Law

The Law Research Degree (PhD) programme run by the School of Law at SOAS University of London accepts candidates wishing to undertake a significant and original research project leading to a PhD in Law.

Studying for a PhD in Law offered at SOAS University of London involves research on a chosen legal topic, normally over a period of 3-4 years full time (or longer part time), with a view to producing a dissertation/thesis of up to 100,000 words. The thesis must make a distinct and original contribution to knowledge of the subject. A unique feature of the postgraduate research student body at SOAS is its focus on international, critical and/or regional legal study, often involving fieldwork in Asia, Africa, or the Middle East.

Employment

Our Recent School of Law SOAS PhD graduates are to be found working across a range of sectors (from top city Law firms to NGOs to international organisations to academia) in all parts of the world. Recent School of Law SOAS PhD graduates have been hired by organisations including:

• African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

• Dialogue Office for Civil Society Cooperation

• European Commission

• Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi

• London School of Economics

• Malaysian Securities and Exchange Commission

• Medical Sans Frontiers

• Mines Advisory Group

• National Law School of India University, Bengaluru

• National Law University Delhi

• National Taiwan University

• Queen Mary University of London

Structure:

• During the first year, candidates are required to attend the School of Law’s Postgraduate Research Training Seminars, in order to introduce them to the principal practical and methodological issues associated with postgraduate legal studies. The seminars introduce candidates to an array of methodologies, as well as different bodies of legal scholarship and theory.

  By the beginning of the third term of the first year, candidates are required to hand in a draft Research Plan that is an integrated document based on a research paper, draft dissertation abstract, draft table of contents, draft bibliography and working schedule.

• After their first year, doctoral candidates must carefully plan their time so that they can finish their draft thesis well in time before the end of their third year of registration. The process followed by each doctoral candidate is guided by their research project.