fully funded phd programs in law uk

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PhD Programme in Law

The opportunity to undertake advanced legal research at one of the world's best law schools.

The London School of Economics is a world centre for advanced research and teaching with an outstanding reputation, with a campus situated in the heart of London, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. Only a short distance from Europe's financial, legal and cultural centres, LSE stands at the crossroads of international debate, a location that is fundamental to our identity as an outward looking institution with an active involvement in UK and world affairs. Each year the School attracts many influential outside speakers. Regular events and seminars involving politicians, regulators, practitioners and academics take place to complement your studies. 

LSE Law School is one of the UK's pre-eminent research institutions for law. Our academics are the authors of influential and often path-breaking scholarship, and many have globally leading reputations.  LSE Law is also one of UK's largest law schools, with over 70 academic members of staff. It is a uniquely cosmopolitan academic community, with staff and students coming from all over the world.  Our academics draw on a wide range of literatures and traditions, and pursue analyses that seek to situate the law within the political, social and economic context within which it is formed and operates. 

PhD Programme

The PhD programme at the London School of Economics and Political Science offers the opportunity to undertake advanced legal research at one of the world's best law schools. Students in our PhD programme receive excellent training and work under the supervision of leading scholars with strong international, comparative and interdisciplinary commitments. Our doctoral students become members of a lively academic community which is at the cutting-edge of legal scholarship and which plays a major role in the education of lawyers and law teachers from around the world.

We hope that the questions you have about our PhD programme will be answered in these web pages. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us , or see our Frequently Asked Questions  ...

PhD Funding

PhD Current research

PhD placements What do our PhD students do after leaving LSE?

FAQs Your questions about the PhD programme

PhD completions Browse our completed PhDs

Careers Our careers information and resources

Visiting research students How to apply as a visiting student

PhD Academy A dedicated space for PhD students

LSE Life Academic, personal, professional development

• Work For Us

Funded PhD Opportunities in Law

Northumbria University is a research-rich, business focused, professional university with a global reputation for academic excellence. 

Results from the recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) see us rise to 23rd place, climbing from our positions of 50th in 2014, and 80th in 2008.  Northumbria University is the sector’s largest riser in research power in the UK. 

Below you can find our available studentships for Law .

Eligibility Requirements:

• Academic excellence of the proposed student i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities [preference for 1st class honours]); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
• Appropriate IELTS score, if required.
• Applicants cannot apply for this funding if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Northumbria or elsewhere.

Please note: to be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
• have settled status, or
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student. Applicants will need to be in the UK and fully enrolled before stipend payments can commence, and be aware of the following additional costs that may be incurred, as these are not covered by the studentship.

Immigration Health Surcharge https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application

If you need to apply for a Student Visa to enter the UK, please refer to the information on https://www.gov.uk/student-visa. It is important that you read this information very carefully as it is your responsibility to ensure that you hold the correct funds required for your visa application otherwise your visa may be refused.

Check what COVID-19 tests you need to take and the quarantine rules for travel to England https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Costs associated with English Language requirements which may be required for students not having completed a first degree in English, will not be borne by the university. Please see individual adverts for further details of the English Language requirements for the university you are applying to.

How to Apply

For further details of how to apply, entry requirements and the application form, see  https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

For applications to be considered for interview, please include a research proposal of approximately 1,000 words and the advert reference (e.g. RDF23/…).

Deadline for applications: 27 January 2023

Start date of courses: 1 October 2023 TBC

Parents as Privacy Stewards (Bessant)

Advert Reference: RDF23/LAW/BESSANT

In recent years, scholars have begun to recognise the challenges parents may encounter when seeking to fulfil their role as the guardians or gatekeepers of their children’s privacy. Many parents have not grown up with the internet. First-time parents who use social media face new and difficult dilemmas; they know that sharing their children’s information may impact upon children’s privacy, yet at the same time they want to freely express themselves, and benefit from the connection and support that comes from sharing information with friends and family. Some parents may feel they have no real choice but to share their children’s information online. Increasingly parents are coerced into sharing their children’s information online, by family, friends, schools, the media and big brands. Social media companies and brands may monetise such information using it to profile families and target advertising.

Indeed, the parental privacy stewardship role is becoming increasingly difficult to fulfil as society becomes ever more datafied. Today’s children are the first generation to be ‘datafied’ from before birth, as companies collect information shared by parents via pregnancy monitoring apps. Parents often unwittingly develop children’s digital footprints further through baby trackers monitoring daily routines, social media updates, and home technologies including connected toys and home hubs. As children interact with the world, the collection of children’s information to profile and make decisions about children and their families further increases. Datafication results from children’s own interactions with mobile phones, wearable devices and social media. Children are datafied because public institutions are increasingly data driven. At school, children’s data is routinely collected and may subsequently be analysed to monitor educational progress, to evaluate behaviour, to track movements, to analyse canteen purchases, to predict progress, and to make interventions.

Children’s images may be shared by schools keen to promote the positive educational experiences they offer. Consent to use children’s information is not always sought from parents, despite their important privacy stewardship role. Indeed, it can be difficult for parents to know when and how children’s information is being collected and used by third parties. This is particularly the case as ‘dark’ or ‘deceptive’ design approaches are increasingly used by commercial entities to manipulate children and parents into revealing personal information.

This project will develop understanding of how the law regulates use of children’s information and how parents can be supported to effectively protect their children’s privacy in an increasingly datafied world.

This project is supervised by Dr Claire Bessant. For informal queries, please contact [email protected].

References:

Barassi, ‘Child Data Citizen: How Tech Companies are Profiling us from Before Birth’ (MIT Press, 2020)

Bessant, ‘Children, Public Sector Data-Driven Decision-Making and Article 12 UNCRC, (2022) EJLT 13(2)

Bessant, ‘Sharenting: Balancing the conflicting rights of parents and children’ (2018) 23(1) Communications Law 7

Gligorivejic, ‘Children’s Privacy: The role of parental control and consent’ (2019) 19 HRLR 201

Lupton and Williamson, ‘The Datafied Child: The Dataveillance of Children and Implications for their Rights’ [2017] 19(5) New Media & Society 780

Ong et al, ‘Sharenting in an evolving digital world: Increasing online connection and consumer vulnerability’ (2022) 56(3) JCA 1106

Using AI in Sentencing and Management of Offenders (Tiarks)

Advert Reference: RDF23/LAW/TIARKS

This project will explore the current and future possible uses of artificial intelligence in sentencing and offender management in England and Wales. Examples from the United States, where the use of AI in criminal justice is more extensive, will also be considered. The project will assess the legal, ethical and human rights implications of using AI to assist decision-making about sentencing and the management of offenders. It is expected that the project will take an interdisciplinary and mixed methods approach, and qualitative and quantitative methods are encouraged where appropriate to explore the project issues.

The use of AI has increased in recent years, including in the field of criminal justice. Potential benefits which have been raised include a reduction in judicial bias, arbitrariness in decision-making and costs, as well as an increase in transparency in decision-making and overall efficiency. Conversely, it has been argued that the use of AI in sentencing and the management of offenders is more likely to increase bias and decrease transparency, with particular criticism aimed at the more advanced uses of AI in some states in the US.

The current use of AI in sentencing and the management of offenders in England and Wales is limited, but there is some indication that introducing more advanced machine learning methods is under consideration in England and Wales. The willingness to use machine learning in risk assessments used for predictive policing, e.g. Durham Constabulary’s Harm Assessment Risk Tool (HART), suggests that this may be the direction of travel. More advanced machine learning methods have been used in similar tools relied on to assist with sentencing and parole decisions in the US, e.g. Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS).

There is an urgent need for research into the legal, ethical and human rights implications of using AI in sentencing and the management of offenders. This project will make an important contribution to scholarship on this issue, weighing up the arguments for and against the current and proposed future uses of AI in sentencing and the management of offenders in England and Wales, having regard to other developments in the use of AI in criminal justice processes in England and Wales, and the uses in sentencing in the US.

This project is supervised by Dr Elizabeth Tiarks. for informal queries, please contact [email protected]

The Law Society, Algorithms in the Criminal Justice System (The Law Society 2019).

Oswald, M., Grace, J., Urwin, S. and Barnes, G.S., ‘Algorithmic risk assessment policing models: lessons from the Durham HART model and “Experimental” proportionality’ (2018) 27(2) Information & Communications Technology Law 223.

Stobbs, N., Hunter, D. and Bagaric, M., ‘Can sentencing be enhanced by the use of artificial intelligence?’ (2017) 41(5) Criminal Law Journal 261.

Tiarks, E.,’The impact of algorithms on legitimacy in sentencing’ (2021) 2(1) Journal of Law, Technology and Trust.

Criminal Law and Queer Male Desire (Ashford)

Advert Reference: RDF23/LAW/ASHFORD

Criminal Law continues to reach into the regulation of queer male desire whether in the form of the legacy from historic laws, or ongoing criminalization of sex or offences often related to sex, for example in relation to sex work, HIV transmission, public sex, or aspects of expression for example in relation to pornography.  Theoretical research, notably queer interventions from Adler (2018), Brooks (2019), Cossman (2007, 2021), Fischel (2016, 2019), and others have sought to challenge the boundaries of law and interrogate ideas of consent, bodily autonomy, ethics, and legal reform.  This project will provide an original socio-legal theoretical contribution developing these themes and is likely to incorporate empirical work. 

This research project will be conducted within the Gender, Sexuality, and Law research cluster, part of the Law and Society Research Group in the Faculty of Business and Law, where you will join a rich and thriving research community.  Examples of doctoral work that has been undertaken within this group include:;  same sex relationships and normative expectations; kink pornography and legal consciousness; equality and anti-discrimination law; international law, detention and sexual orientation and gender identity; sex work and international human rights; political and legal responses to sex work; and dating apps and HIV disclosure.

Applicants should clearly indicate where they would wish to focus the project within the context of the themes set out above.  The research will fall within the broad ambit of socio-legal methods and methodology and the application should clearly identify how it will do this.  Your project is likely to draw on queer and/or feminist perspectives but you should clearly articulate your proposed approach and methodology. 

This project is supervised by Professor Chris Ashford. For informal queries, please contact [email protected]

Giles, C, Ashford, C and Brown, K (2022) ‘Online Safety and Identity:  Navigating Same-Sex Male Social ‘Dating’ Apps and Networks’, Information & Communications Technology Law 31(3) 269-286.

Ashford, C and Longstaff, G (2022) ‘Towards a Politics of ‘Raw Dicks’:  Authenticity, the Alt-Self and New Understandings of the Phallus’, Journal of Bodies, Sexualities, and Masculinities 3(1) 79-97.

Ashford, C and Longstaff, G (2021) ‘(Re)regulating Gay Sex in Viral Times: Covid-19 and the Impersonal Intimacy of the Glory Hole’, Culture, Heath & Sexuality, 23(11) 1559-1572.

Ashford, C and Maine, A (eds.) (2020) Research Handbook on Gender, Sexuality and the Law, Edward Elgar.

21st Century Security Law (Boukalas)

Advert Reference: RDF23/LAW/BOUKALAS

Across the western world, the 21st century has been marked by the emergence of grave threats and the concomitant rise of security as a top social and political priority. Whether the threat is posed by terrorism or, more recently, a virus, western states conceptualise and communicate it as existential and mobilise a broad range of powers and resources to counter it. Moreover, governments do not seem to envision a future without threat: military confrontation and the multifaceted impacts of environmental crisis are added to the threat of pandemics and terrorism. As the threat becomes a permanent feature of society’s present and future, the security endeavour becomes perpetual and intense. This results to a hardening of the way the state relates to its citizens: in restriction of freedoms, increased suspicion and intolerance to resistance and protest.

Law is a key resource in this security endeavour. The state has been producing laws that are instrumental to its security objectives, so that Security Law has become a distinct and highly dynamic area of law in the 21st century. Security law has important effects on the broader legal framework — civil liberties; human rights; criminal, administrative and constitutional law; processes of investigation and trial — as well as the role, logic and purpose of law.

This call is for PhD proposals aiming to investigate 21st century security law in the west. Proposals should aim to examine relevant legal developments in one or more European, North American or South American countries or the European Union. Proposals are invited to focus in one or more areas of security law, especially on: (a) counterterrorism; (b) surveillance and intelligence; (c) biosecurity and public health; and (d) protest and public order. The research will also aim to assess the implications of security law for the broader legal framework; for the political institutions that produce and implement it; and on the role of law in mediating the relations between the state and society.

In their proposal, applicants are required to demonstrate their awareness of relevant literature and key legal documents and developments. They are also required to outline the key research questions they seek to investigate and the way they would approach them.

The research invited by this call is interdisciplinary, as it draws —at a minimum— from Law (doctrinal; theoretical; and socio-legal) as well as Social and Political theory. It is aligned with the Criminal Justice and the Law and Society research streams in the Law School.

This project is supervised by Christos Boukalas. For informal queries, please contact [email protected] 

Re-Imagining Secure Care (Wake)

Advert Reference: RDF23/LAW/WAKE

This PhD invites candidates to explore the following question: how can Secure Children’s Homes help to bridge the gap between custody and the community, in a way which supports children’s right to agentic engagement with their future pro-social development?

We encourage candidates who have the aspiration and ability to advance knowledge and understanding in this area through theoretically-informed empirical research. The candidate might approach this project from the perspective of a range of disciplines and fields of study, including socio-legal studies, youth and childhood studies, criminology, policy studies and adjacent fields of study.

This project is supervised by Professor Nicola Wake. For informal queries, please contact [email protected]

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• Schools & departments

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Law

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Research profile

The Edinburgh Law School is a vibrant, collegial and enriching community of legal, sociolegal and criminology researchers and offers an excellent setting for doctoral research.

Edinburgh Law School is ranked 3rd in the UK for law for the quality and breadth of our research by Research Professional, based on the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF2021).

Our doctoral researchers are key to the School’s research activities, and we work hard to ensure that they are fully engaged with staff and projects across all of our legal disciplines.

You will find opportunities in the following fields:

• company and commercial law
• comparative law
• constitutional and administrative law
• criminal law
• criminology and criminal justice
• environmental law
• European law, policy and institutions
• European private law
• evidence and procedure
• gender and sexuality
• human rights law
• information technology law
• intellectual property law
• international law
• legal theory
• medical law and ethics
• obligations
• contract delict
• unjustified enrichment
• property, trusts and successions
• Roman law and legal history
• socio-legal studies

Training and support

Doctoral researchers enjoy full access to the University’s research skills training which the Law School complements with a tailored research and wider skills programme.

The training programme in Year One (six seminars) includes workshops on research design, writing and research ethics.

The focus of the training programme in Year Two and Three is on supporting the dissemination of work with opportunities to present work.

Opportunities are also available for research exchanges through the League of European Research (LERU) network, as well as an annual research training exchange programme with KU Leuven.

• Find out more about the training and support available

Doctoral researchers are able to draw upon a fantastic range of resources and facilities to support their research.

The Law School has one of the most significant academic law libraries in the UK which offers outstanding digital resources alongside a world-leading print collection (almost 60,000 items including a unique collection for Scots law research).

You will also have access to the University’s Main Library which has one of the largest and most important collections in Britain, as well as the legal collection of the National Library of Scotland.

Career opportunities

Upon completion of the PhD, the majority of our students progress to postdoctoral research or lecturing and teaching roles.

Recent graduates have also found employment in roles as diverse as prison governor, solicitor and policy adviser for organisations including:

• the International Criminal Court
• Anderson Strathern
• HM Prison Service

Our PhD programme

Edinburgh Law School can offer expert supervision across an exceptional range of subject areas for PhD study.

A PhD at Edinburgh Law School involves undertaking independent research, culminating in the submission of a thesis of up to 100,000 words, which should be an original piece of work that makes a significant contribution to knowledge in the field of study and contains material worthy of publication.

As a doctoral student, you will join a diverse community of around 100 postgraduate researchers and will become an integral part of the intellectual life of the School.

• Find our more about studying for a PhD at Edinburgh Law School

Studying for a PhD video

Entry requirements.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

• PhD Law: a UK 2:1 honours degree in law, arts or social sciences, and a UK Masters degree with at least 60% in the taught section and 65% or more in the dissertation, or their international equivalents.

The majority of our applicants have studied law, but we are a comprehensive Law School covering a range of approaches to legal topics including social science, historical and philosophical enquiry; applications from non-law students with relevant studies and experience will be considered and if you require further guidance please contact us.

Entry to this programme is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements for consideration does not guarantee an offer of study

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other components. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 25 in writing and 23 in all other components.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 185 with at least 185 in writing and 176 in all other components.
• Trinity ISE : ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 70 in writing and 62 in all other components.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Scholarships and funding, featured funding.

• School of Law funding opportunities
• Research scholarships for international students
• Principal's Career Development PhD Scholarships

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Postgraduate Research Office
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 2022
• Contact: [email protected]
• School of Law (Postgraduate Research Office)
• Old College
• South Bridge
• Central Campus
• Programme: Law
• School: Law
• College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

PhD Law - 3 Years (Full-time)

Phd law - 6 years (part-time), application deadlines.

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

• How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Attend an open day

Discover more about Law at Manchester

PhD Law / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

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• Bachelor's (Honours) degree in a cognate subject at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and
• Master's degree in a relevant subject - with an overall average of 65% or above, a minimum mark of 65% in your dissertation and no mark below 55% (or overseas equivalent)

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Please ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by 1 December 2023. If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self-funding, you must submit your application before the below deadlines to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these dates have passed.

• For September 2024 entry: 30 June 2024
• For January 2025 entry: 30 September 2024

Programme options

Programme overview.

• Immerse yourself in sustained, in-depth study into a specific topic.
• Stimulate real change while you work across our core fields in terms of both legal and policy issues.
• Join a community of established researchers and contribute to a diverse intellectual environment.
• Receive research training in law and social sciences.

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To find out what studying on a postgraduate research programme at Manchester is like, visit our Open days and study fairs page and explore our virtual open week or future on-campus and international events.

We will be conducting our PGR virtual open week in October 2024. Find our about future events and postgraduate research sessions by signing up our email alerts. 

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £4,786 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): £2,393 International, including EU, students (per annum): £10,750

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards available to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including School of Social Sciences studentships is 1 December 2023.

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting your funding application and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below.

For more information about funding, visit our funding page to browse for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

• ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• School of Social Sciences PhD Studentships 2024 Entry
• AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)
• President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships 2024 Entry
• PhD Studentship with the Stuart Hall Foundation (Social Sciences) - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
• Humanities Doctoral Academy Humanitarian Scholarship 2024 Entry

Contact details

See: School Subjects

Programmes in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

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Law PhD / PhD by Distance Learning / MPhil / MJur

Annual tuition fee 2024 entry: UK: £4,778 full-time, £2,389 part-time International: £21,840 full-time; £10,920 part-time (distance learning only) More detail .

• Visit an Open Day
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• Course details
• Entry Requirements
• Employability

As a postgraduate researcher at Birmingham Law School you will be contributing to more than 85 years of research tradition, working alongside some of the country's most eminent legal scholars.

Our expertise spans a wide range of areas, including commercial law, criminal law, criminal justice, judicial administration, European law, public law, human rights, international law, private law, restitution, conflicts of law, international economic law, comparative law, health and social welfare, socio-legal studies, and legal theory.

ESRC funding for PhD students

The University of Birmingham is part of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Midlands Graduate School Doctoral Training Partnership, offering ESRC PhD studentships for campus-based programmes. ESRC awards are available for a range of social science disciplines including Applied Linguistics, Area Studies (African Studies), Economic and Social History, and Socio-Legal Studies.

Find out more

Postgraduate scholarships available

The College of Arts and Law is offering a range of scholarships for our postgraduate taught and research programmes to ensure that the very best talent is nurtured and supported.

Learn more about our scholarships

AHRC funding for PhD students

The University of Birmingham is part of the Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnership (M4C), offering Arts and Humanities Research Council PhD studentships for campus-based programmes. These include a number of Collaborative Doctoral Award opportunities. Each studentship includes research fees, a substantial maintenance grant and additional research training support. Applications are open until 12:00 (noon), 13 January 2021.

Scholarships for 2024 entry

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate programmes. With a scholarship pot worth over £2 million, we are committed to alleviating financial barriers to support you in taking your next steps.

Each scholarship has its own specific deadlines and eligibility criteria. Please familiarise yourself with the information on individual scholarship webpages prior to submitting an application.

Explore our scholarships

As well as providing expert supervision from experienced members of staff, we offer a friendly and supportive environment for our postgraduate students and consider them an integral part of the School’s  research community .

• With supervision from academic staff, our PhD programme requires you to research and write a thesis of 80,000 words that makes an original contribution to knowledge. Full-time students are expected to complete their work within three years. This programme can also be studied by Distance Learning -  see whether distance learning is an option for you .
• The MPhil programme requires you to research and write a 60,000-word thesis under the supervision of academic staff. Full-time students are expected to complete their work within two years.
• The MJur programme requires you to research and write a 40,000-word thesis under the supervision of academic staff. Full-time students are expected to complete their work within one year.

Our current Law PhD students

To find out more about the range of research currently being undertaken by our PhD students and the academics providing supervision, read our  profiles of current doctoral researchers .

At Birmingham, I have the fantastic opportunity to work with talented people from across a range of different cultural backgrounds which broadens my horizons and helps me get to know the world better. My supervisors provide great support and assistance, while I can always find activities on campus that interest me outside of my research. Yunxiang

Why study this course?

• Academic expertise : You will be supervised by experts, internationally renowned for their research in the legal field. Many of our academics ‘wrote the book’ on their area of expertise, or have been commissioned by governments and other public bodies to carry out important applied legal research. The University of Birmingham is a Top 100 University in the World (QS 2024 Rankings).
• Postgraduate community : The postgraduate community at Birmingham Law School is lively and supportive. You will have the opportunity to organise and participate in a range of research events, as well as get involved in social events. It is not without significance that several members of the School’s academic staff were themselves postgraduate students here. You can also make the most of new, dedicated postgraduate study spaces in the Law School and neighbouring Frankland Building.  Read more about the postgraduate community at Birmingham Law School . 
• Employability : Birmingham is one of the top universities in the UK for graduate employment. Our Centre for Professional Legal Education and Research (CEPLER) offers support, whether you are looking to pursue a career in law, academia or elsewhere. 

The postgraduate experience

The College of Arts and Law offers excellent support to its postgraduates, from libraries and research spaces, to careers support and funding opportunities. Learn more about your postgraduate experience .

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2024 entry are as follows:

• UK: £4,778 full-time; £2,389 part-time *
• International: £21,840 full-time; £10,920 part-time (distance learning only)

The same fees apply to both campus-based and distance learning study. The distance learning programme also includes one fully-funded visit to campus in the first year of study.

The above fees quoted are for one year only; for those studying over two or more years, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.

* For UK postgraduate research students the University fee level is set at Research Council rates and as such is subject to change. The final fee will be announced by Research Councils UK in spring 2024.

Eligibility for UK or international fees can be verified with Admissions. Learn more about fees for international students .

Paying your fees

Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding .

How To Apply

Application deadlines.

Applications are accepted at any time though we strongly encourage students to begin their studies at the start of the UK academic year (September).

Before you make your application

Full details of our requirements can be found on our Applications page . 

As part of the application for admission onto our MJur, MPhil and PhD programmes, you must prepare a research proposal outlining your proposed area of study. For more information, please see our  guidance on how to write a research proposal . 

Please also see our additional guidance for applicants to the PhD Distance Learning study mode . 

Making your application

• How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate research programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the research programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page . Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Our Standard Requirements

Our requirements for postgraduate research are dependent on the type of programme you are applying for:

• For MJur and MPhil programmes, entry usually requires a good (normally a 2:1 or above) Honours degree in law (or a subject related to the proposed area of research) or its international equivalent
• Typically, applicants for a PhD will also need to hold a Masters qualification at Merit level or above in law (or a subject related to the proposed area of research) or its international equivalent

Any academic and professional qualifications or relevant professional experience you may have will also taken into account.

If you are applying to study by distance learning, you will also be required to demonstrate that you have the time, commitment, facilities and experience to study by distance learning.

If your qualifications are non-standard or different from the entry requirements stated here, please email [email protected] .

International students

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries - use our handy guide below to see what qualifications we accept from your country.

English language requirements: standard language requirements apply for this course - IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in any band. If you are made an offer of a place to study and you do not meet the language requirement, you have the option to enrol on our English for Academic Purposes Presessional Course - if you successfully complete the course, you will be able to fulfil the language requirement without retaking a language qualification.

International Requirements

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 14/20 from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Argentinian university, with a promedio of at least 7.5, may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent

Applicants who hold a Masters degree will be considered for admission to PhD study.

Holders of a good four-year Diplomstudium/Magister or a Masters degree from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5 will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a good 5-year Specialist Diploma or 4-year Bachelor degree from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan, with a minimum GPA of 4/5 or 80% will be considered for entry to postgraduate taught programmes at the University of Birmingham.

For postgraduate research programmes applicants should have a good 5-year Specialist Diploma (completed after 1991), with a minimum grade point average of 4/5 or 80%, from a recognised higher education institution or a Masters or “Magistr Diplomu” or “Kandidat Nauk” from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0-3.3/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold a Masters degree from the University of Botswana with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (70%/B/'very good') will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Please note 4-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a Diploma of Higher Education. 5-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a British Bachelor (Ordinary) degree.

Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

A Licenciatura or Bacharelado degree from a recognised Brazilian university:

• A grade of 7.5/10 for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement
• A grade of 6.5/10for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement

Holders of a good Bachelors degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good post-2001 Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a minimum average of 14 out of 20 (or 70%) on a 4-year Licence, Bachelor degree or Diplôme d'Etudes Superieures de Commerce (DESC) or Diplôme d'Ingénieur or a Maîtrise will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Holders of a bachelor degree with honours from a recognised Canadian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A GPA of 3.0/4, 7.0/9 or 75% is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1.

Holders of the Licenciado or equivalent Professional Title from a recognised Chilean university will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD study will preferably hold a Magister degree or equivalent.

Students with a bachelor’s degree (4 years minimum) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. However please note that we will only consider students who meet the entry guidance below.  Please note: for the subject areas below we use the Shanghai Ranking 2022 (full table)  ,  Shanghai Ranking 2023 (full table) , and Shanghai Ranking of Chinese Art Universities 2023 .

需要具备学士学位（4年制）的申请人可申请研究生课程。请根据所申请的课程查看相应的入学要求。 请注意，中国院校名单参考 软科中国大学排名2022（总榜） ，  软科中国大学排名2023（总榜） ，以及 软科中国艺术类高校名单2023 。  

Business School    - MSc programmes (excluding MBA)  

商学院硕士课程（MBA除外）入学要求

School of Computer Science – all MSc programmes 计算机学院硕士课程入学要求

College of Social Sciences – courses listed below 社会科学 学院部分硕士课程入学要求 MA Education  (including all pathways) MSc TESOL Education MSc Public Management MA Global Public Policy MA Social Policy MA Sociology Department of Political Science and International Studies  全部硕士课程 International Development Department  全部硕士课程

  All other programmes (including MBA)   所有其他 硕士课程（包括 MBA）入学要求

Please note:

• Borderline cases: We may consider students with lower average score (within 5%) on a case-by-case basis if you have a relevant degree and very excellent grades in relevant subjects and/or relevant work experience. 如申请人均分低于相应录取要求（5%以内），但具有出色学术背景，优异的专业成绩，以及（或）相关的工作经验，部分课程将有可能单独酌情考虑。
• Please contact the China Recruitment Team for any questions on the above entry requirements. 如果您对录取要求有疑问，请联系伯明翰大学中国办公室   [email protected]

Holders of the Licenciado/Professional Title from a recognised Colombian university will be considered for our Postgraduate Diploma and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent.

Holders of a good bachelor degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Bacclaureus (Bachelors) from a recognised Croatian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 4.0 out of 5.0, vrlo dobar ‘very good’, or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelors degree(from the University of the West Indies or the University of Technology) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A Class II Upper Division degree is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1. For further details on particular institutions please refer to the list below.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Masters degree or Mphil from the University of the West Indies.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, or a GPA of 3 out of 4, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalár from a recognised Czech Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, velmi dobre ‘very good’ (post-2004) or 2, velmi dobre ‘good’ (pre-2004), or a good post-2002 Magistr (Masters), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 7-10 out of 12 (or 8 out of 13) or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters/ Magisterkonfereus/Magister Artium degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Ecuadorian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 70% or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Magister/Masterado or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Licenciado with excellent grades can be considered.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalaurusekraad from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 4/5 or B, or a good one- or two-year Magistrikraad from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with very good grades (grade B, 3.5/4 GPA or 85%) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

Holders of a good Kandidaatti / Kandidat (old system), a professional title such as Ekonomi, Diplomi-insinööri, Arkkitehti, Lisensiaatti (in Medicine, Dentistry and Vetinary Medicine), or a Maisteri / Magister (new system), Lisensiaatti / Licenciat, Oikeustieteen Kandidaatti / Juris Kandidat (new system) or Proviisori / Provisor from a recognised Finnish Higher Education institution, with a minimum overall grade of 2/3 or 4/5, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters/Maîtrise with a minimum overall grade of 13 out of 20, or a Magistère / Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies / Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures Specialisées / Mastère Specialis, from a recognised French university or Grande École to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Magister Artium, a Diplom or an Erstes Staatsexamen from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5, or a good two-year Lizentiat / Aufbaustudium / Zweites Staatsexamen or a Masters degree from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good four-year Ptychio (Bachelor degree) with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, from a recognised Greek university (AEI), and will usually be required to have completed a good Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis (Masters degree) from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

4-year Licenciado is deemed equivalent to a UK bachelors degree. A score of 75 or higher from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) can be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 60 is comparable to a UK 2.2.  Private universities have a higher pass mark, so 80 or higher should be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 70 is comparable to a UK 2.2

The Hong Kong Bachelor degree is considered comparable to British Bachelor degree standard. Students with bachelor degrees awarded by universities in Hong Kong may be considered for entry to one of our postgraduate degree programmes.

Students with Masters degrees may be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Alapfokozat / Alapképzés or Egyetemi Oklevel from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 3.5, or a good Mesterfokozat (Masters degree) or Egyetemi Doktor (university doctorate), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a 60% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the 4 year Sarjana (S1) from a recognised Indonesian institution will be considered for postgraduate study. Entry requirements vary with a minimum requirement of a GPA of 2.8.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution, with 100 out of 110 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold the Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Students with a Bachelor degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for entry to a postgraduate Masters degree provided they achieve a sufficiently high overall score in their first (Bachelor) degree. A GPA of 3.0/4.0 or a B average from a good Japanese university is usually considered equivalent to a UK 2:1.

Students with a Masters degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for PhD study. A high overall grade will be necessary to be considered.

Students who have completed their Specialist Diploma Мамаң дипломы/Диплом специалиста) or "Magistr" (Магистр дипломы/Диплом магистра) degree (completed after 1991) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of 2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate Masters degrees and, occasionally, directly for PhD degrees.  Holders of a Bachelor "Bakalavr" degree (Бакалавр дипломы/Диплом бакалавра) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of  2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, may also be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/50

Holders of a good Postgraduate Diploma (professional programme) from a recognised university or institution of Higher Education, with a minimum overall grade of 7.5 out of 10, or a post-2000 Magistrs, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 16/20 or 80% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Libya will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of a Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved score of 70% for 2:1 equivalency or 65% for 2:2 equivalency. Alternatively students will require a minimum of 3.0/4.0 or BB to be considered.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magistras from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, or a good post-2001 Magistras, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, or a Diplôme d'Études Supérieures Spécialisées (comparable to a UK PGDip) or Masters degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (70-74% or A or Marginal Distinction from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 60-69% or B or Bare Distinction/Credit is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Malaysian institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum of 3.0) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from the University of Malta with a minimum grade of 2:1 (Hons), and/or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (Honours) from a recognised institution (including the University of Mauritius) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2:1).

Students who hold the Licenciado/Professional Titulo from a recognised Mexican university with a promedio of at least 8 will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Students who have completed a Maestria from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree, licence or Maîtrise and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students with a good four year honours degree from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham. PhD applications will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Doctoraal from a recognised Dutch university with a minimum overall grade of 7 out of 10, and/or a good Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (minimum 4 years and/or level 400) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of B/Very Good or 1.6-2.5 for a 2.1 equivalency, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters, Mastergrad, Magister. Artium, Sivilingeniør, Candidatus realium or Candidatus philologiae degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0/4 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in the Palestinian Territories will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3/4 or 80% for 2:1 equivalency or a GPA of 2.5/4 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.    

Holders of the Título de Licenciado /Título de (4-6 years) or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Paraguayan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 4/5 or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  The Título Intermedio is a 2-3 year degree and is equivalent to a HNC, it is not suitable for postgraduate entry but holders of this award could be considered for second year undergraduate entry or pre-Masters.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría / Magister or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Título/Grado de Licenciado/a with excellent grades can be considered.

Holders of the Licenciado, with at least 13/20 may be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent. The Grado de Bachiller is equivalent to an ordinary degree, so grades of 15+/20 are required.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría or equivalent qualification.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4 out of 5, dobry ‘good’, and/or a good Swiadectwo Ukonczenia Studiów Podyplomowych (Certificate of Postgraduate Study) or post-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4.5/4+ out of 5, dobry plus 'better than good', will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Licenciado from a recognised university, or a Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializados (DESE) from a recognised Polytechnic Institution, with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, and/or a good Mestrado / Mestre (Masters) from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Romanian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree/Diploma de Master/Diploma de Studii Academice Postuniversitare (Postgraduate Diploma - Academic Studies) or Diploma de Studii Postuniversitare de Specializare (Postgraduate Diploma - Specialised Studies) to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Диплом Специалиста (Specialist Diploma) or Диплом Магистра (Magistr) degree from recognised universities in Russia (minimum GPA of 4.0) will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes/PhD study.

Students who hold a 4-year Bachelor degree with at least 16/20 or 70% will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies,Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. A score of 14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2

Students who hold a Bachelor (Honours) degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (or a score of 60-69% or B+) from a well ranked institution will be considered for most our Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees with a 2:1 requirement.

Students holding a good Bachelors Honours degree will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good three-year Bakalár or pre-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, Vel’mi dobrý ‘very good’, and/or a good Inžinier or a post-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Diploma o pridobljeni univerzitetni izobrazbi (Bachelors degree), Diplomant (Professionally oriented first degree), Univerzitetni diplomant (Academically oriented first degree) or Visoko Obrazovanja (until 1999) from a recognised Slovenian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8.0 out of 10, and/or a good Diploma specializacija (Postgraduate Diploma) or Magister (Masters) will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor Honours degree (also known as Baccalaureus Honores / Baccalaureus Cum Honoribus) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (70%) or a distinction (75%).

Holders of a Masters degree will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelor degree from a recognised South Korean institution (usually with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.5) will be considered for Masters programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 7 out of 10 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or a CGPA 3.30/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Kandidatexamen (Bachelors degree) or Yrkesexamen (Professional Bachelors degree) from a recognised Swedish Higher Education institution with the majority of subjects with a grade of VG (Val godkänd), and/or a good Magisterexamen (Masters degree), International Masters degree or Licentiatexamen (comparable to a UK Mphil), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good "PostGraduate Certificate" or "PostGraduate Diploma" or a Masters degree from a recognised Swiss higher education institution (with a minimum GPA of 5/6 or 8/10 or 2/5 (gut-bien-bene/good) for a 2.1 equivalence) may be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0, 3.5/5 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bachelor degree (from 75% to 85% depending upon the university in Taiwan) from a recognised institution will be considered for postgraduate Masters study. Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for entry to our postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree or Mphil from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a Bachelors degree from the following universities may be considered for entry to postgraduate programmes:

• Ateneo de Manila University - Quezon City
• De La Salle University - Manila
• University of Santo Tomas
• University of the Philippines - Diliman

Students from all other institutions with a Bachelors and a Masters degree or relevant work experience may be considered for postgraduate programmes.

Grading Schemes

1-5 where 1 is the highest 2.1 = 1.75 2.2 = 2.25 

Out of 4.0 where 4 is the highest 2.1 = 3.0 2.2 = 2.5

Letter grades and percentages 2.1 = B / 3.00 / 83% 2.2 = C+ / 2.5 / 77%

Holders of a postdoctoral qualification from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.  Students may be considered for PhD study if they have a Masters from one of the above listed universities.

Holders of a Lisans Diplomasi with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a Yuksek Diplomasi from a recognised university will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (2.1) or GPA of 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree / Диплом бакалавра (Dyplom Bakalavra), Диплом спеціаліста (Specialist Diploma) or a Dyplom Magistra from a recognised Ukrainian higher education institution with a minimum GPA of 4.0/5.0, 3.5/4, 8/12 or 80% or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

The University will consider students who hold an Honours degree from a recognised institution in the USA with a GPA of:

• 2.8 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement 
• 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement 

Please note that some subjects which are studied at postgraduate level in the USA, eg. Medicine and Law, are traditionally studied at undergraduate level in the UK.

Holders of the Magistr Diplomi (Master's degree) or Diplomi (Specialist Diploma), awarded by prestigious universities, who have attained high grades in their studies will be considered for postgraduate study.  Holders of the Fanlari Nomzodi (Candidate of Science), where appropriate, will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of the Licenciatura/Título or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Venezuelan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Scales of 1-5, 1-10 and 1-20 are used, an overall score of 70% or equivalent can be considered equivalent to a UK 2.1.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Maestria or equivalent qualification

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Vietnamese institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum GPA of 7.0 and above) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.  Holders of a Masters degree (thac si) will be considered for entry to PhD programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5/5.0 or a mark of 2.0/2.5 (A) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a good Bachelor Honours degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

Members of Birmingham Law School are active in research and publication, and many of their books have become standard works on numerous areas of law. Academics working in the School are well known for carrying out important applied legal research, much of it commissioned by the government and other public bodies.

Birmingham Law School staff research supervision areas

• Commercial and company law (include banking, international commercial law, corporate governance)
• Comparative law (including civil law)
• Constitutional and administrative law (including legal response to terrorism)
• Criminal law and criminal justice (including international criminal law and evidence) 
• Environmental law
• European Union law
• Health and health care law
• Human rights and civil liberties
• International law and global legal studies (to include conflicts,  international economic law, International sale of goods, international trade law, transitional justice, law and development, international economic law, international criminal law)  
• Jurisprudence and legal theory
• Law and society (disability law, law and religion, gender and sexuality) 
• Legal education and the legal profession (legal education, judicial administration)
• Private law (contract, tort, restitution and common law)
• Property law (including intellectual property)

Related research

• Institute of European Law
• Institute of Judicial Administration

Your degree will provide excellent preparation for your future career, but this can also be enhanced by a range of employability support services offered by the University and the College of Arts and Law.

The University's Careers Network  provides expert guidance and activities especially for postgraduates, which will help you achieve your career goals. The College of Arts and Law also has a dedicated  careers and employability team  who offer tailored advice and a programme of College-specific careers events.

You will be encouraged to make the most of your postgraduate experience and will have the opportunity to:

• Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique, whether you are looking for a career inside or outside of academia
• Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations
• Attend an annual programme of careers fairs, skills workshops and conferences, including bespoke events for postgraduates in the College of Arts and Law
• Take part in a range of activities to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers and enhance your CV

What’s more, you will be able to access our full range of careers support for up to 2 years after graduation. 

Postgraduate employability: Law

Postgraduate research students have the opportunity to benefit from extensive careers advice and employability support from the Law School. If you are interested in a qualifying as a lawyer, you have access to a wide range of events and activities, including regular visits from major law firms and barristers’ chambers. All of our careers and employability activities are organised through the Law School’s  Centre for Professional Legal Education and Research . Over the past 5 years, 83% of our postgraduates were in work and/or further study 6 months after graduation (DLHE 2012 – 2017).

If a career in academia is your goal, we have an annual lecture and exclusive advice sessions for postgraduate researchers, which includes support to develop you career profile and secure a job in higher education. It is not without significance that several members of the Law School’s academic staff were themselves postgraduate students here.

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School of Law PhD Studentships

• PhD programme

PhD Studentships for 2024-25 entry

The School of Law is looking to offer a limited number of Studentship Awards. To be eligible, applicants must submit a research proposal relevant to an area of Law that the School of Law possesses academic expertise in, and thus can offer doctoral supervision in.

The Department of Law can offer supervision in most areas of non-commercial law. Please see our staff list to view areas of staff expertise. Should you wish to see if we have academics with research expertise in your proposed area of research type in your proposed area of research in the ‘search’ box at the top of this page. Once you have identified the relevant staff, please then click on the homepage of the staff you think are most appropriate to you to see more detailed information about them.

Please note, only permanent academic staff, not visiting staff, can act as supervisors. The Department of Law also co-ordinates and conducts research in the legal field via a number of Research Centres:

Within the area of Justice and Human Rights :

• International State Crime Initiative
• Human Rights Law Centre
• Centre for Research on Law, Equality and Diversity
• Criminal Justice Centre
• (B)OrderS: Centre for the Legal Study of Borders and Migration

Within the area of Society, Democracy and the Humanities :

• Centre for Law, Democracy and Society
• Centre for Law and Society in a Global Context
• Centre for Small States

Within the area of International, European and Comparative Law

• Centre for European and International Legal Affairs
• EU-China Legal and Judicial Cooperation

Within the area of the Governance of Business & Finance :

• Institute for Competition and Consumers

The Department would therefore also welcome applications where the proposed research relates to the work and focus of one of these Research Centres.

The Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS) can offer supervision in most areas of commercial law. Please see our staff list to view areas of staff expertise. Should you wish to see if we have academics with research expertise in your proposed area of research type in your proposed area of research in the ‘search’ box at the top of this page.  Once you have identified the relevant staff, please then click on the homepage of the staff you think are most appropriate to you to see more detailed information about them.

Please note, only permanent academic staff, not visiting staff, can act as supervisors. CCLS also co-ordinates and conducts research in the legal field via a number of Research Centres:

Within the area of Governance of Business and Finance

• The Queen Mary-UNIDROIT Institute of Transnational Commercial Law
• Institute for Global Law, Economics and Finance (IGLEF)
• Institute of Tax Law
• Institute of Banking and Finance Law
• Institute for Regulation and Ethics

Within the area of Transnational Challenges and the Law

• School of International Arbitration (Arbitration and dispute resolution)
• Energy Law Institute
• Technology, Media and Telecommunications Law Institute
• Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research Institute (QMIPRI)
• Insurance, Shipping and Aviation Law Institute
• SINO UK Institute in Commercial Law, Economics and Business

CCLS would therefore also welcome applications where the proposed research relates to the work and focus of one of these Research Centres.

Stuart Hall Foundation – Queen Mary Studentship

An additional Studentship place is being offered by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, which is open to applicants who are eligible for Home tuition fees, and who meet the criteria for the award.

Information about this award will be provided by the Faculty in due course.

If you have already applied to the PhD programme but think you meet the criteria for this award, please contact [email protected]  immediately. You would need to update your Statement of Purpose document to provide details of your eligibility.

BAME Studentships for UK Candidates

Queen Mary encourages applicants from UK candidates in BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) groups who have been previously under-represented in this process.

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences will be offering two fully funded doctoral studentships (tuition fees and stipend at the UKRI London rate) to UK applicants from a BAME background. Awards are tenable for up to three years. Applications will also be considered from students who are currently in the first year of a full-time PhD programme, or the first two years of a part-time programme. To be eligible to apply for these studentships the applicant must be UK permanent resident from a BAME background, and eligible to pay home student fees. Queen Mary’s goal is to recruit outstanding and diverse candidates across the full range of studentships.

About the Studentship award

• The award is for postgraduate PhD research students only.
• The award will cover all tuition fees whether at the Home rate or the International rate. It is therefore open to both UK and international applicants. In addition, the recipient will receive an annual maintenance grant, set at UK Research Council levels. Part-time recipients will receive the award on a pro-rata basis.
• Applicants should be aware that the School of Law PhD programme has various entrance requirements which applicants are expected to meet, including, for example, academic performance requirements relating to previously taken taught postgraduate degrees in a law or law-related subject.
• The award is renewable over three years of study while in full time enrolment, and six years of study while in part time study mode, subject to satisfactory annual progress reports.
• At the end of the three years, research students sometimes need further time to complete their research and thesis. This is known as ‘writing up’ time. Students only move to 'writing up' when their supervisor confirms that the student has submitted a satisfactory first full draft of the entire thesis for the supervisor’s review and the Director of Graduate Studies is satisfied that the student can complete within the year. The writing-up period does not attract full tuition fees, although a reduced writing up fee may be payable. A student in writing up is responsible for his/her own living costs as well as for any writing up fee.
• The award is for new applicants looking to enrol at the beginning of the coming academic year, in September 2024. Additionally, existing first year PhD students at Queen Mary who have already enrolled prior to September can apply for the award. To apply, a current student would need to submit an updated version of their Research Proposal via e-mail to [email protected]  confirming they wished to be considered for a Studentship award by the deadline.
• The School of Law PhD programme only has one entry point each year – in September. Given that most LLM courses in the UK end with graduation in November (and that entry on to our PhD programme is dependent upon your obtaining a certain grade on your LLM so as to meet our academic entry requirements), so this means for applicants currently taking their LLM in the UK (but not at QMUL) where the date of graduation falls after September 2024, and/or for applicants requiring a UK student visa who are currently taking an LLM in the UK, including at Queen Mary, then an application this year is not possible unless they have previously already taken an LLM degree.
• Successful recipients of this award may be required to undertake teaching and / or support duties within the School of Law.
• The Studentships are awarded on the basis of academic excellence. The application process for these awards is highly competitive.
• If you have any queries relating to the funding application process, please email the School of Law PhD Admissions Administrator, Mr G Skehan,  [email protected]

The deadline for Studentship applications to the School of Law is Wednesday 6 December 2023 . You must have completed both the main PhD application process, and submitted all your supporting documents, by this date. The selection process will then take place during the next couple of months and be completed in February 2024.

Notifying the School of Law of your application for Studentship funding

There is a section within the PhD online application form labelled ‘Other Information’. To notify us that you wish to apply for our Studentship award you will need to respond to the question: ‘How do you intend to finance your studies at Queen Mary?’ by choosing the option ‘I am a QMUL PG Research Studentship applicant’.

Without this notification, you will not be considered as a funding applicant. You will be treated as an applicant to our PhD programme only.

If you want to apply for Studentship funding and have already submitted your main application (without indicating that you wish to be considered for one of our funding awards) you must contact Mr Gareth Skehan, PhD Admissions Administrator, before the deadline by email on [email protected] , and state the award that you want to apply for. Without this specific email notification you will not be considered for Studentship funding.

Applicants can apply for more than one QMUL award simultaneously. Please see the relevant webpages about the other awards we offer for information on the notification process via our Online application system.

Submitting your PhD online application

Only applicants who have completed the online application process to the PhD programme prior to the funding submission deadline will be considered for funding. For information on how to make an application, what our entry requirements are, and what supporting documentation is required, see our PhD page .

To make an on-line application, you would need to visit this web-page and then click on one of the two buttons in the right hand column of the webpage (for either ‘full-time’ or ‘part-time’ study, depending upon which study mode you with to apply for).

Applicants are encouraged to contact an eligible academic staff member to secure supervision prior to submitting their main PhD application, and so prior to the funding deadline date.  Whilst applications submitted without supervision agreed will also be considered, it will aid any application for funding if they can show they have already secured supervision by the time the funding selection process takes place.

It is important to make sure that the School of Law has staff whose research interests and expertise complement your research project.  Information and guidance for applicants on how to contact academic staff can be found on the main PhD web-page, specifically in the ‘Finding a Supervisor’ section .

Queen Mary’s online application system requires applicants to confirm the name of a proposed supervisor (in the ‘Research Proposal’ section).

Finally, if you are wishing to apply for either an LISS DTP Scholarship or an LAHP Scholarship, please note these require an academic to have agreed to act as an applicant’s supervisor, and then complete and submit an application form in support of the funding application by the relevant deadline date (which is in late January 2024).  We therefore advise applicants to submit their main application no later than early December, to allow time for their Research Proposal to be considered as part of our review, and for a staff member to be appointed as a proposed supervisor in time for the relevant application documentation to be submitted prior to the deadlines in late January. 

Law MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

UCL Laws has one of the most selective MPhil/PhD programmes in the UK, and produces graduates of internationally recognised quality. Ranked the top UK Law institution for research quality in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021), UCL Laws attracts leading figures in the field to our extensive programme of events, informing debate on critical legal issues.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

Applications closed

• Entry requirements

A minimum of a good upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in an appropriate subject, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. We have a strong preference for a recognised LLM or equivalent Master's degree and would normally expect a distinction overall, with evidence of first-class ability (or equivalent) in extended written work/dissertation.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 3 Further details are available on the Faculty of Laws website .

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

UCL Laws has a strong international and multidisciplinary research environment, focused around all sixteen of our research centres, institutes and groups. Bringing together outstanding researchers from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds and jurisdictions, our research centres and institutes nurture individual research, but also actively encourage and support collaboration and partnerships that expand cross-disciplinary research.

Who this course is for

This programme provides specialist training on research methods in law. Specialised research centres ensure that the doctoral study experience is collaborative, while UCL Faculty of Laws provides opportunities and support for doctoral students to achieve real impact with their research.

What this course will give you

UCL Laws has been one of the leading centres of legal education in the world for almost 200 years. Rated as being Number 1 for research quality in the UK compared with all other Law Schools in the country by the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), UCL Laws' community of intellectually dynamic scholars responds to today's global challenges. Through our research, we help to shape government policy, national and international law and practice.

Combining a strong theoretical foundation in the law with world-leading expertise in empirical legal studies and interdisciplinary research, UCL Laws offers an outstanding educational experience to our doctoral students, with special work-in-progress workshops, dedicated conferences, and teaching experience.

All students benefit from a year-long research methodology seminar series in their first year and will join a vibrant and active MPhil/PhD student community which, for example, runs its own weekly seminar series in term time.

The foundation of your career

A graduate from the UCL Laws PhD programme will have developed advanced skills in legal research, analysis and writing, public presentations and in almost all cases teaching at university level. Our graduates are well placed to pursue careers in the global academic world, but the research, analytical and writing skills obtained during the PhD also transfer easily to high level work in government, non-governmental organisations and the commercial sector.

Employability

Our PhD graduates have entered a wide range of careers including top academic positions in the UK and overseas, international organisations, private sector, NGOs and government. 'The international reputation and expertise of the Faculty is well known and is what first attracted me to UCL. I found the faculty to be a vibrant academic community in which to undertake research, with invaluable support to develop personal research skills, pursue cross-disciplinary research and to engage in empirical activities. After my doctoral studies I was delighted to join the faculty as a Lecturer. The community of support at UCL Faculty of Laws undoubtedly enhanced my research and enabled me to pursue avenues that may not otherwise have been possible'. Dr Anna Donovan Lecturer, UCL Laws

The Faculty has a longstanding reputation for high-quality legal research with real world impact. We have long-established links with the judiciary, the legal, public and private sector. This is reflected in the outstanding quality of our extensive annual programme of seminars, lectures, debates and conferences on a wide variety of critical legal issues. Through this programme our PhD students have the opportunity to engage personally with leading members of the judiciary, legal profession, commercial and financial sectors, government, NGOs and leading international academics.

Teaching and learning

A PhD from UCL Laws is essentially an independent piece of substantial work, making an addition to current knowledge, but you will receive support in various ways this endeavour.  Firstly, through expert supervision, which will include regular meetings, feedback on your progress and your written work, and advice on your development as a researcher.  You will also undertake research skills training in the Faculty of Laws, through which a supportive environment among the PhD cohort and your fellow research students is fostered.  There will the opportunity to engage with the wider UCL community in training bespoke to your research and career aims too.  Dissemination of your work, and building networks in your field of research, will be actively supported and encouraged by the Facult y . There is financial support available to engage with the wider academic community, to present your work to and receive feedback from scholars and academic events, such as conferences, nationally and internationally.

The PhD programme is examined by a thesis of up to 100,000 words, which should demonstrate your capacity to pursue original research based upon a good understanding of the research techniques and concepts appropriate to the discipline.

Full-time students can expect to meet their PhD supervisors at least once a month for progress meetings throughout their PhD (once every two months for part-time students). In year 1 of the PhD, there will be fortnightly research skills seminars. There will be research skills seminars in years 2 and 3 (for full-time students, years 2-5 for part-time students) too, but these will be less frequent. The majority of the PhD will be spent on independent research.

Research areas and structure

• Antitrust, Regulation and Competition Law
• Comparative and Foreign Law
• Contract, Restitution and Tort
• Corporate, Finance and Insolvency
• Criminal Justice
• Empirical Legal Studies
• Environmental Law
• European Law
• Family Law and Bioethics
• Human Rights, Employment and Equality Law
• Intellectual Property
• International Business, Insurance and Trade
• International Commercial Law
• Judicial Studies
• Jurisprudence and Legal Theory
• Law and Economics
• Law and Ethics
• Law and Religion
• Law of the Sea
• Legal Education
• Legal History and Roman History
• Litigation and Dispute Resolution
• Medical Law
• Property and Trusts
• Public, Admin and Constitutional
• Public International Law

Research environment

UCL Laws is a world-leading community of intellectually dynamic scholars responding to today’s challenges. The Faculty was rated as the leading Law institution in the UK for research quality in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). As a Laws MPhil/PhD student, you will have the opportunity to learn from, and contribute to, this research culture.

The Faculty attracts the leading figures in the field to our extensive programme of events, informing debate on critical legal issues. Events we have held in the past include a series of seminars from the former President of the European Court of Human Rights and Judge of the General Court of the European Union. Our events reflect the diversity of teaching and research at UCL Laws, and our programme of lively seminars, lectures, debates and conferences cover a wide variety of engaging legal topics. Many events are CPD accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Bar Standards Board and Intellectual Property regulation board (IP Reg).

A PhD at UCL Laws will allow you to pursue original research and make a distinct and significant contribution to your field. We are committed to the quality and relevance of the research supervision we offer and as an MPhil/PhD candidate; you could work with academics at the cutting edge of legal scholarship. Furthermore as a research student, you will be an integral part of our collaborative and thriving research community. Student-run ‘work in progress’ forums and an end-of-first-year PhD workshop will give you the opportunity to present and discuss your research with peers and academic colleagues. Tailored skills seminars will provide you with a supportive research environment and the critical skills necessary to undertake your research. To foster your academic development we also offer additional faculty funds, which can assist you with the costs of conferences and other research activities.

The length of registration for the research degree programmes is 3 years for full-time students.

You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade viva 9- 18 months after initial registration.

In your first year, you will be required to take part in a mandatory Skills Seminar Programme. Within three months of joining the programme, you are expected to agree with your supervisor the basic structure of your research project, an appropriate research method and a realistic plan of work. You will produce and submit a detailed outline of your proposed research to your supervisor for their comments and feedback. We hold a PhD workshop at the end of your first year, which provides you with an opportunity to present your research before an audience of UCL Laws Academic staff and fellow PhD students.

In your second year you will be expected to upgrade from an MPhil to a PhD. To successfully upgrade to a PhD you are required to submit a piece of writing (this is usually based on one chapter from your thesis and a chapter plan for the remainder). You are also required  to present and answer questions about this work to a panel consisting of your subsidiary supervisor and another member of the faculty who acts as an independent assessor.

The PhD programme is expected to be completed within three years for full-time students.. If you are not ready to submit at the end of the third year, you may be permitted a further year to complete the PhD in the 'Completing Research Status' phase of the programme.

The length of registration for the research degree programmes is 5 years for part-time students. You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade viva 15- 30 months after initial registration. In your first two years, you will be required to take part in a mandatory Skills Seminar Programme. Within six months of joining the programme, you are expected to agree with your supervisor the basic structure of your research project, an appropriate research method and a realistic plan of work. You will produce and submit a detailed outline of your proposed research to your supervisor for their comments and feedback. We hold a PhD workshop at the end of your first year, which provides you with an opportunity to present your research before an audience of UCL Laws Academic staff and fellow PhD students. In your second or third year you will be expected to upgrade from an MPhil to a PhD. To successfully upgrade to a PhD you are required to submit a piece of writing (this is usually based on one chapter from your thesis and a chapter plan for the remainder). You are also required  to present and answer questions about this work to a panel consisting of your subsidiary supervisor and another member of the faculty who acts as an independent assessor. The PhD programme is expected to be completed within five years for part-time students. If you are not ready to submit at the end of the fifth year, you may be permitted a further two years to complete the PhD in the 'Completing Research Status' phase of the programme.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

There are no programme-specific additional costs.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

There are a number of different scholarships available to fund your PhD. All are awarded on the basis of academic excellence and are competitive.

Full information about funding may be found on our website - www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/study/mphilphd/applying scholarships page. The Faculty also provides financial support to current students in the form of an annual Research Allowance, and there is a PhD Research Impact and Innovation Fund (PRIF) that students may apply to for funding for exceptional items such as delivering a paper at an international conference.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship (ROS)

Deadline: 12 January 2024 Value: UK rate fees, a maintenance stipend, conference costs and professional development package (3 years) Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need Eligibility: UK

Detailed information on the application process may be found on the Faculty of Laws website .

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

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PhD Programme

Our Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) postgraduate degree is a research-based programme of study centred on completing a satisfactory thesis of up to 100,000 words on an approved topic in the field of law. The programme is normally three years in length, or six years for part-time students. This degree is internationally recognised as a sign of research excellence. Many of our former PhD students have gone on to have successful careers in academia, the legal profession, the civil service, and in non-governmental organisations. Please see a list of our recently graduated students and their theses here. Information about the annual fees for this course can be found here , and PhD counts as a 'classroom' course for these purposes.

Areas of supervision

Prospective PhD students should consult our list of Areas of Research Supervision and contact staff to discuss potential projects.

Securing funding for PhD studies

Limited funding is available on a competitive basis for undertaking the PhD with details available here. Please note that if you would like to be considered for external funding, applications must be submitted in advance of the deadlines specified on that page.

Application

In order to apply for a PhD, students must meet our entry requirements, detailed below. Once students have checked that they meet the conditions, they should contact a member of staff with a view to them acting as supervisor. When contacting staff, students should share with them a research proposal so the potential supervisor can understand fully the nature of the proposed study.

The second step in the application process is to complete the online application form.

Once accepted onto the programme, students will be inducted into the University and the Law School. Please note that all induction events take place in October, although there is also a limited intake of new students who begin their studies in January or April. We accept applications on a rolling basis throughout the year to accommodate this.

Entry requirements

In order to be admitted onto the PhD programme, students must satisfy the following entry requirements:

You must have a relevant Bachelor's degree or equivalent overseas qualification at the level of a good 2:1 or above. Where that degree is in a discipline other than Law, you must demonstrate a sufficiently deep understanding of the relevant areas of the law or legal thought, which will usually require your degree to have included a substantial Law component. In addition , applicants will have a Masters degree with an average of 65 or above (or equivalent).  Please note: we require a copy of your academic transcripts, with a breakdown of your module results before we can process your application.

• If you are not a native English speaker, you must demonstrate competence in English. Our   minimum standard is 7.0 on every component   of the IELTS test. Students must achieve this standard before commencing studies. If your most recent IELTs test is more than 2 years old, it will need to be taken again. Applicants whose entrance qualifications were studied in English in certain countries within the last two years are not required to submit evidence of English language proficiency.

Application requirements

In addition to satisfying our entry requirements, applicants must also submit the following documents when they apply.

• You must submit a current   CV
• You must provide a photo page of your   passport .
• You must supply  two academic references  from within the past two years . We may also accept one professional reference and one academic reference. Applicants should  not  email references to us themselves. Each reference  must  be  either  emailed by the referee directly to us ( [email protected] )  or  uploaded via the application system. All references must be on headed paper and clearly dated.
• You must submit a satisfactory research proposal of   no more than 2,000 words , including references but excluding bibliography. Details of the content of a research proposal are explained below. Acceptance is dependent on whether we have the necessary academic expertise in the School. Students must make informal contact with a potential supervisor  to discuss their application and research proposal at an early stage. Please note, however, that such contact does not necessarily mean that you will eventually be accepted.
• You should state on the application whether you would like to be considered for a scholarship to assist with funding your PhD study. Do note that the Law School has limited funding available for PhD applicants and it is available on a competitive basis. Details of postgraduate funding opportunities are available   here

Students must ensure they include all relevant documentation when applying. Any incomplete applications will not be processed.

Research proposals

Your application  must  include a proposal for the research project you wish to undertake. Without this your application cannot be considered. The UK system of research degrees is driven by the student's own choice of project, rather than projects being dictated by supervisors.

Your application must name the member of academic staff within the Law School whom you believe could act as your primary supervisor. To identify a member of staff please consult the list of   Areas of Research Supervision   and then approach the identified person to ask whether they would be willing and able to supervise you. You are advised to discuss your draft research proposal with this person in advance of your application. This will strengthen your proposal and will increase the likelihood of acceptance onto the programme.  Your application should clearly state with which potential supervisor you have discussed your proposal.

As part of the application process, you may be requested to amend your proposal before we come to a final determination on its suitability.

The research proposal must include an explanation of the research context (i.e. the state of the current research), set out the research questions to be answered in the thesis, and explain the sources and methods that are to be used.

A good PhD proposal will:

• Introduce your proposal by explaining the ‘research problem’ that your study intends to address. Tell us why it is an important and interesting area for research and how it relates to your own interests/previous research.
• Provide a review of the literature that shows your familiarity with current knowledge of the ‘research problem’. Tell us how your research will fit with the existing academic/legal/policy literature.
• Identify the gap in current knowledge on which your project will focus.
• Formulate clear research questions.
• Explain how your methodology and approach will enable you to address your research questions.
• Most legal research is literature based. If, however, you propose to conduct empirical research, then you will need to describe your methodology and proposed methods for sampling, data collection and data analysis, showing how these will allow you to address the research questions. A social science methodology should be supported by reference to the research methods literature. You will need to pay attention to ethical considerations and indicate how you will address them.
• Provide a research plan showing how you would conduct the research over the period of your PhD.
• Explain the relevance of your previous experience to the project and what impact your research could make (e.g., to policy/practice as well as knowledge).

For more information, please contact the Law School Postgraduate Research Co-ordinator on  [email protected]  

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The PhD programme

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Finance overview    Funding    How to apply

The PhD is awarded after three to four years of full-time research (or five to seven years of part-time study) on the basis of a dissertation of 80,000 words (exclusive of footnotes, appendices and bibliography, but subject to an overall word limit of 100,000 words exclusive of bibliography, table of contents and any other preliminary matter). Examination for the PhD involves an oral examination (viva) by two examiners.

Research students who intend to undertake PhD research are in the first instance automatically registered for a one-year research training programme leading to the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS) in Legal Studies. They are assigned a supervisory team by the Degree Committee of the Faculty, ordinarily consisting of a supervisor (who is principally responsible for directing and assisting the research) and an advisor (who provides a second point of contact for academic advice). At the end of the first year, the Degree Committee decides whether students should be registered for the PhD. This decision is taken on the basis of the student’s personal progress log, first-year dissertation of 15,000 words, viva conducted by two assessors from within the Faculty, and outline of plans for the full research project. Candidates who successfully complete the requirements of the CPGS and the first-year progress review are retrospectively registered for the PhD.

All full-time PhD students are ordinarily required to be resident in Cambridge for the duration of their research (save where given leave to work away from Cambridge for academic reasons or whilst undertaking fieldwork), and during the first year in particular must attend weekly research training sessions in the Faculty.

This overview of the PhD programme must be read in conjunction with the detailed information available under the 'Courses' section (see, in particular, the Course Directory) of the Postgraduate Admissions website . Further information on postgraduate admission to research courses in the Faculty of Law is available from [email protected] or +44 (0)1223 330039.

The Faculty of Law The David Williams Building 10 West Road Cambridge CB3 9DZ United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 1223 330033 Email: [email protected]

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PhD scholarships

We are committed to giving you as many opportunities as possible to succeed. There are a number of funding opportunities available to students from both the UK and overseas.

Scholarships typically cover the costs of all or some of your tuition fees, a living allowance and a Research Training and Support Grant. However, this varies depending on the scholarship, so please check carefully the details of each scholarship and the funding that is provided. Awarded scholarships are highly competitive. 

School of Law PhD Scholarship

We are delighted to announce the availability of a School of Law funded PhD scholarship for a full-time or part-time student. We welcome suitably qualified applicants in the field of Law and Criminology for study commencing October 2024.

The scholarship is awarded on a competitive basis. Applications are assessed on academic success and qualifications, experience, research background, a clear well-articulated, fully-developed research proposal which contributes to knowledge or society and a good match with supervisor expertise.

We particularly welcome applicants in the following subfields of law and criminology:

• Law and Technology
• Public International Law
• Children and the Law
• Medical Law
• Wellbeing and the Legal System
• Probation and Non-Custodial Punishment
• Prisons and Imprisonment
• Punishment and Penal Theory
• Gender and Criminal Justice
• Criminology of War
• Colonial and Post-Colonial Law and Justice
• Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Laws
• Constitutional Law

This scholarship will fund the following:

• Fees: Full payment of tuition fees across the course of study at the Home rate. For international students, the residual fee must be met by the individual.
• Maintenance/stipend: £15,000 per year for full-time students with payments being made to the individual in quarterly instalments for three and a half years after the start of the course.
• Research Training Support Grant: Up to £500 per year for 3 years with the balance of unspent funds rolling forward each year. Restrictions apply to the use of these funds and there must be a clear connection to supporting the research project. Any unspent funds at the end of the project will be retained by the School. 

The above will be pro-rated for a part-time student.

How to apply

1. To be considered for a scholarship you must first apply for a place to study, via the Postgraduate Online Application System .

2. Submit the scholarship application: Once you have completed step 1, or if you already have an offer to study with us, you should complete our Google Form to apply for the scholarship. (Please note that applying via the 'additional scholarship' section on PG Online will not work, as this does not apply to this Scholarship)

3. The deadline for applications is Wednesday 10th April 2024.

For further information or support with your application, please contact [email protected].

There are several other scholarships available which include:

• These scholarship awards include empirical socio-legal or criminology research projects and are awarded to UK and international students wishing to start in October 2024. The current round of the competition will provide the following awards: 1. WRDTP Pathway Awards 2. WRDTP Advanced Quantitative Methods Awards To be considered for this award applicants will need to have secured an offer (conditional or unconditional) to study for a PhD in the academic year 2024-25 by the 24th of January 2024. Interested applicants must contact the School PGR Director, Dr Maria Tzanou ([email protected]) or PGR Deputy Director for Admissions, Dr Richard Craven ([email protected]) in advance of their application.
• These scholarship awards include projects which fall within the scope of Arts and Humanities and are awarded to UK and international students. To be considered for this award, you need to have a PhD offer by the School of Law by the 24th of January 2024. 
• This scheme provides academically excellent Chinese students with the opportunity to study for a PhD at the University of Sheffield. The scholarships are supported jointly by the China Scholarship Council and the University of Sheffield. 
• The University of Sheffield will fund tuition fees for 3.5 years. Students are expected to submit their thesis within this period. CSC will fund a grant for living costs for up to 4 years, and one return flight from China to the UK. 
• All scholarship applications are made through PG Online. To be eligible for this scheme, applicants require an unconditional study offer from the University of Sheffield.

To be considered for this award applicants will need to have secured an unconditional offer to study for a PhD in the academic year 2024-2025 by the 24th of January 2024.

What's included and how they're awarded

The scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis. Applications are assessed on academic success and qualifications, experience, research background, a clear well-articulated research proposal, the potential impact of the research and a good match with supervisor/department/faculty expertise.

• In order to be considered for a scholarship you must firstly apply for a place to study, via the Postgraduate Online Application System .  
• Submit the scholarship application: Once you have completed step 1, or if you already have an offer to study with us, you should log into your postgraduate application  and complete the additional scholarship section. 

Please note: It is essential that you apply for the scholarship that is most suited to your project and circumstances as once the deadline has passed it is not possible to change this. If you are unsure about which scholarship to apply for, please contact [email protected] 

If you have any questions about scholarships please see our FAQs or email [email protected] .

Further information

• FAQs about applying for funding  
• Latest fees information
• Guidance on writing your research proposal

Related information

Research areas

Search for PhD opportunities at Sheffield and be part of our world-leading research.

Faculty of Business and Law - International Law Studentship

Introduction.

Faculty of Business and Law at the University of the West of England in Bristol invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship in international law.

Proposed doctoral projects should be concerned specifically with the use of force and laws of war.

The closing date for applications is  Sunday 30 October 2022.

The start date of this studentship is Saturday 1 April 2023.

About the studentship

The College distinctiveness in research comes from its applied nature, and a focus on current issues for organisations and society. We have direct intention of helping to resolve pressing challenges, including improving organisational practices and behaviours and understanding systems and structures, whilst taking an inclusive approach.

Prospective student will be based in the School of Law – home to multidisciplinary research groups .

Doctoral students at the College benefit from comprehensive support from UWE Graduate School, including extensive development programme, research skills training and careers advice. Find out more about the Graduate School .

The studentship is available from 1 April 2023 for a period of three years, subject to satisfactory progress, and includes a tax-exempt stipend, which is currently £16,062 per annum.

In addition, full-time home/international tuition fees will be covered for up to three years.

As part of the studentship, the prospective students will be expected to perform some teaching duties in their subject area, and deliver two hours of teaching-related tasks a week in the first and third year of studies, and four hours in the second year. This forms part of the terms and conditions of the studentship and there is no additional payment for it.

Eligibility

Applicants must have at least 2:1 degree in law or cognate discipline, and ideally Masters degree (with average programme mark of no less than 65%, UK grading scale or international equivalent).

A recognised English language qualification  is required. IELTS score of 7.0 overall, or equivalent.

How to apply

• Identify a research priority area and potential supervisor(s) on the College websites:  College Research Centres Bristol Law School
• Prepare your research proposal (no more than five pages, all-inclusive; font size 11, 1.5-spacing, 2-inch margins). This should ideally happen in consultation with your potential supervisor. In the first instance you should contact a potential supervisor with an advanced draft of the proposal to confirm they are willing to support your application.
• Submit formal application online . When prompted use the reference number  2223-APR-FBL01 .

Supporting documentation: you will need to upload your research proposal, degree certificates and transcripts and proof of English language proficiency as attachments to your application.

References: you will need to provide details of two referees as part of your application. At least one referee must be an academic referee from the institution that conferred your highest degree. Your referees will be asked for a reference at the time you submit your application. Please ensure that they are willing and able to provide references within 14 days of your application being submitted.

Closing Date

The closing date for applications is 30 October  2022 at 18:00 (UK time).

Further Information

Interviews are likely to take place in early January . If you have not heard from us by Tuesday 20 December 2022 , we thank you for your application but on this occasion you have not been successful.

For an informal discussion about the studentships, please contact Director of Doctoral Research, Dr Paweł Capik at  [email protected] .

You may also be interested in

Contact the Doctoral Academy

Ways to contact the Doctoral Academy, from postgraduate research support to submitting your thesis.

Fees and funding

View Doctoral Academy tuition fees, project fees, completion fees and resubmission fees.

About the Doctoral Academy

Find out more about the UWE Bristol Doctoral Academy.

Discover how research at UWE Bristol is making a real impact.

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The Open University Law School

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The Open University Business and Law Schools invite applications to join our PhD programme beginning  1 February 2025.   Your application should be based on one of the advertised projects below. In addition we also welcome full- and part-time applications in other areas of business, management and law, including on a self-funded basis, dependent on supervision availability. We have a number of fully funded full-time studentships.

For this round advertised projects are on:

• Sustainability Reporting: Preparer Perspectives  
• Textual Analysis in Finance and Accounting  
• Sustainability Reporting: User and assurer perspectives 
• Troubling Truths: The Construction of Knowledge and Ignorance in a Time of Global Crises 
• Organising Identities and Inclusion in the Cultural and Creative Industries
• Innovation and Organisational Change in the advent of Artificial Intelligence  
• The Power of Marketing and Technology Integration: A Solution for Addressing Environmental Issues or Social Challenges in Underserved Communities 
• Taking the energy transition forward in emerging and new frontier countries: complementary innovations in off-grid systems, multi-purpose energy hubs, battery repurposing  and the enabling institutional reforms
• Rethinking sustainability strategies for resilience in supply chain systems: addressing food sector challenges in the VUCA (vulnerability, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) reality
• Police education: Enhancing the profession and the professionals - learning for practitioners and organisations 
• Developing and implementing sustainable approaches to reduce demand for police and public services

You will join the Faculty of Business and Law who conduct research of the highest international standard that has economic, public and social value consistent with the mission of the Open University. You will work with subject specialists and have the opportunity to develop your skills in research communication, engagement and impact.

PhD studentships are based on full-time study for three years at the Milton Keynes campus. Full-time students are expected to live within easy commuting distance of Milton Keynes. Fully funded studentships cover tuition fees, and a stipend (circa £18 622 per annum) for 36 months. A generous research training support grant is allocated to all students accepted into the programme to cover research related costs including fieldwork.

Applicants for the PhD programme should have minimum qualifications of an upper second class honours degree 2:1 (or an equivalent) or usually a specialist masters in a subject relevant to the intended study with a strong research element.

Your application must include:

• a proposal which should be at least 1,000 words and no longer than 2,000 words, which indicates your knowledge of the literature, methods and likely approach to your project of interest ( guidance on how to write your research proposal )
• a covering letter indicating your suitability for the project
• a fully completed application form
• copies of degree certificates and transcripts relevant to your application
• IELTS (if applicable) - if you are not exempt, as per the Table 1 and 2 of the  application form (page 17)  the University will  require you to complete an English language test (International English Language Testing System (IELTS).   A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any of the four categories (or approved equivalent). You should have your level of proficiency certified through a provider approved by UK Visas and Immigration and provide your certificate and grade with your application.  Test certificates must be no older than 2 years, from date of submission of application.

The closing date for applications is noon UK time on Wednesday 19 th June, 2024 .  Your proposal, covering letter, fully completed application form and copies of certificates and transcripts including IELTS certificate, should be emailed  to [email protected] by the closing time and date.

Interviews will form part of the selection process and will be held throughout July and early August, either in person or remotely via videoconference. Applicants are expected to give a 10 minute presentation about their proposal, followed by a question and answer session lasting up to 45 minutes.

You are welcome to attend an application webinar: Preparing your PhD application workshop – Wednesday 5 th June at 13.30 (British time) .   This online 1.5 hour workshop with Faculty academics will address questions on whether studying a PhD is right for you, what to consider when applying, what it’s like to do a PhD at the Open University, and how to best craft a research proposal that aligns with advertised project calls. If you are interested in attending this workshop, please email [email protected] to book a place.

Please ensure to thoroughly check your application before submission, as incomplete applications will not be considered

Keywords : Sustainability, accountability, management, corporate reports, financial news,  textual analysis, large language models, ignorance, knowledge, truth, organizing. global crises, work in creative organisations, gender identities, cultural and creative industries, social justice, sexualities, innovation, organisational change, organisational design, artificial intelligence, digitalisation, marketing and technology, e-marketing/e-commerce, eSport,  AI and marketing, social media, in-store technology, CRM, information technology, digital marketing, off-grid systems, energy hubs, battery repurposing, institutional reforms, electricity access and affordability, energy transitions, strategy, decision making, modelling, managing VUCA challenges, policing, work-based learning

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PhD at the Refugee Law Initiative

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Apply now to this course

The Refugee Law Initiative (RLI) is a leading academic centre in the UK concentrating on  international refugee law and policy. As a PhD student at the RLI, you would be studying at a national focal point for leading and promoting cutting edge research in these fields.

With guidance from our expert supervisors, you'll carry out extensive independent research culminating in a thesis of up to 100,000 words. This research presents the opportunity to gain expertise in your area of interest while also honing a range of transferable skills. On completing this course, you'll be well prepared for specialist career paths both within academia and beyond.

Doctoral research at the Refugee Law Initiative is primarily campus-based, but  distance-based doctoral research  is also possible.

Choosing to start a PhD requires careful consideration as it can be a challenging and lengthy under-taking. The University of London and specifically the School of Advanced Study (SAS), where the RLI is based is, however, an excellent and supportive environment which will support you on your new academic journey. Indeed, SAS is the UK's national research hub in the humanities and offers a world-class research environment to our research students.

In addition, the dedicated  Doctoral Centre at SAS  supports researchers in the humanities in the School, across the UK, and internationally. It provides a freely-accessible and wide-ranging programme of research training in skills for humanities researchers of all sorts and wherever they may be located. It also co-ordinates and facilitates paid-for short courses and summer schools run by the institutes and other centres and departments at SAS. Internally, it oversees the academic experience of MPhil and PhD students in the School and provides expertise and support in learning technology for all teaching and learning across SAS.

Course structure

The degree can be taken full time over three years (or a maximum of four) or part time over five years (or a maximum of six), with entry in either October or January.

You'll initially be registered for our MPhil and then, providing your progress has been satisfactory, be upgraded to our PhD programme.

The primary activity of the PhD programme is the writing of a thesis of up to 100,000 words. There is no formal coursework, but you will be expected to participate in a weekly seminar on Work in Progress and to present a paper every year from your second year onwards. In your first year you are required to attend a weekly class on Techniques of Scholarship. You're also encouraged to participate in the regular seminars held at the Institute during the academic year.

After submission of the thesis, you will attend an oral examination conducted by an internal examiner, from the University of London, and an external examiner, normally from another British university. Graduates are awarded a University of London degree.

Distance Learning

The School of Advanced Study offers students with an appropriate topic and level of local resource the opportunity to undertake a PhD by distance learning. These students are required to attend our London campus at set intervals to complete an intensive research training module, for upgrade, and for the viva but will otherwise study at their own location. This option is available to UK, EU and international students on the same basis as our on-campus PhD programmes (three years full time, six years part time). Fees are the same as for our on-campus PhD programmes. Please note that not all institutes and supervisors offer this option, and that some topics are not appropriate to be studied this way.

If you would like to be considered for our Research Degree programme via Distance Learning, please download and fill out the  Research Degrees by Distance Learning form , to attach to your online application.

To view the current prospectus for the MPhil/PhD at the Refugee Law Initiative,  click here .

Subject areas and supervisors

The Refugee Law Initiative offers doctoral research supervision in broad areas relating to law and policy applicable to refugees and other displaced persons.

Specific areas of particular interest to current RLI academic staff reflect our  projects  and include:

Professor David Cantor Professor of Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies 

• Refugee and human rights law at the international and national levels 
• Protection practice in displacement contexts 
• Refugees fleeing war 
• Disasters, environment and mobility 
• Refugee protection in Latin America 
• Internal displacement 
• Criminality as a driver of displacement

Professor Sarah Singer Professor of Refugee Law 

• Refugee law and rights in domestic and international law 
• Undesirable but unreturnable migrants 
• Asylum, criminality and terrorism 
• Detention and reception conditions for asylum seekers and refugees 
• Humanitarian accountability in displacement situation

Dr Nicholas Maple Lecturer in Refugee Studies 

• Accessing protection and solutions in Africa 
• The Global Refugee Regime 
• Refugee Camps and Urban Displacement

Opportunities and facilities

Doctoral students at the RLI benefit from the RLI’s distinctive refugee law and policy expertise in the UK and globally. Important career-progression opportunities are available through access to the RLI’s established academic and practitioner networks and annual series of refugee-focused academic events.

The RLI hosts extensive global networks of research affiliates, and senior research associates and practitioners, which provide a unique infrastructure for doctoral scholars to pursue innovative, practice-focused research which aims to provide real impact in legal and policy responses to refugee and forced displacement issues.

As part of this scholarly community, doctoral students also have the opportunity to participate in shared training events and seminars dedicated to interdisciplinary reflection on the refugee and forced migration theme. These include discussion groups and work in progress sessions (in which students present their own research from the second year onwards). 

At the RLI, doctoral students are offered valuable publication and editing experience as part of the RLI’s International Refuge Law book series (Brill) and Working Papers Series, and benefit from the RLI’s specialist doctoral training on refugee research, and the University of London doctoral training programme in legal research methods. 

For those working on internal displacement, the RLI hosts a dedicated Internal Displacement Research Programme and runs the Researching Internal Displacement platform online.

How to apply

Before submitting an application, you are advised to contact a member of the Refugee Law Initiative academic staff who has interests in your proposed field of study to discuss your proposal. 

Your application to the School will require you to submit a research proposal, so it is advised to have one drafted ahead of contacting RLI academic staff and submitting your formal application. Guidelines on drafting your research proposal are available  here .

We would normally expect candidates for the doctoral programme to hold the equivalent of a UK first or second-class undergraduate degree and a distinction-level Masters degree. They would usually be in subjects relevant to the proposed field of doctoral research.

Key Information

The School of Advanced Study is a unique environment in which to study the humanities.  The School strives to reflect the latest developments in thinking across the humanities disciplines it supports and to ensure that its programmes reflect this.   We are also aware that the needs of our students are constantly changing.  With that in mind, the School continually reviews the its programmes and, as part of that process, reserves the right to alter or discontinue them. 

We assure you that we carry out these exercises at no detriment to any enrolled students. Students enrolled on any programme that we discontinue will be able to complete that programme within a reasonable timeframe and with all the necessary resources at their disposal. The School will communicate any anticipated changes with students as early as possible.

Ph.D Scholarships UK - Ph.D Funding UK 2024-2025

If you want to take your Ph.D program in UK but you need financial support, below is a list of available Ph.D scholarships for International students in UK  2024-2025. These Ph.D grants uk are made available by universities in UK

• Fully funded

University Of Birmingham PhD Scholarship for Black British Researchers 2024

The PhD will provide a unique opportunity to engage with an under-researched collection of African art at the University of Birmingham (UoB), a discrete collection that is part of Research and Cultural Collections (RCC) - a university museum holding full Museum Accredited status from Arts Council En

Published: 2024-04-02 Type: PhD Study in: Birmingham Deadline: January 1, 1970

City Law School PhD Law Scholarships for Black British Researchers 2024

The City Law School is offering a full-time, three-year doctoral scholarships (entry in September 2024) specifically addressed to Black British applicants. Applications are invited from exceptional and ambitious graduates wishing to pursue cutting-edge research in any of the School's key rese

Published: 2024-03-28 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: April 1, 2024

University of Sussex Peter Carpenter Africa Climate Scholarship for African PhD Students 2024

This prestigious fully-funded PhD Peter Carpenter Climate Change scholarship is awarded to African citizens with top level academic qualifications. The PhD programme is hosted within the Climate Science and Society Research (CSSR) group in the Department of Geography, where there is a v

Published: 2024-03-28 Type: PhD Study in: Brighton Deadline: April 15, 2024

University of Kent Law School PhD Research Studentship in UK 2024

This studentship is offered by Kent Law School in association with the UKRI-funded Future Leaders Fellowship project led by Dr Connal Parsley, “The Future of Good Decisions: an Evolutionary Approach to Human-AI Government Administrative Decision-Making”. The project will take a new appro

Published: 2024-03-05 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: March 31, 2024

Newcastle University PhD Studentship in Skeletal Muscle (UK) 2024

We are offering an exciting opportunity for a motivated and talented individual to join our team. Our prior studies have revealed intriguing structural changes in patients with mitochondrial myopathy, a condition characterised by mitochondrial dysfunction. Specifically, we have observed an increased

Published: 2024-02-26 Type: PhD Study in: Newcastle upon Tyne Deadline: April 30, 2024

University of Kent Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Scholarship for PhD Students 2024

The University of Kent is pleased to offer four EPSRC studentships starting in September 2024 to exceptional students undertaking PhD study in the following schools on a full-time basis: School of Physics and Astronomy School of Chemistry and Forensic Sciences School of Computing School

Published: 2024-02-22 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: March 24, 2024

University of Southampton Horizon Europe Fee Waivers for Postgraduate Students 2024

The University of Southampton is introducing a new programme to support the reassociation of the UK with the Horizon Europe programme, and the University strategy to grow the international diversity of its doctoral cohort. The University will apply a fee waiver - equivalent to the diffe

Published: 2024-02-20 Type: PhD Study in: Southampton Deadline: Not Specified

University Of Portsmouth PhD Scholarship Opportunity: Narcissus 2024

This Ph.D. project explores the rarely studied area of corona structures in Narcissus flowers, highlighting the striking species-to-species variation. To solve the puzzles surrounding corona development, the research combines cooperative efforts, high-throughput DNA sequencing, developmental genetic

Published: 2024-02-16 Type: PhD Study in: Portsmouth Deadline: March 1, 2024

Newcastle University Konishi Foundation Scholarship for PhD Students 2024

The Konishi Foundation Scholarship provides support to an excellent candidate who wishes to pursue a PhD in Politics in topics related to East Asian politics within the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology at Newcastle University. For purposes of this call, East Asia includes China, Hong Kong

Published: 2024-02-16 Type: PhD Study in: Newcastle upon Tyne Deadline: February 19, 2024

King’s College CMCI London African Music PhD Scholarship 2024

The researcher will be based in the Department of Culture, Media and Creative Industries (CMCI),  King’s College London and co-supervised by Professor Roberta Comunian (Professor of Creative Economies in the Department of Culture, Media & Creative Industries) and&n

Published: 2024-02-15 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: March 19, 2024

King’s College London Afro Beats And Afro Bytes: PhD Studentship for African Students 2024

The researcher will be based in the Department of Culture, Media and Creative Industries (CMCI),  King’s College London and co-supervised by Professor Roberta Comunian (Professor of Creative Economies in the Department of Culture, Media & Creative Industries) and Dr Eka

Published: 2024-02-13 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: March 19, 2024

Newcastle University AHRC-funded PhD Studentship in Early Modern Studies 2024

Interested in early modern books, print culture and politics? This project investigates how the early modern English state used the book trade guild known as the Stationers’ Company to censor publications.  You will work with the Stationers’ Company’s extensive archive (in

Published: 2024-02-12 Type: PhD Study in: Newcastle upon Tyne Deadline: February 28, 2024

Newcastle University Overseas Research Scholarships (NUORS) for International PhD Students 2024 entry

Newcastle University is committed to offering support to the very best international students hoping to pursue a programme of research. We are pleased to offer a small number of University funded NUORS awards for outstanding international students who apply to commence PhD studies in any subject in

Published: 2024-02-08 Type: PhD Study in: Newcastle upon Tyne Deadline: May 10, 2024

Newcastle University Overseas Research Scholarships (NUORS) 2024 entry

Published: 2024-02-07 Type: PhD Study in: Newcastle upon Tyne Deadline: May 10, 2024

University of Bristol Black Heritage PhD Scholarships 2024

We welcome applications for full scholarships to postgraduate research programmes starting in 2024. As part of our commitment to the Black community, the University of Bristol has launched a number of postgraduate research scholarships exclusively for students of Black heritage for 2024/25 entry.

Published: 2024-02-02 Type: PhD Study in: Bristol Deadline: February 27, 2024

University of Leeds Business School Marketing Department Scholarship 2024

Doctoral research students in marketing will develop the ability to pursue research that advances the frontiers of the marketing discipline and solves business and marketing problems using advanced research tools and techniques. They will learn how to derive implications from their research results

Published: 2024-01-23 Type: PhD Study in: Leeds Deadline: April 26, 2024

University Of Manchester Dean's Doctoral Scholarship Award 2024

These scholarships are open to all nationalities and across all research areas, and will be of interest to students of the highest calibre who have the commitment and desire to work on challenging research projects in a world leading research environment.  

Published: 2024-01-18 Type: PhD Study in: Manchester Deadline: March 31, 2024

Regent's University London PhD Progression Scholarship 2023

Regent's PhD Progression Scholarships reward the loyalty of undergraduate students or taught postgraduate students who progress to enrol on a PhD degree with us. It's our way of saying thank you.  

Published: 2024-01-18 Type: PhD Study in: London Deadline: Not Specified

University of Edinburgh 2023 Informatics Global PhD Scholarship

If you have a strong academic record of accomplishment at undergraduate or Masters level, and are highly motivated to pursue a PhD programme in the School of Informatics at The University of Edinburgh, you could be selected to receive a full PhD scholarship.  Applicants who submit a programm

Published: 2024-01-12 Type: PhD Study in: Edinburgh Deadline: April 26, 2024

University of Edinburgh Law School & Cameron PhD Scholarship to Study In UK, 2024

Edinburgh Law School offers a number of full PhD studentships, one of which is provided through a generous bequest from alumnus Ewen Cameron in his name. These scholarships will pay tuition fees and an annual stipend in line with UKRI rates (approximately £18,662 per annum). The stipend wil

Published: 2024-01-11 Type: PhD Study in: Cardiff Deadline: February 1, 2024

Best UK Scholarships

• Loughborough Development Trust Africa Scholarship for International African Students 2024-2025
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• Cardiff University Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship 2024
• Loughborough University Inspiring Success Scholarship for UK Students 2024
• Nottingham Trent University (NTU) International Merit Scholarships 2024
• Loughborough University Global Excellence Scholarship for UK and International Students 2024

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GREAT Scholarships for justice and law

GREAT Scholarships for justice and law are for students who want to study law at a UK university for a one-year postgraduate course. Students can apply for courses in a range of justice and law-related subjects, including human rights, criminal justice and commercial law, at one of the 20 participating higher education institutions.

Each scholarship offers a minimum of £10,000 towards tuition fees. The justice and law scholarships are in partnership with the Ministry for Justice . They are jointly funded by the British Council , the GREAT Britain Campaign , and participating UK higher education institutions.

For the 2024-25 academic year, justice and law postgraduate scholarships are available for students from the following countries (two scholarships for each country).

Please visit your country page below to see the universities taking part and to get more information:

GREAT Scholarships

GREAT Scholarships are scholarships to UK universities across a variety of subjects, for students from 15 countries. Applications for 2024-25 are open.

Study law in the UK

If you want a career in law, the UK has everything you need for a flying start.

GREAT Scholarships for science and technology

GREAT Scholarships for science and technology are for students who want to study a related subject at a UK university for a one-year postgraduate course.

6 top tips for applying for the GREAT Scholarship

Are you considering applying for the GREAT Scholarship? 2021-22 GREAT scholar Diona from India shares her top tips, based on her experience of the application process, to help increase your chances of success.

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Fully Funded Biomedical Sciences Education PhD at University of Edinburgh (deadline extended)

The University of Edinburgh is seeking a student who would like to do a PhD on Biomedical Sciences education, specifically on the topic of international and transnational education. The PhD is funded through a partnership with the Zhejiang-Edinburgh Institute in China. The student can have a broad STEM (biology, medicine, sciences) or educational background (or psychology, sociology, etc.), but will be keen to contribute to biomedical education.

The PhD is fully funded, situated primarily in Edinburgh, and open to international students. The original deadline was 3/29/24 but has been extended. Please send any questions about the program to Dr. Jacqueline Dohaney at [email protected]

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