of the time of participation in the programme).
Full details on the application process and participation in the programme are presented in The Scholarship Programme Regulations
Thematic Areas of Research
Future research should address one or a few of the following areas:
- Sources of International Law
- Non-Legally Binding Agreements
- Subsidiary Means for the Determination of Rules of International Law
- Obligations in International Law
- Compensation for Damage in International Law
- Immunities in International Law
- The Environment and International Law
- Oceans and International Law (Law of the Sea)
- Climate Change and International Law
- International Investment Law
- Law of International Organizations
- Space and International Law
- Civil Aviation and International Law
- Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes
- Advisory Function of International Courts
- EAEU and International Law
Submission of Applications
Applications should be submitted to scholarship@iclrc.ru .
The application must include:
- CV with the applicant's contact details
- confirmation of the applicant's master's degree or specialist's diploma (or confirmation of the fact of studying in a master's program)
- motivation letter indicating the desired period for the provision of the Scholarship and its justification, and, if necessary, with a justification for increasing the amount of the Scholarship and/or a request to appoint a mentor from among the ICLRC employees
- exposé of the future academic research (a preliminary draft/summary containing information about the essence of the research, the questions posed by the applicant, and the expected results) in the field of international law, which the applicant is preparing and for which the Scholarship is requested, of no more than 12,000 characters with spaces. The exposé also includes an indication of one or more thematic areas defined by the ICLRC, to which the topic of the future academic research corresponds
- letters of recommendation from two specialists of international law who have experience interacting with the applicant
- consent to the processing of personal data
Detailed information on the selection procedure and document requirements is presented in The Scholarship Programme Regulations
Scholarships 2024
Mikael Artak Arshakyan. "Legal Effect and Consequences of Armed Conflicts on International Investment Treaties"
Aisylu Latypova. "International Legal Aspects of Activities in the Field of Artificial Intelligence"
Georgy Suvorov. "Sea Level Rise: International Law Aspects"
Scholarships 2023
Elizaveta Umrikhina. "Role of the Mechanism of Advisory Opinions in Fighting Climate Change in International Legal Regime"
"To summarise, I had a very positive impression of my participation in the Scholarship for Young International Law Researchers, which provided me with a very exciting research experience as a young international lawyer. I strongly encourage all persons interested in international law to apply!"
Egor Sigauri-Gorsky. "The Integration Model of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as an International Legal Phenomenon"
"... this is a one-of-a-kind opportunity not only to investigate a chosen topic but also to 'experience' it, investing as much time as possible in it, which the researcher will do in an open, friendly, and expert environment. Working on the Center's Scholarship programme will always be one of the most vivid and productive chapters in my professional development and formation as a scholar."
Ekaterina Martynova. "Artificial Intelligence: Factors of Threat to International Peace and Security"
"During the three-month Scholarship programme, I had access to the Center's one-of-a-kind library, with both traditional and cutting-edge materials. ... At the conclusion of the programme, a seminar was conducted to present the study findings; I am grateful to the Center's staff for planning it, inviting known specialists to participate, and facilitating a constructive debate."
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the deadline for applications, and when will the results be announced?
Deadline for application is 24 November 2025 (11.59 p.m. (GMT+3)). Applicants who successfully pass the selection based on their documents will be invited to an interview. The final selection results will be published by 19 December 2025 (11.59 p.m. (GMT+3)).
2. What is the amount of the Scholarship and how long is it paid?
The Scholarship is granted for a period of three to six calendar months in the amount of 60,000 rubles per month.
3. Is it mandatory to visit the Library?
Yes, it is mandatory. Participants are required to visit the ICLRC Library for at least 25% of the total number of calendar days during their participation in the Scholarship programme. Failure to comply with the Library visit requirement may result in a shortening of the Scholarship period. However, if necessary, the applicant may agree to a Library visit schedule (for example, by agreeing to conduct research in the Library for the first half of the Scholarship period and remotely for the second half).
4. What other documents besides the basic ones are required?
To participate in the programme, in addition to a CV, motivation letter, exposé, etc., the applicant shall provide two letters of recommendation from different professionals who have worked with the applicant. There are no formal requirements for the letters, but they should reflect the experience of interacting with the applicant and a brief profile of the applicant.
5. What is required from the Scholarship recipient upon completion of the programme?
The programme provides for two forms of reporting. First, the Scholarship recipient agrees upon the outcomes to be achieved. Given time constraints, this does not necessarily mean a final research paper: it could include the preparation of a first draft of the study, the submission of a section of the study for publication, or a presentation at a conference. Second, the Scholarship recipient is required to present the research results at the ICLRC platform, in Russian or English.
Application for participation
All data (except for the competition paper) must be submitted in Russian