PhD

Socio-Legal Studies

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Local:$ 9.11 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 23.7 k / Year(s) Deadline: Jan 20, 2025
1 place StudyQA ranking:3741 Duration:4 years

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The Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree entails the carrying out of a research project in the field of socio-legal studies and writing a thesis of between 75,000 and 100,000 words under the guidance of the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, an international leader for the study of laws in societies. 

Graduate destinations

DPhil students pursue a range of career paths after completion of the doctorate. Many take up academic posts, or pursue postdoctoral research of one sort or another. Some enter legal practice others go to work as advisers to the government, non-governmental organisations and private companies.

The thesis must make a significant and substantial contribution to its field. Students are particularly encouraged to develop a topic that contributes to an understanding of ‘law in action’, which is a key aspect of the ‘law in society’, research pursued in the Centre. 

As a DPhil student you will in the first instance be admitted to Probationer Research Student (PRS) status.  During the first year you must take the course on theory and methods (part-time students will be able to tailor their study and methods training in liaison with their supervisor, and may undertake certain training later). This is intended to develop your appreciation of law as a social phenomenon, to introduce various theoretical perspectives and to consider the variety of practical techniques by which research questions may be addressed.

In your third term (sixth term for the part-time pathway ), you can apply for transfer from probationary status to full DPhil status by taking a qualifying test (QT) which is assessed by two examiners. This requires you to submit a well-developed research outline plus a substantial piece of written work. A similar exercise then takes place in your sixth term (twelfth term for the part-time pathway), when you report on your progress and submit a substantial part of the proposed thesis for a further assessment that leads to a confirmation of DPhil status.

After three or at most four years (no later than 8 years for the part-time pathway), you submit your final thesis to two examiners, respectively internal and external to the University. The examiners read the text and then conduct an intensive oral examination with you, known as a viva voce, before making a written report to the faculty. On that basis, your thesis may be judged to have passed, so that you can be awarded a DPhil, or to be in need of revision, in which case it is referred back to you for re-submission at a later date; in extreme cases, it may be rejected. 

Throughout the period of your studies, you will work with a supervisor with whom you should meet individually at regular intervals to discuss your project and to provide feedback and advice. You will also be able to take part in an extensive range of seminar programmes and discussion groups, affording plentiful opportunities for interaction both with your peers and with academics working in the same or similar research areas.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in law, or in any other social science discipline including sociology, anthropology, politics, and economics. A high upper second class is normally defined as one in which an average mark of 65% or above is achieved.

Equivalent qualifications may include a postgraduate diploma or a master’s degree. 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.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

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

  • Official transcript(s)
  • CV/résumé
  • Research proposal: Around 1,000 words
  • References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

Test

Standard level scores

Higher level scores

IELTS Academic 
Institution code: 0713

7.0 Minimum 6.5 per component  7.5  Minimum 7.0 per component 

TOEFL iBT 
Institution code: 0490

100

Minimum component scores:

  • Listening: 22
  • Reading: 24
  • Speaking: 25
  • Writing: 24
110

Minimum component scores:

  • Listening: 22
  • Reading: 24
  • Speaking: 25
  • Writing: 24
Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) 185

Minimum 176 per component

191 

Minimum 185 per component

Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) 185

Minimum 176 per component

191 

Minimum 185 per component

  • 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).
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