law phd manchester

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Academic staff: 58 Research postgraduates: 80

The Department of Law sits within our School of Social Sciences, and is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the country and has a major international reputation.

Since its inception, it has been at the forefront of legal and public policy formation and development, and many of its graduates and staff have played central roles in public life.

The Department has considerable strengths in a number of areas of teaching and research including:

• Common Law and Public Law
• Corporate and Commercial Law
• Intellectual Property Law
• International Economic Law
• Law and Economics, and Law and Development
• Jurisprudence
• Bioethics and Medical Law

Criminology sits within the Department of Criminology, in the School of Social Sciences.

The interdisciplinary strengths of the Department of Law have been enhanced by the Centre for Social Ethics and Policy the Centre for Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies, the Institute for Law, the Economy and Global Governance, and the Sustainability, Policy and Regulation Research Centre.

Our students have access to one of the best Law libraries in the country, a wide variety of web-based resources and the School's active seminar programmes.

All research students are required to undergo formal training in research methods. The School offers courses in Legal Research Methodology, and in Comparative Analysis for Legal Research and Law Reform.

• Bioethics and Medical Jurisprudence PhD (3 or 6 years)
• Criminology PhD (3 or 6 years)
• Law PhD (3 or 6 years)

Return to list of research areas

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UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

Different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Course type.

Programme description

Research is central to the work of the Law School.

Our diverse, intellectual community brings together legal and socio-legal scholars, criminologists, ethicists, economists and sociologists who undertake doctrinal and empirical research, resulting in the production of a wide range of scholarly and policy-oriented publications.

Our research shapes law, policy and social change through active engagement with policy-makers, legislators, NGOs and activists working in a broad range of disciplines and sectors. We invite you to explore our research themes , through which we encourage collaboration and debate within the School and beyond.

Our research degrees involve sustained, in-depth study into a specific topic, which is then written up as a thesis for examination.

Teaching and learning

Undertaking a PhD is challenging, but you will receive expert supervision during your time with us. This supervision includes regular meetings with your supervisors and an annual review session for you to present details of your progress to other academic staff.

Supervisors will normally be within the School, but collaborating with scholars from other areas of the University is also possible. Our dedicated researcher development team provides individual tailored training to support the progression of your research skills, as well as guidance for your career in academia or further afield. To test your ideas and disseminate your scholarship, the School actively supports and encourages you to engage with the wider academic community to present your work to and receive feedback from scholars outside of Manchester.

Coursework and assessment

For a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), you must successfully complete a period of supervised research and training, the results of which show convincing evidence of your capacity to pursue research and scholarship, and to make an original contribution and substantial addition to knowledge.

Research training in legal methods: full-time PGRs are expected to attend at least 50% of the research training seminars over the course of the first year.

Part-time PGRs are required to attend a 25 percent minimum of seminars in their first year and another 25 percent in their second year. Second and third-year PhD candidates may return to take seminars they missed the previous year on an optional basis.

You must prepare a substantial thesis of up to 80,000 words, and also satisfy the examiners in an oral examination on the subject of the thesis. The subject is chosen by you, but must be approved by the School's Research Committee.

Career opportunities

Successful graduates are able to progress within a wide variety of roles in the legal professions and associated fields.

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

The minimum entry requirements are: an Upper Second class honours degree with minimum grade averages of 65%(or overseas equivalent) in Law or a relevant discipline; a master's degree at merit level with overall average marks of 65% in taught modules and a minimum mark of 65% in the dissertation/research element (or overseas equivalent) and no mark below 55%, in Law or a relevant discipline, plus prior research training at postgraduate level.

MA Criminology and Criminal Justice

Leeds trinity university, bangor university, law and management mba, international criminal law and international human rights law llm.

A team of almost 200 teaching, research and support staff keep us at the forefront of legal and socio-legal education.

Our range of knowledge and experience makes us one of the biggest and most diverse law schools in the UK.

This means we can offer quality expertise and support to all our students, graduates and research connections.

Teaching and research staff

Carolyn Abbot Professor 

Research specialisms: environmental regulation, regulatory enforcement tools and practices, public participation, access to justice.

Orkun Akseli Professor in Commercial Law

Research specialisms: s ecured transactions, corporate finance, arbitration and mediation, law reform and global lawmaking, sale of goods.

Neil Allen Senior Lecturer (Law)

Research specialisms: mental health and incapacity law, Court of Protection, advocacy.

Eleanor Aspey Senior Lecturer in Law

Research specialisms: EU public procurement law, utilities procurement, inclusion of social and environmental policies in procurement.

Guy Baldwin Lecturer in Public Law and Human Rights

Vincenzo Bavoso Senior Lecturer in Commercial Law

Research specialisms: corporate law, corporate governance, structured finance, financial regulation.

Becki Bennett Professor of Bioethics

Research specialisms: diverse issues in bioethics.

Iain Brassington Senior Lecturer

Research specialisms: bioethics, medical ethics, medical law, jurisprudence.

Dr Fiona Brimblecombe Lecturer in Law

Research specialism: privacy, free expression, defamation, GDPR.

Nicolette Butler Senior Lecturer in Law

Research specialisms: international economic law, international commercial arbitration, trade and investment policy, investment and human rights.

Neil Cobb Senior Lecturer in Law

Research specialisms: criminal law, law, gender and sexuality, land law.

Alan Cunningham Lecturer in Law

Research specialisms: law and IT, Intellectual Property (IP) law, copyright law, law and contemporary art, law and appropriation.

Margaret Cunningham Senior Lecturer in Law

Amber Darr Lecturer in Competition Law

Research specialisms: Competition Law, South Asia, Human Rights, Economic Inequality, sustainability, Institutional Design, Transnational Competition

Jean d’Aspremont Chair in Public International Law

Research specialisms: statehood, sources of international law, state responsibility, the law of international organizations, international dispute settlement, the law of armed conflicts.

Sarah Devaney Senior Lecturer in Healthcare Law and Regulation.

Research specialisms: regulation of emerging biotechnologies, regulation of professionals, regulation in the food supply chain.

Elaine Dewhurst Senior Lecturer in Employment Law

Research specialisms: employment law, European law, human rights law, immigration law.

Dimitrios Doukas Reader in EU Law

Research specialisms: European Union law, EU internal market and economic law, EU media and entertainment law, European and comparative public law.

Philip Drake Senior Lecturer

Research specialisms: clinical law, legal ethics and social responsibility, accessory liability in equity for assistance in a breach of trust.

Lucy Frith Reader in Bioethics

Research specialisms: Bioethics, social science, qualitative methods

Michael Galanis Senior Lecturer in Company Law

Research specialisms: company law, corporate governance, securities regulation, law and economics.

Javier Garcia Oliva Professor of Law

Research specialisms: law and religion/constitutional law, devolution, tribunals.

Fae Garland Senior Lecturer in Socio-Legal Studies

Research specialisms: socio-legal studies, feminist legal theory, intersex rights and law, family law and gender studies.

Simona Giordano Professor of Bioethics

Research specialisms: psychiatric ethics, bioethics eating disorders, gender identity.

Nicola Glover-Thomas Professor of Law

Research specialisms: medical law, mental health law, private law, pharmaceuticals and law.

Luke Graham Lecturer in Law

Research specialisms:  Human Rights, Public Law, Poverty, Destitution, Clothing.

Christos Hajiarapas Lecturer in Law

Ruby Hammer Senior Lecturer in Law & Deputy Head of Law Department

Research specialisms: employers' liability and vicarious liability, legal education and pedagogy.

Phil Handler Senior Lecturer

Research specialisms: criminal law, legal history.

Ashley Hannay Lecturer in Property Law

Research specalisms: legal history; modern property law; trusts; uses.

John Haskell Senior Lecturer in Law

Research specialisms: sociology of expertise and idea production of governance across a number of regulatory/industry regimes.

Soren Holm Professor of Bioethics

Research specialisms: health care ethics, bioethics, philosophy of medicine, intersection between bioethics and law.

Caroline Hoyle Senior Lecturer (Teaching and Scholarship)

Research specialisms: criminal and healthcare law.

Kirsty Keywood Senior Lecturer

Research specialisms: medical law, gender and law, mental health law.

Aristea Koukiadaki Professor of Labour Law and Industrial Relations & Head of Law Department

Research specialisms: empirical study of law, applied legal and policy analysis, labour regulation, corporate governance, EU social policy.

Ruth Lamont Reader in Family and Child Law

Research specialisms: law relating to the family and children.

Joseph Lee Reader in Corporate and Financial Law

Research Specialisms: AI, Fintech, Legal Tech.

Harriet Lipkin Senior Lecturer (T&S) in Property Law

Research specialisms: land law, professional legal skills and mediation.

Gary Lynch-Wood Senior Lecturer in Corporate Governance

Research specialisms: rule-following and the impact on regulatory compliance and culture, age discrimination, corporate social responsibility.

Gail Lythgoe Lecturer in International Law

Research specialisms: international law, international relations.

Claire Mcgourlay Professor in Legal Education

Research specialisms: miscarriages of justice, wrongful convictions, criminal evidence. 

Rebecca Mignot-Mahdavi Lecturer in International Law

Research specialisms: counterterrorism, public international law, international humanitarian law, human rights law, and (international and European) criminal law.

Victoria Moore Lecturer in Healthcare Law

Research Specialisms: healthcare law and regulation, patient safety.

Alexandra Mullock Senior Lecturer in Medical Law

Research specialisms: end-of-life law, the legitimacy of ethically contentious medical interventions, regulation of health care professionals via the criminal law, law and ethics of cosmetic surgery.

Yenkong Ngangjoh Hodu Professor in Law

Research specialisms: theories and practice of international trade law, public international law, intellectual property rights law, investment law, international development law.

Annette Nordhausen Scholes Lecturer In Law

Research specialisms: consumer law, internet law, commercial law, financial services law, private international law, European private law, European contract law.

Racheal Ntongho Lecturer in Law

Amanda Odell-West

Lecturer in Law

Research specialisms: the legal protection of emerging health (including assisted reproductive) technologies, comparative patent law.

Pinar Oruc Lecturer in Commercial Law

Research specialisms:  intellectual property law, especially copyright, and its intersection with technology, cultural property law, art law and Indigenous rights.

Geoff Pearson Professor of Law

Research specialisms: policing, human rights, sports law, crowd behaviour and management, football ‘hooliganism’, ethnography.

Mark Josef Rapa Lecturer in Bioethics

Iain Scobbie Chair in International Law

Research specialisms:  public international law, law, human rights, and peace building in the Middle East.

Graham Smith Senior Lecturer in Law

Research specialisms: police misconduct and legal remedies, police accountability, combating impunity for human rights abuse.

Siobhan Smith Lecturer in Law

Research specialisms:  international humanitarian law, International Human Rights Law, International Criminal Law, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Right To Education

Catherine Stanton Lecturer in Medical Law and Bioethics

Research specialisms: healthcare and criminal law, legal and ethical issues relating to the use of genetic information within the family.

Robert Thomas Professor of Public Law

Research specialisms: administrative justice and rule-making, law and public policy implementation, administrative accountability, asylum and immigration law.

Chris Thornhill Professor in Law

Research specialisms:  Sociology of Law; Comparative Constitutional Law; Law and Social Theory; Legal History.

Gillian Ulph Senior Lecturer

Research specialisms: equity and trusts, land law, property law, legal skills, legal education.

Joanne Urmtson Lecturer in Law

Fintan Walker Lecturer in Clinical Legal Education

Abubhakri Yenkini Lecturer in Conflict of Law

Research Specialisms: jurisdiction and enforcement of foreign judgments; private International law and AfCFTA.

Emeritus Professors

John Birds Emeritus Professor

Margot Brazier Emeritus Professor 

Thomas Gibbons Emeritus Professor

Neville Harris Emeritus Professor of Law

Joseph Jaconelli Emeritus Professor

Anthony Ogus Emeritus Professor of Law

Howard Parker Emeritus Professor

Asif Qureshi Emeritus Professor

Frank Stephen Emeritus Professor of Regulation

Honorary staff

Gillian Brailley Honorary Lecturer (Teaching & Research)

Sarah-Jane Brown Honorary Research Fellow

Hazel Carty Honorary Reader

Nicola Chadwick Honorary Lecturer

Kathryn Downs Honorary Lecturer (Teaching & Research)

Alistair Maiden Honorary Professor 

Nogar Ofer Honorary Research Fellow 

Tunde Okewale Honorary Lecturer (Teaching and Research)

Malcolm Oswald Honorary Research Fellow

Elena Pineros Honorary Research Fellow

Maria Smirnova Honorary Research Fellow

Mary Vogel Honorary Professor

David Williamson   Honorary Senior Research Fellow

Current PhD students

View research profiles and thesis themes for our PhD students in Law and Bioethics and Medical Jurisprudence.

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• Working paper series

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

• Log in
• Site search

Entry requirements

The minimum entry requirements are:

• an Upper Second class Bachelor's (honours) degree with minimum grade averages of 65% (or overseas equivalent) in Law or a relevant discipline;
• a Master's degree at merit level with overall average marks of 65% in taught modules and a minimum mark of 65% in the dissertation/research element (or overseas equivalent) and no mark below 55%, in Law or a relevant discipline, plus prior research training at postgraduate level.

The documents that applicants are required to submit to constitute a full application are outlined here .

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

Research is central to the work of the Law department.

Our diverse, intellectual community brings together legal and socio-legal scholars, criminologists, ethicists, economists and sociologists who undertake doctrinal and empirical research, resulting in the production of a wide range of scholarly and policy-oriented publications.

Our research shapes law, policy and social change through active engagement with policy-makers, legislators, NGOs and activists working in a broad range of disciplines and sectors. We invite you to explore our  research themes , through which we encourage collaboration and debate within the department and beyond.

Our research degrees involve sustained, in-depth study into a specific topic, which is then written up as a thesis for examination.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

• Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

Luke Graham

• Lecturer in Law (Public Law & Human Rights) , Law
• Phone 0161 27 53567

Room 2.15 - Williamson Building , Univeristy of Manchester Law School

M13 9QQ Manchester

Accepting PhD Students

Personal profile

I am a Lecturer in Law (Public Law & Human Rights). I am the Course Director for Public Law and the Course Director for  Constitutional Reform.

My research focuses on Human Rights, in particular I focus on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the socio-economic dimensions of Civil and Political Rights.

I am the Business Engagement Lead for the School of Social Sciences

Between 2013 and 2016 I studied for an undergraduate Law degree at Lancaster University. I graduated with a first-class honours degree and the prize for best undergraduate law dissertation.

Between 2016 and 2017, I remained at Lancaster University to undertake a LLM in International Human Rights Law. During my LLM I worked as a Research Assistant, an Administrative Assistant on the ‘Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Sustaining Peace Project’, and I co-organised an expert level knowledge exchange symposium. I graduated top of the LLM cohort with a distinction, the dissertation prize, and an award for 'outstanding contributions to the postgraduate community of the Law School'.

In October 2017, I began my Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded PhD in Law at Lancaster University. I submitted my PhD, titled ‘Destitution as a denial of economic, social and cultural rights: Addressing destitution in the UK through a human rights framework’, in August 2020 and this was awarded with minor corrections. During my PhD I worked as an Associate Lecturer teaching a range of modules, was a Research Assistant on several projects, attained Associate Fellowship of Advance HE, and was an Assistant Dean in Grizedale College.

My first academic appointment was a Lectureship in Law at Coventry University between September 2020 and September 2021.

I joined the University of Manchester as a Lecturer in Public Law and Human Rights in September 2021.

In January 2022 I was awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice in Higher Education (PGCAP-HE) and I attained Fellowship of Advance HE (FHEA).

Research interests

My research centres on Human Rights. I am keenly interested in Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the socio-economic dimensions of Civil and Political Rights. I explore how these rights interact with poverty and destitution. I am also exploring the Right to Clothing.

Units taught

I am the Course Director for Public Law and the Course Director for  Constitutional Reform.

I have previous experience teaching Human Rights Law, International Law, English Legal System, Legal Methods, and Legal Academic Writing Skills.

Supervision information

I am open to accepting PhD students and I would be interested in supervising PhD projects focusing on:

• Human Rights generally
• Public Law generally
• International Human Rights Law
• Human Rights in the UK
• Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCRs)
• The Right to Clothing
• Poverty/Destitution 
• Social Security

Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss your proposed PhD project. 

I am currently supervising the below projects:

• Chuxi Zhang State Integration (Sep 22-Present)
• Megan Eames How many clothes are enough? – The right to adequate clothing (EPSRC) (Jan 23-Present)
• Samara Sharaf Reimagining Global Constitutionalism: Can a Transformative Constitution Better The International Legal Order?  (AHRC) (Sep 23-Present)

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

Education/Academic qualification

Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice in Higher Education (PgCAPHE), Coventry University

Jan 2021 → Jan 2022

Award Date: 17 Jan 2022

Doctor of Philosophy, Lancaster University

1 Oct 2017 → 18 Jan 2021

Award Date: 18 Jan 2021

Master of Laws, International Human Rights Law LLM, Lancaster University

1 Oct 2016 → 30 Sept 2017

Award Date: 2 Oct 2017

Bachelor of Laws, Law LLB Hons, Lancaster University

1 Jan 2013 → 1 Jul 2016

Award Date: 1 Jul 2016

External positions

Visiting Lecturer, University of Hamburg

Sept 2023 → …

External Examiner, University of Hertfordshire

Jan 2023 → …

Areas of expertise

• K Law (General)
• Human Rights
• Destitution

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

• Sustainable Futures

Fingerprint

• 1 Similar Profiles
• Economics Social Sciences 100%
• Cultural Rights Social Sciences 79%
• Clothing Social Sciences 66%
• Poverty Social Sciences 55%
• Human Rights Arts and Humanities 41%
• COVID-19 Social Sciences 34%
• Evidence Social Sciences 33%
• Social Security Social Sciences 33%

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Dive into details.

Select a country/territory to view shared publications and projects

Research output

• 2 Other contribution
• 1 Scholarly edition
• 1 Book/Film/Article review
• 1 Comment/debate
• 1 Doctoral Thesis

Research output per year

International Human Rights Law and Destitution: An Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Perspective

Research output : Book/Report › Book › peer-review

• International Human Rights Law 100%
• Perspective 100%
• Cultural Rights 100%
• Economics 100%

Poverty: The Cost-Of-Living-Perma-Crisis and the UDHR

Research output : Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

• Poverty 100%
• Cost of Living 100%
• Resilience 60%
• Economics 40%
• Cultural Rights 40%

Reasserting the Right to Adequate Clothing in International Human Rights Law

• Clothing 100%
• Human Rights 100%
• Cultural Rights 80%

The gatekeeping function of vulnerability in public law and human rights

• Public Law 100%
• Gatekeeping 100%
• Entitlement 27%
• Contribution 22%

R (Gardner and Harris) v Secretary of State for Health and Social care and Others [2022] EWHC 967: Scant regard for Covid-19 risk to care homes

Research output : Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

Legal Studies - Annual Reviewer Award

Graham, Luke (Recipient), 2022

Prize : Prize (including medals and awards)

Best paper presented by a PhD student

Graham, Luke (Recipient), Dec 2018

• Rights 100%

Law LLB Dissertation Prize

Graham, Luke (Recipient), 2016

• Obligation 100%
• Social Security 100%
• Basic Income 100%
• Theses 100%

LLM Dissertation prize

Graham, Luke (Recipient), 2017

• Political Economy 100%
• Taxation 100%

Outstanding Contribution to the Postgraduate Community of the Law School

• 22 Participating in a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc
• 6 Membership of network
• 3 Membership of professional association
• 3 Invited talk
• 2 Organising a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc

Activities per year

Inhuman or Degrading Punishment and the Administrative State

Luke Graham (Participant)

Activity : Participating in or organising event(s) › Participating in a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc › Research

A Rights-Based Approach to Clothing Adequacy

A 'new' right to adequate clothing conference.

Luke Graham (Organiser)

Activity : Participating in or organising event(s) › Organising a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc › Research

Harnessing Constitutional Culture

Javier Garcia Oliva (Speaker) & Luke Graham (Speaker)

Activity : Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Research

The Cost-Of-Living Perma-Crisis in the UK and UDHR Rights

Press/media, empowering change: shedding light on clothing poverty.

1 Media contribution

Press/Media : Blogs and social media

Using Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to Tackle Destitution in the UK

Destitution as the natural consequence of the uk’s austerity project, destitution as the non-realisation of economic, social, and cultural rights, using the llm as a stepping stone to phd study: how i came to phd.

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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Explore a topic you're passionate about through a range of research opportunities.

What is a research degree?

When you do a research degree, the emphasis is on independent research rather than learning by teaching. This type of degree may be a progression from the research projects you will have completed during your taught studies. A research degree builds on your skills of objective setting, fact-finding, analysis, and interpretation.

With the support of an expert supervisor, you carry out research into your chosen topic. From your research, you produce a thesis, usually a written report, which you will be asked to defend before a panel of experts. They will be looking for evidence that your research has added new specialist knowledge.

Doing a postgraduate research degree can help you realise your future career aspirations, whether this is in academia or industry. 

Research degrees: your options

Masters research degrees – ma/msc by research.

For research degrees at masters level, you’ll need to complete a research project of 15,000-40,000 words, depending on your discipline. This project is a piece of independent research that advances understanding in your chosen area. 

Research degrees at masters level:

• Masters by research (one year full-time, two years part-time)

Doctoral degrees – PhDs and professional doctorates

For a doctoral degree or doctorate, you’ll need to complete a research project that demonstrates an original contribution to your field. This project is typically up to 80,000 words.

Doctoral degrees include:

• PhD (three years full-time, six years part-time)
• PhD by Published Works
• Professional Doctorate in Health and Social Care  (six years part-time)
• Doctor of Clinical Science Network (five years part-time) – this is a suite of seven programmes overseen by Manchester Academy of Healthcare Scientist Education (MAHSE)

You may decide you want to do a Master of Philosophy (MPhil). An MPhil can be part of a PhD award, but you can also study it as a standalone qualification. Typically, an MPhil takes two years to complete on a full-time basis, and around four years if studying part-time. 

The University offers many resources to help you get the most from your degree. I have travelled to conferences and taken courses to improve my IT, writing and leadership skills.

Support for a challenging qualification

A research degree can be challenging. It involves a lot of independent study. Depending on your project, you will spend much of your time reading, experimenting, designing, analysing, writing and re-writing.

But you won’t work alone at Manchester Met. You’ll have a supervisory team of expert academics and practitioners who will guide your research. You’ll also build networks with your fellow researchers at the University, across the North West and throughout your chosen discipline.

You’ll also have the opportunity to develop yourself personally and professionally through our programme of training for our research students.

The qualification you get will give you the expertise and skills necessary for a wide range of senior roles in academia, industry, the public and third sector.

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