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City Law building

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.

The City Law School

Research centres and groups

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

Key information

Starting date Deadline for application
1st Feb 2023 1st February 2023 28th Dec 2022 28th December 2022
30th Sep 2023 30th September 2023 20th Aug 2023 20th August 2023

Duration

Full-time
1 – 3 years
Part-time
2 – 5 years
PhD by prior publication
1 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).

Structure

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 UK:£10,920 per year

Part-time UK:£5,460 per year

Full-time Overseas/EU:£10,920 per year

Part-time Overseas/EU:£5,460 per year

You will pay fees annually to cover registration, supervision and examination. We review our fees each year and they may vary during your period of registration.

Support for PhD study

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

  • Research Council studentship awards, if available.

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 £18,000 a year.

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 2022.

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.

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
  • your CV
  • 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.

Apply now

Full-time
  • 1st Feb 2023
  • 30th Sep 2023
Part-time
  • 1st Feb 2023
  • 30th Sep 2023

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 Laws

    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).

    Research centre: Institute for the Study of European Laws

    Academic: Professor Elaine Fahey

    Status: Ongoing project

    View case study site

  • 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 Laws and Intellectual Property Engagement Group

    Academics: Dr Enrico Bonadio and Professor David Collins

    Status: Ongoing project

    View case study site

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

Academic law programmes

Professor David Collins

Professor David Collins

Professor of International Economic Law

Academic law programmes

Dr Grietje Baars

Dr Grietje Baars

Reader in Law & Social Change

Academic law programmes

Our students

Some examples of our students are listed below

Christopher Arvidsson

Christopher Arvidsson

Research Student

Academic law programmes

Useful links

  • Doctoral College
  • Professional Law Programmes
  • Student wellbeing
  • Terms and conditions
  • The City Law School

Contact details

  • The City Law School

    +44 (0)20 7040 4568

    Law.PhD.Administration@city.ac.uk

    Sebastian Street Northampton Square London EC1V 0HB United Kingdom

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