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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  ...

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PhD Funding

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PhD Current research

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

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FAQs Your questions about the PhD programme

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PhD completions Browse our completed PhDs

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Careers Our careers information and resources

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Visiting research students How to apply as a visiting student

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PhD Academy A dedicated space for PhD students

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LSE Life Academic, personal, professional development

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  • MPhil/PhD research
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Application options include:

Course Overview

An MPhil/PhD is an advanced postgraduate research degree that requires original research and the submission of a substantial dissertation of 60,000 to 100,000 words. MPhil/PhD researchers in law at Birkbeck benefit from the supervision of internationally renowned experts, classes in legal theory and research and presentation skills, seminars and extensive library facilities. The unifying themes of our research are social and legal theory and interdisciplinary study. Accordingly, we welcome applications both from lawyers and non-lawyers who wish to undertake research within the broad range of substantive areas of national, European and international law. 

We also offer financial assistance for conference attendance, comprehensive independent monitoring of each student's yearly progress, and postgraduate student representation on our board. Ours is a vibrant community of researchers that organises a series of workshops, reading groups and a work-in-progress group, as well as frequent social events. 

Concentrating on a number of clearly defined research areas in which our expertise is internationally recognised, we aim to: 

  • specialise in distinctive and innovative research 
  • establish and foster critical and multidisciplinary scholarships, by building links with other disciplines and by introducing the scholarly values and methods of the humanities and social sciences into the discipline of law 
  • promote a culture of joint research, publications and other forms of collaboration among our staff 
  • pursue a programme of national and international links. 

Our key areas of research are:

  • Race, gender and culture
  • Law and humanities
  • Policy, practice and activism
  • Regulation, risk and surveillance
  • Human rights.

At Birkbeck, you are initially registered on an MPhil and you upgrade to a PhD after satisfactory progress in the first year or two. 

Key information

Law mphil/phd: 7 years part-time, on campus, starting 2024-25.

  • October 2024
  • January 2025

Law MPhil/PhD: 4 years full-time, on campus, starting 2024-25

Law mphil/phd: 7 years part-time, on campus, starting 2025-26.

  • October 2025
  • January 2026

Law MPhil/PhD: 4 years full-time, on campus, starting 2025-26

Find another course:

  • Research students are an important part of our research culture. We have succeeded in recruiting very high-quality research students and the number of UK and overseas PhD students has increased fivefold since 2001. This reflects our growing reputation as a training ground for early-career academics working from critical and socio-legal perspectives.
  • Birkbeck's research excellence was  confirmed in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework  with 83% of our research rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
  • The PhD programme is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the UK's leading research council addressing economic and social concerns. The PhD is tailored to students' needs and can include generic modules from our postgraduate master's programmes such as Research Frameworks and Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods.
  • In-house seminars, the Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Interdisciplinary Research Training Network provide additional training. Students have received awards from the AHRC, British Academy, Overseas Research Students Awards, ESRC and Natural Environment Research Council, and internal Birkbeck and law studentships.
  • Reading groups are encouraged, focusing on particular writers such as Agamben, Foucault and Deleuze as well as issues such as critical international law, feminist theory, Latin American culture and politics and Continental philosophy. There is an informal doctoral work-in-progress group open to staff and research students, allowing the latter to develop their presentation skills and invite general comment on projects. There are a number of other events designed to support research students. Additionally, an annual postgraduate conference is held to showcase current doctoral research, and our academic staff and research students regularly attend and present papers at the annual Critical Legal Conference . The upgrade viva examination, whereby students progress from MPhil to PhD registration, gives students experience of a more formal arena in which they have to defend their work to academic staff.

Entry Requirements

Good honours degree in law or a related discipline from the humanities or social sciences.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this programme is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 7.0, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement,  we offer pre-sessional English courses, foundation programmes and language support services  to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our  English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country .

Visa and funding requirements

If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

  • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
  • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol as a student on Birkbeck's part-time courses (with the exception of some modules).

For full information, read our visa information for international students page .

Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country .

Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

Law MPhil/PhD: 7 years part-time or 4 years full-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25 or 2025-26

Academic year 2024–25, starting october 2024, january 2025.

Part-time home students: £2,539 per year Full-time home students: £4,786 per year Part-time international students : £7,525 per year Full-time international students: £14,885 per year

Academic year 2025–26, starting October 2025, January 2026

To be confirmed

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the College Fees Policy .

If you’ve studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a discount on the tuition fee of this course.

Fees and finance

PhD students resident in England can apply for government loans of over £26,000 to cover the cost of tuition fees, maintenance and other study-related costs.

Flexible finance: pay your fees in monthly instalments at no extra cost . Enrol early to spread your costs and reduce your monthly payments.

We offer a range of studentships and funding options to support your research.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

International scholarships

We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship. Discover if you are eligible for a scholarship .

Our research culture

Birkbeck is an internationally recognised centre for critical and interdisciplinary legal research. We provide an exciting and innovative environment for a wide range of research with a strong theoretical and policy focus, and publish Law and Critique: The International Journal of Critical Legal Thought . 

Study resources include an induction programme for all postgraduate students, which offers classes on methodology, and regular research seminars, workshops, reading groups and conferences. We are at the centre of the intellectual hub of Bloomsbury in London, and there are regular conferences at Birkbeck and other universities nearby. We also host an annual  Writer in Residence  whose seminars in June are primarily focused on our postgraduate research students.

Birkbeck Library has an extensive collection of books, journals and electronic resources in law and related disciplines such as economics, politics and sociology. For example, it provides access to over 17,000 electronic journals, which are available online 24 hours a day. You can also take advantage of the rich research collections nearby, including those of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Senate House Library, the British Library of Political and Economic Science (LSE Library) and the British Library.

Birkbeck is also home to the  Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research (ICPR)  and the  Centre for Law and the Humanities .

Read more about  our vibrant research culture .

Follow these steps to apply to an MPhil/PhD research degree at Birkbeck: 

1. Check that you meet the entry requirements, including English language requirements, as described on this page. 

2. Find a potential supervisor for your MPhil/PhD research. You can look at the Find a Supervisor area on this page for an overview, or  search our Experts’ Database  or  browse our staff pages  for more in-depth information. 

3. Please contact PhD lead, Dr Susy Menis , to express your research interest before applying.  (Please note: finding a potential supervisor does not guarantee admission to the research degree, as this decision is made using your whole application.) Find out more about the supervisory relationship and how your supervisor will support your research .

4. Draft a research proposal. This needs to demonstrate your knowledge of the field, the specific research questions you wish to pursue, and how your ideas will lead to the creation of new knowledge and understanding.  Find out more about writing a research proposal .

5. Apply directly to Birkbeck, using the online application link on this page. All research students are initially registered on an MPhil and then upgrade to a PhD after making sufficient progress. 

Find out more about the application process, writing a research proposal and the timeframe . 

Areas of research interest

  • Access to law
  • Company law
  • Constitutional theory and national identity 
  • Criminal justice
  • Criminology 
  • European law 
  • Feminist legal theory 
  • Human rights 
  • Insurance law 
  • Intellectual property
  • International economic law
  • International refugee law
  • The law in relation to: 
  • children and childhood
  • development
  • environment
  • gender and sexuality 
  • literature 
  • multinational corporations 
  • political economy 
  • Legal aesthetics
  • Legal history
  • Legal theory
  • Medical law and ethics 
  • Postcolonial theory
  • Public law 
  • Socio-legal studies

Application deadlines and interviews

You can apply throughout the year and entry is during October and January. For October entry, applications must be submitted by 15 August. For January entry, applications must be submitted by 15 November.

With your application you must send a research proposal of 300-1000 words containing a statement outlining the main themes of your proposed research project, a section addressing questions of methodology, an overview of the literature in the field and a statement relating to the project's intended contribution to legal scholarship.

If you wish to apply for funding, you will need to apply by certain deadlines. Consult the websites of relevant bodies for details.

Recent research topics.

  • Real-world dynamics of commercial-contractual relations 
  • The orthodox, neoliberal approach to land tenure reforms in sub-Saharan Africa
  • The history of copyright law in Latin America 
  • A critical defence of the rule of law 
  • The quest for legitimate governance and social justice: the emerging trend in postcolonial African political philosophy 
  • Pharmaceutical ethics 
  • The ephemeral art form of dance and copyright law

Apply for your course

Apply for your course using the apply now button in the key information section .

Finding a supervisor

A critical factor when applying for postgraduate study in law is the correlation between the applicant’s intellectual and research interests and those of one or more potential supervisors.

Read more about the expert supervision we offer in a wide range of legal subjects , from administrative law and bioethics through criminal law and development to legal theory and refugee studies.

Related courses

  • Law and Social Change at Birkbeck (MPhil/PhD)
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Course detail

Entry requirements.

  • Fees & funding
  • Study & career progression

Our School of Law at the University of West London provides a lively and stimulating research environment, attracting students from all over the world. Our London location offers unparalleled access to law resources with parliament, courts, judiciary, government agencies, law firms and international organisations within close proximity.

We offer supervision in a diverse range of  areas by academics who are  specialists in their field. Our areas of expertise include:

  • international law
  • international commercial law
  • arbitration
  • criminal justice
  • judicial culture
  • comparative criminal justice
  • criminal law.

See a list of potential PhD supervisors and read about their expertise, in the 'Supervisors' section lower down the page.

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Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Why study Law with us?

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What our students say…

I have found that the School of Law is a very professional institute in developing students' skills in research and relevant legal knowledge. The teaching is very focused and efficient. When I began my studies here, my knowledge of Criminal Justice was effectively at ground zero. After nearly four years of study I have gained incredible amounts of knowledge in my field. From a professional perspective,  it is the first institute where I have felt as though study can be a happy and enjoyable experience.

study full time or part time

World-leading Research

The University of West London has been recognised by the Government's Research Excellence Framework (REF) for its exceptional research work.

Research REF PHD World-leading

Research Centres

We have seven Research Centres, staffed by experts with an enviable record of publications, conferences, media and public engagement work.

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Our academic staff have extensive professional experience across a range of disciplines and we provide a stimulating and supportive environment where you will benefit from: 

  • peer feedback and discussion   
  • a series of master-classes and lectures from industry figures   
  • support by a supervisor and second supervisor suited to your project. 

About PhD study

This course is available for you to study either on a full-time or part-time basis and you have the flexibility to switch should you need to.

A PhD is founded on independent research.  You will undertake a systematic and in-depth exploration of your chosen topic to produce a substantial body of knowledge and make an original and important contribution to the subject area.  

The support provided by your supervisory team will be vital to your student experience and scholarly advancement.  You and your supervisors will have regular one-to-one meetings which will provide you with opportunities to develop your research topic and discuss your progress.

Our research record

View our academic journal 'New Vistas'   to see the work of students and academics who are making an impact both locally and globally through their research findings.

Based in the heart of Ealing, west London, you can make use of the excellent transport links to travel to the the capital or further afield - ideal for attending research meetings and networking events.

Got a question?

If you would like guidance or more information about studying for a research degree, you can contact Philip Ells .

To enable you to enhance your professional profile, we support you throughout your research degree by:

  • providing research seminars
  • organising doctoral events and activities
  • facilitating networking and collaboration opportunities
  • encouraging and supporting publication and dissemination of your research
  • offering opportunities to gain teaching expertise and experience.

We provide structured research training, expert supervision, and an environment where you can discuss your research with other PhD students and researchers.

We run seminars in research methods from the Graduate Centre, as well as an ongoing series of events and activities organised by Schools and Colleges. Specialist help with academic English for students for whom English is not their first language is available.

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Our mock courtroom will give you a realistic experience of life in the courtroom.

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The Paul Hamlyn Library provides an extensive range of books, journals and digital resources, PC and Mac workstations and a variety of study spaces. Find out more about what the  Paul Hamlyn Library has to offer .

Rami Ranger House (Postgraduate Student Centre)

Postgraduate and International Student Centre is a new focal point for the university’s postgraduate and international students, providing dedicated space for social and learning interaction.

This building, which is three storeys high, offers spaces for collaborative working, socialising, supervision and mentoring on the ground floor. The first floor has work spaces for the postgraduate support teams to use while the second floor provides guest accommodation for visiting scholars.

We contribute to national and international initiatives and promote collaboration and networking opportunities. We also encourage and support you to publish and disseminate your research in academic journals and via presenting papers at conferences.

We run an annual conference for doctoral students, where you are encouraged to present a paper about your research. As well as being an opportunity to discuss your work with other students, the conference is a chance to gain valuable experience in presenting your research and participating in open discussions with academic peers.

You will also find other opportunities such as postgraduate student seminars and forums within your specific subject area.

Once you start a PhD course at UWL, you become part of our research community. You will have access to a postgraduate common room, located at our Ealing campus on St Mary’s Road, where you will meet fellow researchers from other subject disciplines offering scope for collaborations or simply to discuss ideas, allowing you to be part of a vibrant research environment.

  • Requirements: UK
  • Requirements: International

The minimum entry requirements for a research degree are:

  • a good first degree (First Class or Upper Second Class), or equivalent qualification in a relevant field
  • a Masters Degree (MA, MSc, MBA or MRes) with Merit, or equivalent postgraduate or research experience.

We look for students with:

  • a passion for their chosen subject.

You will also have a well thought through and persuasive proposal.

  • Competence in written and spoken English is a pre-requisite for entrance to this programme. An IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5 (with no element under 6.0).

Fees & funding

  • Funding: UK
  • Funding: International

The fee above is the cost per year of your course.

If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year. If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.

Government regulation does affect tuition fees and the fees listed for courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year are subject to change.

If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

Funding for postgraduate students usually comes from one or more of a range of key sources:

  • research councils
  • charities and trust funds, including those funded by the UK government
  • higher Education institutions
  • overseas governments (international students only)
  • professional and career development loans
  • self-funding (including family funds).

Find out more about funding opportunities. Examples of most of these types of funding are included on the postgraduate studentships website , (with the exception of funding you may be able to obtain from your employer and self-funding).

Bursaries and scholarships

We offer generous bursaries and scholarships to make sure your aspirations are your only limit. See our PhD scholarships , scholarships and bursaries .

For any overseas students, your first port of call should be grant-awarding bodies in your own country (eg The Ministry / Department of Education) and your local (or nearest) office of the British Council.

The British Council manage a small number of international studentship grants in some countries and should be able to tell you what other awards may be available to you - they also produce the Sources of funding for international students guide.

Supervisors

Professor philipp elliot-wright.

Philipp Elliott-Wright

Dr Matteo Zambelli

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Study & career progression

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Studying for a PhD enables you to develop an area of specialism that will give you an edge whether you are planning to work within the field of law or to develop expertise to teach in academia.

During your PhD, you will also be learning transferable core skills that apply to jobs both in and out of academia, including:

  • written and oral communication
  • research and information management
  • public speaking   
  • project management
  • critical Thinking
  • collaboration
  • analysis and problem-solving
  • conflict resolution
  • negotiation.

By the end of your research degree you will be able to articulately apply these skills to enhance your career path.

How to apply

  • How to apply: UK
  • How to apply: International

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To apply for one of our research courses, click the green 'apply now' link shown below to complete an online application form. You will need to attach the following documentation to your online application form:

  • research proposal outline (5000 words maximum)
  • transcript of your highest qualification.

The research proposal outline, or statement of research interests, enables us to assess your suitability for higher degree work including:

  • viability of the topic as a research study
  • the most appropriate supervisor(s) to be appointed.

Learn more about applying for a PhD.

Apply for this course

Next steps after making your application.

We aim to make a decision on your application as quickly as we can. If we need any more information about your qualifications, we will be in touch.

In the meantime, come and visit us and find out more about what studying at UWL is like. Sign up for an  open day  or join a campus tour .

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Visit us and see for yourself

Talk to our tutors and find out about our courses and facilities at our next open day or join a campus tour.

We're here to help

Any questions about a course or studying at UWL? We're here to help - call us on 0800 036 8888 (option 2, Monday – Friday 10am-4pm) or email us on [email protected].

To apply for one of our research courses, click the green 'apply now' link shown below to complete an online application form.  You will need to attach the following documentation to your online application form:

  • research proposal outline

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* Modern universities  - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.

** The National Student Survey 2023 and 2024 -   Average of answers to all questions by registered student population. Excludes specialist institutions.

Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.

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PhD/MPhil Law

Postgraduate research degree

The PhD/MPhil programme at The City Law School offers you the opportunity to carry out legal research and to contribute to professional knowledge in this constantly evolving field.

Research centres and groups

  • European Union Law
  • The Legal Practice Hub
  • Maritime Law and Policy
  • Intellectual Property Engagement
  • International Law and Affairs
  • Law & Social Change

Key information

Starting date Deadline for application
Sep 2024 30 September 2024 Applications are accepted throughout the year.

Law Postgraduate research degrees PhD/MPhil course Overview

As PhD/MPhil researcher at The City Law School , you will be joining a dynamic research environment. We are dedicated to advancing knowledge and bringing value to society.

Within our research centres, we carry out cutting edge research that straddles different areas and approaches to the subject of Law . We cover many diverse areas including (but not confined to):

  • EU and international law
  • Commercial law and arbitration
  • Intellectual property
  • Maritime law
  • Public law, and child and family law.

if you are interested in pursuing an academic career, you will have the opportunity to teach as you carry out your research. We will provide you with full professional training and higher education certification through City’s Department for Learning Enhancement and Development (LEaD).

You will initially register for the MPhil degree. You will upgrade to PhD status once you have demonstrated that your research has developed to doctoral standard.

Upgrading normally occurs after 12 months for full time study and within 24 months for part time study.

Your academic research and inquiry will culminate in a thesis of up to 100,000 words. Your thesis will make a significant, original contribution to your area of study.

You will then be examined in detail on your thesis by two academics, in the form of a viva voce (oral examination). At least one of the examiners will be external to City.

For full details about the City PhD programme structure, please see the Guide for Research Students .

Requirements

Entry requirements.

You will need to demonstrate a track record of high academic achievement.

We are looking for a minimum of second class (upper division) LLB degree and a Master’s in Law or a related discipline with at least a merit or equivalent.

You will also need to show a suitable aptitude to carry out an extended programme of original, independent research at a high level.

English requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide proof of one of the following:

  • A first degree from a UK university or from the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA)
  • A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by City as providing evidence of English language proficiency
  • GCE O-level/GCSE English language or English Literature, with a minimum C grade
  • An overall score of 7.0 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum of 6.5 in the reading and writing subtests
  • TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition: 95 overall with no less than 24 in Writing and Reading, 22 in Listening and 25 in Speaking
  • Other evidence of English language proficiency that satisfies the Board of Studies (if you are from the European Economic Area or Switzerland).

For more information see our English language proficiency requirements at City.

Visa requirements

If you are not from the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to study in the UK.

Your application may vary depending on the length of your studies.

Check our main visa page to see the rules that apply to you.

Fees and funding

Full-time Home/UK: £11,700 per year

Part-time Home/UK: £5,850 per year

Full-time International: £11,700 per year

Part-time International: £5,850 per year

You will pay fees annually to cover registration, supervision and examination.

Fees are subject to review each year and may vary during your period of registration. Where applicable, fees for City's programmes will be subject to inflationary increases in each academic year of study commencing in September . Our policy for these increases is set out in our terms and conditions of study .

Support for PhD study

Prospective students are encouraged to explore doctoral Grants and funding opportunities such as:

  • Research Council studentship awards , if available.
  • PhD Scholarship for Black British applicants - The City Law School is offering a full-time, three-year doctoral scholarship for a Black British researcher (entry in September 2024).
  • SeNSS Doctoral Training Partnership -SENSS is offering UK Fully funded ESRC studentships are currently available to Doctoral Researchers for entry in October 2024.

The City Law School Doctoral Studentships

We normally offer two scholarships a year to support exceptional research proposals. These comprise a full fee waiver and a National Living Wage bursary of currently £19,668, subject to change in line with the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI’s) recommended doctoral research student stipend.

In addition, all students are eligible for funding (currently up to £1,000) over the course of your studies. This can be used for research materials or to support attendance at conferences. Contact the Law School office for more details.

PhD Scholarships -  The City Law School is offering 2 full-time, three-year doctoral scholarships to applicants for entry in September 2024.

Our bursaries are non-repayable sums of money granted by the University, usually based on need.

Our loans are repayable sums of money granted by the University or other body.

Our scholarships are when the University pays towards your Study fees. You may also be eligible for further funding.

Scholarships for EU Law and Commercial Law students

We are inviting applications for 2 PhD scholarships funded by the City, University of London on EU law and commercial law. WE understand these two areas broadly:

  • EU law covers competition, constitutional and administrative law, migration, citizenship, trade and investment, health, human rights, media and intellectual property
  • commercial law covers maritime, corporate, investment, arbitration, data protection and privacy, intellectual property, competition law, and commercial aspects of law in society, eg in medical law.

The School has expertise in both these areas and we invite prospective applicants to look at our website and even approach our EU and commercial law colleagues. Applications can be made below:

  • September 23/24 full-time
  • September 23/24 part-time

Postgraduate Doctoral Loans

The Government has introduced a new Postgraduate Doctoral Loans scheme which can provide a loan of up to £25,000.

This will be over three years to support study for a doctoral degree.

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study. It can be used alongside any other forms of support you may be able to receive.

For more information, please see our Postgraduate Doctoral Loans page .

Additional expenses

Some of our degrees may involve additional expenses which are not covered by your tuition fees. Find out more about additional expenses .

Academic support

City has a well-established structure and processes to support your research .

You will have two supervisors to support you throughout your research, one of these will be your first point of contact responsible for:

  • assisting you to refine your research ideas
  • suggesting reading
  • commenting on drafts of your thesis
  • ensuring that you are effectively supervised.

We have an outstanding research seminar programme, designed to equip you with the skills needed to carry out your research successfully. The programme also contributes to facilitating your transition to a career once you have finished your research at City.

These seminars, led by faculty members, recent PhD graduates and more advanced doctoral researchers, take place weekly in your first year. You will explore a range of methodologies and research approaches. Learning from established practitioners as well as your PhD peers.

Our research seminar programme is supplemented by many other training opportunities. These are both within the City Law School and the wider university community, throughout the year.

In addition to events tailor-made for PhD students, you will be expected to participate to research events organised by City Law School academic staff .

You will be based in the brand new and state of the art City Law School Building. Here you will have use of a dedicated and suitably equipped area for Law PhD students .

All students are eligible for funding (currently up to £1,000) over the course of your studies. This can be for research materials or to support attendance at conferences.

Other support:

If you are interested in pursuing an academic career, you may have the opportunity to teach as you carry out your research.

We will provide you with full professional training and higher education certification through City’s Department for Learning Enhancement and Development (LEaD).

How to apply

You need to complete an online application form below, including:

  • your research proposal
  • details of two academic referees who know your work well and can comment on your ability to carry out research at this level

Your research proposal is a crucial part of your application. We strongly advise you to read our guide to writing a successful PhD proposal carefully before applying.

You are also welcome to discuss your ideas for research with relevant members of the School of Law before applying. Contact details can be found on our Research Pages .

You may be invited for an interview by a panel consisting of the PhD Programme Director and a potential supervisor.

You can apply here by completing our online form .

  • 30 th Sep 2024

For further application enquiries please contact our PGR enquiries team .

PhD Research projects from The City Law School

Jean monnet chair in law and transatlantic relations.

The Jean Monnet Chair in Law & Transatlantic Relations aims to study and critically reflect upon the largest casestudy of global governance in the international legal order, the transatlantic alliance

Research centre: Institute for the Study of European Law

Academic: Professor Elaine Fahey

Current student: Giulio Kowalski

Status: Ongoing project

View case study site

The future of EU Trade and Investment Partnerships EUTIP

The objective of the EU Trade and Investment Policy ITN is to foster interdisciplinary research into the evolving international trade policy of the European Union (EU).

EU-UK-Japan relations TRILATTRADE

'TRILATTRADE’ examines three thematic strands in UK-EU-Japan relations going forward: overall economic law; regulation theory and data transfers; and IP law and policy.

Research centres: Institute for the Study of European Law and Intellectual Property Engagement Group

Academics: Dr Enrico Bonadio and Professor David Collins

Find a supervisor

Some examples of our supervisors are listed below

Professor Elaine Fahey

Professor Elaine Fahey

Professor of Law, Jean Monnet Chair in Law & Transatlantic Relations

Academic law programmes

Professor Panos Koutrakos

Professor Panos Koutrakos

Jean Monnet Professor of EU Law

Professor David Collins

Professor David Collins

Professor of International Economic Law

Useful links

  • Doctoral College
  • Professional Law Programmes
  • Student wellbeing
  • Terms and conditions

The City Law School

Contact details.

+44 (0)20 7040 4568

[email protected]

UCL logo

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

Applications open

  • 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 Services team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £6,035 £3,015
Tuition fees (2024/25) £25,900 £12,950

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.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Got questions get in touch.

Laws

[email protected]

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MPhil/PhD Law

Content navigation menu, why study mphil/phd law at goldsmiths.

Goldsmiths Law MPhil/PhD candidates are given outstanding opportunities to explore modern legal phenomena in their rapidly changing socio-political, cultural, and economic context.

  • Our forward-looking, cosmopolitan, and distinctive  Law Department  draws on – and has further strengthened – Goldsmiths’ rich heritage of critical and transformative scholarship, and its unique ability to foster radical and creative thinking, facilitated by cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration. 
  • Goldsmiths is known for its academic strengths in the creative arts, humanities, and social sciences; its unique focus on public and community engagement; the outstanding alumni from every generation of students; and its ground-breaking multidisciplinary research. Our MPhil/PhD programme follows this tradition, and students joining the programme will also be joining a wider doctoral community served by Goldsmiths’ multidisciplinary Graduate School .

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Dr Aysem Diker Vanberg .

2-4 years full-time or 4-8 years part-time

Home - full-time: £4786 Home - part-time: £2393 International - full-time: £17690

You'll research

Research supervision areas.

All MPhil/PhD candidates at Goldsmiths receive supervision from two members of academic staff throughout their study with us, who may be drawn from the same department or, in the case of interdisciplinary projects, multiple departments at the university.

Areas of research strength in the Department of Law include:

  • Criminal law and procedure, and criminal justice
  • Public international law
  • Transnational human rights
  • Law and migration
  • Gender, race and sexuality
  • Law and technologies

Find out more about our research areas and events .

Prior to making your application you are strongly encouraged to directly approach individual academics with expertise in the area that you intend to pursue for doctoral study. This is your opportunity to inquire informally about supervision availability and discuss preliminary research ideas.

Explore a full list of our current staff and their areas of research expertise .

Working independently and with others

We aspire for our PhD candidates to fully integrate into the Department of Law’s innovative approach to legal studies and legal research, and are passionate about connecting students with our network of leading scholars and professionals, including:

  • Our renowned Visiting Professors
  • The dynamic organisations with which we work, whose aim is to make a real impact on policy, the law, and communities

  • Academic staff and doctoral researchers in other Goldsmiths departments (e.g. in the departments of Politics, Psychology, Sociology, Media, Communications and Cultural Studies, History, Art, Design, Institute of Management Studies, and others) with intertwined research interests

  • Our activist research centres and think tanks 

  • The scholars and legal professionals with whom we collaborate in our Law and Policy Clinics 


PhD candidates are offered opportunities to contribute to our research and public engagement activity that will develop their skills to work in and beyond academia upon graduation, including growing confidence in public speaking, and using modern technologies to communicate research outputs.

Our Library

The Library at Goldsmiths gives students access to all the key legal databases for law  – for example, Westlaw, Lexis Library, and Hein Online. It additionally contains the key practitioner resource, Practical Law. Through Practical Law international, Westlaw International and Nexis, you can access materials from many jurisdictions around the world.

You will also have access to subscriptions to Cambridge University Press Law eBooks (around 3,000), Oxford University Press Law eBooks (around 2,000), Hart eBooks, Lexis Library eBooks and Westlaw eBooks on top of the paper collection.

Goldsmiths postgraduate students are also able to join the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies library , and make use of its legal resources, both print and digital.

A student in the Goldsmiths library reaching for a book on a high shelf

Goldsmiths postgraduate students are able to join the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies library.

A student in the study space on the ground floor of the library, writing notes in front of a Macbook laptop

The Library at Goldsmiths gives students access to all the key legal databases for law.

In addition to pursuing traditional career paths in academia and postdoctoral research, graduates of our PhD programme are also encouraged to consider future career opportunities in the third sector, government organisations, or legal practice. Integration of theory and practice, and the embedding of a wide range of career skills in the PhD programme, will have exposed candidates to such opportunities and allowed them to create connections with relevant legal professionals and networks.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees.

These are the PG fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year.

  • Home - full-time: £4786
  • Home - part-time: £2393
  • International - full-time: £17690

If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office , who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.

If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment .

Funding opportunities

Goldsmiths scholarships and studentships.

To be considered for funding, candidates are strongly advised to make contact with potential supervisors and submit their subsequent application early in the academic year.

PhD candidates in Law may be eligible for funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) via the CHASE doctoral training partnership , including (if applicable) the Stuart Hall Foundation CHASE scholarships .

Fully-funded studentships are available to research students via the  ESRC/SENSS Doctoral Studentships Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP).

International candidates may be interested in applying for a Commonwealth PhD Scholarship .

Candidates who have already commenced doctoral study, who are not yet in receipt of funding, may be eligible for a Modern Law Review scholarship

Paying your fees

Find out about paying your tuition fees .

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page .

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments.

Entry requirements

We welcome applicants from both traditional legal educational backgrounds, and those with a background in other areas interested in pursuing doctoral research in law or legal studies.

Applicants should ordinarily possess at least a first degree (equivalent to upper second-class honours or above) and would normally have (or expect to be awarded) a Masters (taught or research) in a relevant subject area.

Candidates with non-standard qualifications or equivalent experience will be considered.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the  qualifications we accept from around the world .

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or  equivalent English language qualification ) of  7.0 with a 7.0 in writing and no element lower than 6.5  to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of  courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate study .

How to apply

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system.

We welcome proposals for research in any area of law. We give priority to those with proposals for research within the areas of interest of our staff . When you apply, please indicate your intended research area and any preference for a particular supervisor.

Before submitting your application you'll need to have:

  • Details of your education history , including the dates of all exams/assessments
  • The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
  • Contact details of a second referee
  • A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online
  • Details of your research proposal
  • If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory)

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

We are only able to offer you a place on the programme if a suitable supervisor has agreed to supervise your proposed research. Before you apply for a research programme, we advise you to study our academic staff pages to identify one or more potential supervisors for your research, and to get in touch with them to discuss your plans. Your prospective supervisor will need to confirm their willingness and ability to supervise your thesis before an offer can be made.

How detailed a research proposal are we looking for on the application form?

What you put on the form and the exactly what you end up researching may be rather different, but in order to judge whether or not to offer you a place, the Department needs to know whether you have the broad outlines of a viable project. This means:

  • A project that is both worthwhile and interesting, but not overly ambitious
  • A project that can realistically be achieved within the confines of PhD on a full-time (4 years maximum) or part-time (8 years maximum) basis
  • We need to be sure that you have thought about it carefully and are fully committed to the research
  • We need to be sure that you understand what is involved in doing a PhD

Your research proposal should give us enough information to be able to reach a decision about whether to interview you.

When to apply

You can make an application to study for an MPhil or PhD with us at any time of the year, for the academic year starting the following October.

We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.

If you're applying for external funding from one of the Research Councils, make sure you submit your application by the deadline they've specified.

Selection process

Admission to the programme is based on an interview and the panel’s assessment of your application. Online interviews can be arranged when necessary.

Find out more about applying .

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