Legal Research

The Master of Studies (MSt) in Legal Research is a one-year research master’s degree in the course of which you will write a 25,000- to 30,000-word dissertation. The degree can either serve as a qualification in its own right or a route into the DPhil in Law.

Graduate destinations

MSt students will pursue a range of career paths after completion of the doctorate. Many will take up academic posts, or pursue postdoctoral research or one sort or another. Some will enter legal practice as solicitors, barristers, advocates, and judges; others will become legal advisors advising government departments, non-governmental organisations and private companies.

The University of Oxford has an excellent careers service with which the faculty has close ties; the Careers Service organises a number of events of specific interest to students wishing to pursue a career in law, and offers one-to-one advice from members of staff with knowledge and experience specific to the legal sector.

The Law Faculty has an extensive network of relationships within the legal profession and each year offers a number of talks and events run by law firms and barristers’ chambers.

The MSt dissertation is usually completed over three terms - the maximum submission date for the dissertation is currently under review, but will be no earlier than 1 August. The exact date will be confirmed to applicants no later than the point of initial offer. You are expected to undertake the faculty’s course in legal research methods during their first two terms. This provides training in legal research methodology, but will also expose you to the diversity of and intellectual challenges involved in legal scholarship and will serve as a forum of peers in which you will be able to discuss the methodological challenges involved in your own research.

Throughout the period of your studies, you will work with an assigned supervisor who will meet regularly with you to discuss your work and provide feedback and advice. You will also be able to take part in a range of seminar programmes and discussion groups, affording plentiful opportunities for interaction with your peers and academics working in the same or related research areas to yours.

The examination method for the thesis is the same as that used for the DPhil – two examiners are appointed who read the thesis and hold an in-depth oral examination, known as a viva voce, with the candidate.

When completing the MSt as a route into the DPhil, the material submitted for examination is also considered as part of the qualifying test for admission to the DPhil and will usually be incorporated into the DPhil thesis.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class undergraduate degree wit honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in law.

In the absence of an undergraduate degree in law, candidates may be admitted with a postgraduate diploma or master's qualification in law at Distinction level.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.

Most students admitted to the programme have a previous master's qualification but this is not a formal requirement.

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Research proposal: Around 600 words
• Written work:One essay of 2,000 words 
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

• Global Education
• Hill Foundation Scholarships
• A number of Research Council awards are available each year from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), and Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).