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.
Key information
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Duration
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 Home/UK:£12,250 per year
Part-time Home/UK:£6,125 per year
Full-time International:£12,250 per year
Part-time International:£6,125 per year
You will pay fees annually to cover registration, supervision and examination.
Fees are subject to review each year and may vary during your period of registration. Where applicable, fees for City's programmes will be subject to inflationary increases in each academic year of study commencing in September. Our policy for these increases is set out in our terms and conditions of study.
Support for PhD study
Prospective students are encouraged to explore doctoral Grants and funding opportunities such as:
- Research Council studentship awards, if available.
- PhD Scholarship for Black British applicants - The City Law School is offering a full-time, three-year doctoral scholarship for a Black British researcher (entry in September 2024).
- SeNSS Doctoral Training Partnership -SENSS is offering UK Fully funded ESRC studentships are currently available to Doctoral Researchers for entry in October 2024.
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 currently £19,668, subject to change in line with the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI’s) recommended doctoral research student stipend.
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 2024.
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.
Scholarships for EU Law and Commercial Law students
We are inviting applications for 2 PhD scholarships funded by the City, University of London on EU law and commercial law. WE understand these two areas broadly:
- EU law covers competition, constitutional and administrative law, migration, citizenship, trade and investment, health, human rights, media and intellectual property
- commercial law covers maritime, corporate, investment, arbitration, data protection and privacy, intellectual property, competition law, and commercial aspects of law in society, eg in medical law.
The School has expertise in both these areas and we invite prospective applicants to look at our website and even approach our EU and commercial law colleagues. Applications can be made below:
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.
For further application enquiries please contact our PGR enquiries team.
PhD Research projects from The City Law School
Find a supervisor
Some examples of our supervisors are listed below
