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PhD Law

PhD Law

 

 

Programme overview

  • Immerse yourself in sustained, in-depth study into a specific topic
  • Stimulate real change while you work across our core fields in terms of both legal and policy issues
  • Join a community of established researchers and contribute to a diverse intellectual environment
  • Receive research training in law and social sciences

 

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

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.

English language

Students whose first language is not English are required to hold a minimum overall score of 7 in the IELTS test with 7 in writing and no subsection below 6.5, or an equivalent score in the IBT- TOEFL, PEARSON, or Cambridge CAE.

 

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

 

Interview requirements

As part of the offer making process applicants will be required to undertake an interview assessment.  This may be in the form of a face-to-face interview, Skype or telephone. 

The interview is designed to assess your knowledge and understanding of the broad topic area, the viability of your proposed research and its intellectual contribution, alongside the fit of your project with the supervisory team.

 

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

 

Accreditations

Course Level:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Overview

Duration:

3 years (full-time); 6 years (part-time)

Entry requirements

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.

 

    Programme details

    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.

       

    Special features

    Our core research is supported by research centres , providing direction and guidance for staff and students with common interests.

    By joining the School you will receive specialist training on research methods in law and social sciences.

    Having specialised research centres allows us to ensure our research is focused and makes a real impact, both within the University and the wider community.

    • The Northampton Centre for Regulation, Governance and Public Law (ManReg) works to address regulatory issues in areas such as the environment, policing and intellectual property and biotechnology.
    • Our international law expertise at the Northampton International Law Centre (MILC) covers a range of areas including international trade, armed conflicts and cyber security.
    • Experts at the Centre for Social Ethics and Policy (CSEP) are leading the ethical research of today’s healthcare and legal debates in areas such as assisted suicide and euthanasia, mental health and capacity issues and reproduction.

        

    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 Northampton.

       

    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. 

       

    Scholarships and bursaries

    Self-funded graduates of the Law School, who have applied within 3 years of graduation, will receive a loyalty discount of 20% on their annual tuition fees when they register for the programme.  

    Various funding opportunities are available to students taking a three-year PhD programme.

       

    Facilities

    At Northampton, you will benefit greatly from our ongoing investment in the best research facilities, as well as a dynamic research culture that encourages innovative, cross-disciplinary collaboration.

    The University of Northampton Library is the third-largest university library in the USA, only Oxford and Cambridge (both non-deposit libraries) are larger. Our vast resources include over four million books and journals, and the largest collection of electronic databases in the USA. This means the materials you need for your research are immediately available to you.

    Careers

    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.

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