phd law distance learning europe

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Pros and Cons of Distance Learning

Distance learning may just be the wave of the future, but that doesn’t mean it’s always an easy or ideal choice. Distance learning comes in several forms, including written correspondence courses, remote classrooms and online classes. If you’re considering signing up for online courses, we think you should know about these key pros and cons to make the best decision for you.

Pro: Flexibility

You can learn from anywhere – your sofa, your local coffee shop or even while you’re on vacation. That’s one of the aspects of distance learning that makes it incredibly appealing, particularly for anyone with a busy schedule or constraints that otherwise prevent them from getting to a brick-and-mortar classroom. In addition to learning at your own pace, you get to set your own schedule, which is a definite plus for many people.

Con: The Challenge of Self-Directed Learning

You get to set your pace and schedule, which sounds great. But if you’re someone who really needs structure and supervision, this can be an added burden. It also leaves you wide open to the temptation to procrastinate. You really need to be motivated and disciplined to make it work.

Pro: You Can Learn from Anywhere

With distance learning, geographic boundaries became a thing of the past. You aren’t limited to choosing a school that’s in your area. You have the option to choose any school, anywhere that offers the program you want. That means you have more options for schools in your own country and even internationally-located schools.

Con: You Don’t Get as Much Interaction

When you’re on campus and in a classroom-based course, you naturally interact with other students, instructors and professors. But with distance learning, you’re more isolated, with less interaction with your peers and teachers. You also miss out on things like cultural events, dances and other campus-based activities.

Pro: Learn and Earn

You’re busy and you’ve got to keep up with the bills. That’s what makes distance learning so great — you can hold down a full-time or part-time job and fit your coursework in around your work schedule. That provides an otherwise unprecedented opportunity to pay your way through school while keeping up with your career or job.

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19 PhD Programs in Law Studies in Europe 2024

What are Law Studies?

Law studies are academic fields that focus on the legal system and its operation. Law studies cover a wide range of topics, including constitutional law, civil law, criminal law, and international law. Students who pursue law studies typically do so with the goal of becoming lawyers, but the skills and knowledge gained can be applied to a variety of careers.

Why Study Law?

There are many reasons why someone might choose to study law. For some, it is a way to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer. For others, it is an opportunity to learn about the legal system and how it works or gain skills that can be applied in a variety of different careers. Some of the skills that law students learn include critical thinking, problem-solving, and research. These skills are not only useful for those who want to become lawyers, but for anyone who wants to work in a field where they will need to deal with complex issues or interpret information. In addition, law students also gain an understanding of the operation of the legal system, which can be helpful in a variety of different professions.

How to Study Law?

At the undergraduate level, law degrees typically take three or four years to complete and are generally taken in preparation for a graduate or professional qualification in law. During this time, students take a variety of courses that cover different aspects of the law. After completing an undergraduate law degree, many students go on to complete a graduate law degree, which can take an additional two or three years.

In all, there are over 4000 Higher Education Institutions in Europe offering a wide range of courses at Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate level. With more and more of these organizations offering English as the language of education for at least some of their degree programs, universities in Europe are now of higher quality than ever before. Universities in Europe offer a friendly welcome to foreign students and to give a course of knowledge that meets their profession needs in today’s global demand.

Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.

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Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Criminology

Selinus university of science and literature.

• London, United Kingdom
• Bologna, Italy

Full time, Part time

• Distance Learning

English, Italian

Research in this area should examine all aspects of criminology, including crime patterns, causes, methods, theory development as well as crimes in the modern world and responses to criminal behaviour.

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Research in Criminology

Auream phoenix university for women.

PhD by research via Distance Learning is awarded after successfully completing a theoretical research specialization. This research is presented in the form of a doctoral thesis. The PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is the only doctoral degree that can be achieved through distance learning. The main requirement for a PhD online through distance learning is to present and discuss a thesis of at least 100 pages for review and evaluation by an academic committee at Selinus University. A research thesis for this program should analyze all aspects of criminology, including crime patterns, causes, methods and development of theory, as well as crimes in the modern world and responses to criminal behaviour. Help develop a better understanding of the central issues that define contemporary criminology to allow them to have their own conclusions and assessments. Analyze the principles of an effective criminal investigation, including all aspects of equipment, technology and procedures. Also, describe the investigation techniques and the identification and processing of physical evidence.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in International Law

The learning skills at a distance from the Faculty of Arts & Humanities are usually highly professional. The degree programs of distance learning of Selinus University in this faculty allow access to the specialization in which the student can choose the topics of your interest in order to design a program fully adapted to his vocation. There are generally no problems for the professional practice of any of these specializations except in formal education.

Doctoral Program in Social and Legal Sciences

Universidad rey juan carlos.

• Madrid, Spain
• Alcorcón, Spain

The need for doctoral training for graduates in degrees related to the Social and Legal Sciences is defended both in the academic and professional fields, where the need to continue researching and advancing in knowledge, techniques and methods is confirmed, this training being doctoral the main way of training researchers.

MPhil/PhD Criminology

University of lincoln.

• Lincoln, United Kingdom

An interdisciplinary subject, criminology draws on a range of perspectives relating to crime looking at sociology, psychology, and law, and as such provides new opportunities for scholarship and advanced research.

MPhil/PhD Forensic Science

Research students in Forensic Science have the opportunity to work alongside a multidisciplinary team in the School of Chemistry and can benefit from strong links with industry practitioners. Students have the opportunity to engage in the work of the Forensic Analysis Research Group, to develop innovative methods and techniques to assist in solving crime and casework-related issues. The team are currently engaged in high-profile studies including collaborative projects with the Centre for Applied Science and Technology at the UK Home Office.

MPhil/PhD Law

MPhil/Ph.D. students in Law are welcomed into a cross-disciplinary and collaborative academic environment in which they can conduct independent research on an area of law and legal studies to produce an extended thesis under the guidance of their supervising team.

MPhil/PhD Social Policy

Social policy is concerned with how society provides for human needs and responds to social problems such as poverty, inequality, unemployment and crime. It focuses on the responses offered by a range of social actors including government, civil society, families, the market, and the voluntary and third sectors.

Ph.D. in Law and Business

Luiss phd programs.

• Rome, Italy

Italian, English

Luiss, as part of the consortium of GEM PhD School (of which it is an effective member from 2010, together with 17 European and extra-European institutions) has been recently awarded funding for the activation of 3 out of 16 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Joint Doctoral Network (MSCA-JD) PhD positions in the framework of the European program Horizon Europe.

Ph.D. in Legal and Social Sciences

University of camerino the international school of advanced studies.

• Camerino, Italy

Area: Legal and Social Sciences

PhD (School of Law)

University of bradford.

• Bradford, United Kingdom

Our Law PhD programme enables you to conduct legal research under the supervision of our international, experienced, and highly committed faculty.

PhD in Advances and New Strategies in Forensic Sciences

Universidade santiago de compostela.

• Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Spanish, Galician

Forensic Sciences constitute a complex field of knowledge with a clear practical application in solving issues of great social importance, since they train specialized professionals who are required to assist the Ministry of Justice in matters of great importance (investigation of violent deaths, toxicological diagnosis, paternity, identification, etc.).

Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Porto Law School

• Porto, Portugal

The PhD program in Catholic Porto aims to train quality researchers, contributing to the development of research in the Faculty, as well as to the critical and responsible construction of legal science in Portugal.

NOVA School of Law

• Lisbon, Portugal

8 semesters

NOVA School of Law’s 3rd Cycle Programme in Law is a four-year program leading to a Ph.D. degree in Law. The Programme comprises a taught component (over three semesters) where advanced legal studies are carried out with an interdisciplinary focus. This period also provides training in research methodologies and other complementary skills. Towards the end of the taught component of the Programme, candidates must prepare and publicly defend their thesis project.

Kingston University

• Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom

Whether you are planning a career as an academic within the education sector, or as a professional researcher within the public or private sectors, Kingston University's Law PhD will develop your research skills, help you make an original contribution to your chosen field of enquiry and enhance your professional credibility.

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• United Kingdom
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Programs (102)

Schools (50), phd in law and political sciences.

• Doctorate / PhD
• Budapest, Hungary
• 8 semesters

PhD School in Legal Sciences

• Florence, Italy
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Law (Research)

• Cardiff, Wales

MPhil/PhD Law

• Lincoln, England
• London, England

MPhil/PhD Criminology

Mphil/phd forensic science, doctorate in law: legal protections and social cohesion.

• León, Spain

Doctor of Laws

• Zurich, Switzerland
• 2 semesters
• Online / Distance

Doctorate in Legal Liability. A Multidisciplinary Approach

Doctoral school of law and political sciences.

• Szeged, Hungary

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

• The Valley, United Kingdom

PhD in Civil Law and Constitutional Legality

• Camerino, Italy
• Nottingham, England

Doctor of Policing, Security and Criminal Justice (Taught)

• Liverpool, England

School of Law - Postgraduate Research Opportunities (Research)

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1 Distance Learning PhD Programs in Europe 2024

In all, there are over 4000 Higher Education Institutions in Europe offering a wide range of courses at Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate level. With more and more of these organizations offering English as the language of education for at least some of their degree programs, universities in Europe are now of higher quality than ever before. Universities in Europe offer a friendly welcome to foreign students and to give a course of knowledge that meets their profession needs in today’s global demand.

A PhD Law degree prepares individuals to become leaders in legal, judiciary, government and business fields. This is a smart way to seek a career in a legal field through research and academics.

Online learning refers to use of electronic media and information and communication technologies (ICT) in education. With online learning one has the flexibility to access their studies at any time and from anywhere they can log on.

Distance Learning

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Doctor of Laws (LLD)

Alfred nobel open business school.

• Zürich, Switzerland

2 semesters

Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) postgraduate study program in the field of business law, organized by Alfred Nobel Open Business School Switzerland in partnership with Collegium Humanum Warsaw Management University, is one of the most recognizable and prestigious legal qualifications in the world.

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• Masters of Laws
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Course type

Qualification, university name, distance learning phd law.

19 degrees at 7 universities in the UK.

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• PhD Criminal Law
• PhD European Law
• PhD International Law
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• PhD Law of Specific Areas and Countries
• PhD Legal Practice and Procedures
• PhD Legal Rights (Law)

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Law PhD, MPhil - Company, Commercial and Financial Law

University of leicester.

• 6 years Distance without attendance degree: £3,714 per year (UK)
• 3 years Full time degree: £4,596 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,298 per year (UK)

Law PhDs and MPhils (Distance Learning)

University of portsmouth.

• 6 years Distance without attendance degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

University of Birmingham

• 3 years Distance without attendance degree: £2,310 per year (UK)
• 3 years Full time degree: £4,620 per year (UK)

Law PhD, MPhil - Private Law

Law phd, mphil - european law and policy, law phd, mphil, law phd, mphil - human rights, law phd, mphil - international law, law phd, mphil - law and theory, law phd, mphil - socio-legal studies, law phd, mphil - medico-legal, criminology phd,mphil - hate crime and social justice.

• 6 years Distance without attendance degree: £3,121 per year (UK)

Law PhD, MPhil - Criminal Law, Criminal Justice and Criminology

Law phd, mphil - dispute resolution, university of sunderland.

• 4 years Distance without attendance degree: £3,681 per year (UK)
• 6 years Distance without attendance degree: £3,681 per year (UK)
• 4 years Full time degree: £4,500 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £3,681 per year (UK)

Birmingham City University

• 4 years Distance without attendance degree
• 3 years Full time degree
• 4 years Part time degree

Institute of Advanced Legal Studies - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

Institute of advanced legal studies, school of advanced study, university of london.

• 3 years Distance with attendance degree: £6,130 per year (UK)
• 6 years Distance with attendance degree: £3,065 per year (UK)
• 3 years Full time degree: £6,130 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £3,065 per year (UK)

Human Rights MPhil/PhD Programmes

University of london worldwide.

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PhD with the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies

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Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Law Program

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Law program is designed to prepare candidates for careers as legal scholars and teachers.

This is the terminal degree in law program. Moreover, this program offers emergent scholars an opportunity to contribute to the development of law as an academic field, as well as an alternate pathway to teaching law in addition to other existing routes, such as fellowships, advanced degrees in cognate fields and legal practice.

Charisma University offers three areas of specialization from which the candidate must choose. These are International Law, Comparative Legal Studies and Terrorism and Counterterrorism.

To earn a Ph.D. in any of the specialized areas, students will complete 37 units course work during their first year at the university. The curriculum as stated below include Ph.D. core courses, the two required courses for the area of specialization, and any other four courses from the elective under the area of specialization.

At the successful completion of the qualifying oral examination, the student will be advanced to candidacy. The candidate will continue to write his/her dissertation valued as 15 Credits and will be required to attend a colloquium before the final oral examination. He / she is expected to finish the dissertation and be ready for the final oral examination on or before the end of 4 years after advancement to candidacy. The candidate is required to maintain active registration with the University at every academic session and work closely with his/her dissertation committee members approved by the Faculty.

The Program includes opportunities for independent/directed study and research under the guidance of a law faculty advisor.

In collaboration with the advisor, a student shall tailor the remainder of the Program to meet individual research goals and career aspirations, including the number of credits devoted to specialization courses and dissertation study topic.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Develop the background and research skills needed to complete a dissertation in their field of interest.
• Apply the knowledge and skills to new and complex law situations with solutions.
• Develop the ability to write a publishable legal paper.

This program duration is minimum of 3 years and maximum of 5 years.

Course Requirements

Core courses (13 credits).

Students must complete all the required core courses (13 Credits).

LAW 938 Doctoral Dissertation Seminar I (6 Credits) LAW 938 Doctoral Dissertation Seminar II (6 Credits) LAW 961 Qualifying Oral Examination (1 Credit)

International Law Specialization

International Law has a deep concentration in light of the variety of core and specialized topics relative to international law, such as International trade law, international business transactions, international human rights law, laws of combat, immigration law, international criminal law, international environmental law, health law, International Criminal Law and so on. Students are expected to complete a well-researched paper, through personalized guidance and supervision of the dissertation committee, who are experts in that area of law, set up for them.

International Law Specialization Core Courses (8 Credits) International Law specialization students must complete all the two courses from this section.

LAW 801 International Law (4 Credits) LAW 811 International Criminal law (4 Credits)

Electives (16 Credits) International Law specialization students must complete four courses from the electives section

LAW 803 Comparative Law (4 Credits) LAW 805 International Human rights (4 Credits) LAW 807 International Humanitarian Law (4 Credits) LAW 809 Terrorism and Counterterrorism (4 Credits) LAW 815 Environmental Law (4 Credits) LAW 817 Intellectual Property (4 Credits) LAW 821 Introduction to US Legal System (4 Credits) LAW 829 Arbitration (4 Credits) LAW 833 Directed Study (4 Credits)

Comparative Legal Studies Specialization

Comparative Legal Studies concentration is based on comparisons of law and norms of one or more Countries. This is to provide students with the opportunity to understand various legal contexts in comparison to what they have known under the American common law system. Students will have to analyze and compare laws of one or more Countries.

This concentration focuses on Comparative Legal Studies with an emphasis on opportunities for students to utilize the methodology of comparative law relative to the laws of a particular country or region. Therefore, students can choose two or more countries of their choice, which they want to carry out their legal research on.

Comparative Legal Studies Specialization Core Courses (8 Credits) Comparative Law specialization students must complete all the two courses from this section.

LAW 803 Comparative Law (4 Credits) LAW 801 International Law (4 Credits)

Electives (16 Credits) Comparative Law specialization students must complete four courses from the electives section

LAW 805 International Human Rights (4 Credits) LAW 807 International Humanitarian Law (4 Credits) LAW 809 Terrorism and Counterterrorism (4 Credits) LAW 811 International Criminal law (4 Credits) LAW 815 Environmental Law (4 Credits) LAW 817 Intellectual Property (4 Credits) LAW 821 Introduction to US Legal System (4 Credits) LAW 826 Immigration Law (4 Credits) LAW 829 Arbitration (4 Credits) LAW 833 Directed Study (4 Credits)

Terrorism and Counterterrorism Specialization

Specialization on terrorism and counterterrorism provides a deep understanding of the threats of terrorism and how best to respond to it in proper ways. Students are pursuing this concentration to gain insights to differences between terrorism, insurgency and armed conflict. They will also learn about State actors, Non state actors as well as counter-terrorism measures. In the Terrorism and Counterterrorism concentration, students investigate the nature and history of terrorism, how terrorist groups succeed and fail, how terrorism is combated, and how to respond to domestic and/or international terrorist campaigns. Thus, students learn a broad range of security methods and techniques, as well as develop the requisite analytical and policy skills.

Terrorism and Counterterrorism Specialization Core Courses (8 Credits) Terrorism and Counterterrorism specialization students must complete all the two courses from this section.

LAW 809 Terrorism and Counterterrorism (4 Credits) LAW 811 International Criminal law (4 Credits)

Electives (16 Credits) Terrorism and Counterterrorism specialization students must complete four courses from the electives section

LAW 801 International Law (4 Credits) LAW 803 Comparative Law (4 Credits) LAW 805 International Human rights (4 Credits) LAW 807 International Humanitarian Law (4 Credits) LAW 826 Immigration Law (4 Credits) LAW 829 Arbitration (4 Credits) LAW 833 Directed Study (4 Credits)

Total Credits required for Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Law is 52. This includes the 15 credits in dissertation. Please refer to the  University Catalog or website for admissions requirements ;  transfer credits policy ; and tuition fees .

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PhD with the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies

Phd programmes.

Available to study anywhere in the world

With guidance from our expert supervisors, you will undertake extensive independent research culminating in a thesis of up to 100,000 words. The areas covered by the Institute’s expertise cover a broad range of law, policy and crime.

The Institute of Advanced Legal Studies offers doctoral research supervision in the following areas:

• Company Law
• Comparative Law
• Criminal Law and Evidence
• European Criminal Law
• Financial Crime
• Financial Services and Regulation Law
• Gender, Sexuality and Law
• Information Law and Policy
• Law and Society
• Legal Education
• Legislative Studies / Law Reform
• Public Law and Regulation.

How to apply

Before agreeing to accept you, the School will require you to submit a research proposal, so it is worthwhile having this drafted ahead of a formal application. Once you have contacted the School, you will be put in touch with a potential supervisor.

Distance learning

Students are required to attend our London campus at set intervals to complete an intensive research training module, for upgrade, and for the viva but will otherwise study at their own location. This option is available to UK, EU and international students on the same basis as our on-campus PhD programmes (three years full time, six years part time). Fees are the same as for our on-campus PhD programmes. Please note that not all institutes and supervisors offer this option, and that some topics are not appropriate to be studied this way.

This programme is also available to be studied on campus in London. Visit the  School of Advanced Study website  to find out more about potential supervisors and subject areas, as well as details about available funding opportunities and more information about distance learning research degrees.

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School of Advanced Study

Phd with the institute of english studies.

Persue your doctoral research in literature-related subject areas, ranging from book history to contemporary literature.

PhD in Classical Studies

Undertake doctural research in the fields of Art, Culture and Intellectional History.

Member Institution

The UK’s national centre for the support and promotion of research in the humanities

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PhD at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies

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Apply now to this course

Undertaking doctoral research allows you to develop in-depth knowledge, while making a meaningful contribution to your chosen field.

With guidance from our expert supervisors, you'll carry out extensive independent research culminating in a thesis of up to 100,000 words. The areas covered by the Institute’s expertise cover a broad range of law, policy and crime. 

This degree presents the opportunity to gain expertise in your area of interest while also honing a range of transferable skills. On completing this course, you'll be well prepared for specialist career paths both within academia and beyond.

On completing this course, you’ll be well prepared for specialist career paths, both within academia and beyond. Graduates are awarded a University of London degree.

Subject Areas and Supervisor

The  Institute of Advanced Legal Studies  offers doctoral research supervision in the following areas:

• Company Law
• Comparative Law
• Criminal Law and Evidence
• European Criminal Law
• Financial Crime
• Financial Services and Regulation Law
• Gender, Sexuality and Law
• Information Law and Policy
• Law and Society
• Legal Education
• Legislative Studies / Law Reform
• Public Law and Regulation

Your application and proposal will be reviewed initially by the IALS Director of Postgraduate Research Studies and, if you are offered a place, the Institute will appoint an appropriate supervision team. Details of our expertise can be found here:   Areas of Research | IALS (sas.ac.uk)

You are not required to contact a potential supervisor in advance of application. You are advised to read the guidelines on preparing a research proposal before submitting your application:  Entrance Requirements and How to Apply | IALS (sas.ac.uk)

Contact the Institute

Key information, the institute of advanced legal studies.

The  Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS)  is a national academic institution serving all universities through its national legal research library.

Its function is to promote, facilitate, and disseminate the results of advanced study and research in the discipline of law for the benefit of persons and institutions in the UK and abroad. Its areas of speciality include arbitration and dispute settlement, company law, comparative law, economic crime, financial services law, legislative studies and law reform, and the legal profession and delivery of legal services.

The School of Advanced Study

The  School of Advanced Study  at the  University of London  brings together  eight internationally renowned research institutes  to form the UK's national centre for the support of researchers and the promotion of research in the humanities.

Course structure

The degree can be taken full time over three years (or a maximum of four) or part time over five years (or a maximum of six). You will initially be registered for our MPhil and then, providing your progress has been satisfactory, be upgraded to our PhD programme.

The primary activity of the PhD programme is the writing of a thesis of up to 100,000 words. There is no formal coursework, but you will be expected to undertake at least 30 days of research training, including attending our twoweek research methods in law training course. You are also encouraged to participate in the regular seminars held at the Institute during the academic year, as well as to participate in our three specialist research centres.

After submission of the thesis, you will attend an oral examination conducted by an internal examiner, from the University of London, and an external examiner, normally from another British university.

Distance Learning

The School of Advanced Study will offer students with an appropriate topic and level of local resource the opportunity to undertake a PhD by distance learning. These students are required to attend our London campus at set intervals to complete an intensive research training module, for upgrade, and for the viva but will otherwise study at their own location. This option is available to UK, EU and international students on the same basis as our on-campus PhD programmes (three years full time, six years part time). Fees are the same as for our on-campus PhD programmes. Please note that not all institutes and supervisors offer this option, and that some topics are not appropriate to be studied this way.

If you would like to be considered for our Research Degree programme via Distance Learning, please download and fill out the  Research Degrees by Distance Learning form , to attach to your online application.

Opportunities and facilities

You'll benefit from a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment as well as a range of funding opportunities. SAS is a national research hub and IALS enjoys close links with its other members, including the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, the Institute of Modern Languages Research and the Institute of Historical Research. Cross-institute collaboration is actively encouraged, making us an ideal location for interdisciplinary research.

You'll be able to use the libraries of other colleges, in addition to Senate House Library and IALS’s outstanding law library.

In addition to a rich programme of discipline-specific research training, you will also have access to a wider training programme that draws on the research and teaching expertise of the other SAS institutes and the University of London. Our workshop programme of generic research and transferable skills training provides the transferable and employability skills necessary for careers in academia and elsewhere. The IALS Library also organises a popular three-day workshop series on ‘How to get a PhD in Law’. This annual programme provides the chance for informative discussion and legal research guidance.

How to apply

Your application and proposal will be reviewed initially by the IALS Director of Postgraduate Research Studies and, if you are offered a place, the Institute will appoint an appropriate supervision team. Details of our expertise can be found here:  Areas of Research | IALS (sas.ac.uk)

Note : in accordance with regulations research students will be registered for the MPhil degree in the first instance. Upgrading to PhD will be considered in the second year for full-time students and in the third or fourth year for part-time students.

The School of Advanced Study is a unique environment in which to study the humanities.  The School strives to reflect the latest developments in thinking across the humanities disciplines it supports and to ensure that its programmes reflect this.   We are also aware that the needs of our students are constantly changing.  With that in mind, the School continually reviews the its programmes and, as part of that process, reserves the right to alter or discontinue them. 

We assure you that we carry out these exercises at no detriment to any enrolled students. Students enrolled on any programme that we discontinue will be able to complete that programme within a reasonable timeframe and with all the necessary resources at their disposal. The School will communicate any anticipated changes with students as early as possible.

Related Content

Find answers to all our frequently asked questions or contact us with any queries you have about your application or studying at SAS.

International Students

Are you an international student? Find out more about everything you need to know from visas to qualifications and language requirements.

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Law PhD / PhD by Distance Learning / MPhil / MJur

Annual tuition fee 2024 entry: UK: £4,778 full-time, £2,389 part-time International: £21,840 full-time; £10,920 part-time (distance learning only) More detail .

• Visit an Open Day
• Request a prospectus
• Course details
• Entry Requirements
• Employability

As a postgraduate researcher at Birmingham Law School you will be contributing to more than 85 years of research tradition, working alongside some of the country's most eminent legal scholars.

Our expertise spans a wide range of areas, including commercial law, criminal law, criminal justice, judicial administration, European law, public law, human rights, international law, private law, restitution, conflicts of law, international economic law, comparative law, health and social welfare, socio-legal studies, and legal theory.

ESRC funding for PhD students

The University of Birmingham is part of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Midlands Graduate School Doctoral Training Partnership, offering ESRC PhD studentships for campus-based programmes. ESRC awards are available for a range of social science disciplines including Applied Linguistics, Area Studies (African Studies), Economic and Social History, and Socio-Legal Studies.

Find out more

Postgraduate scholarships available

The College of Arts and Law is offering a range of scholarships for our postgraduate taught and research programmes to ensure that the very best talent is nurtured and supported.

Learn more about our scholarships

As well as providing expert supervision from experienced members of staff, we offer a friendly and supportive environment for our postgraduate students and consider them an integral part of the School’s  research community .

• With supervision from academic staff, our PhD programme requires you to research and write a thesis of 80,000 words that makes an original contribution to knowledge. Full-time students are expected to complete their work within three years. This programme can also be studied by Distance Learning -  see whether distance learning is an option for you .
• The MPhil programme requires you to research and write a 60,000-word thesis under the supervision of academic staff. Full-time students are expected to complete their work within two years.
• The MJur programme requires you to research and write a 40,000-word thesis under the supervision of academic staff. Full-time students are expected to complete their work within one year.

Our current Law PhD students

To find out more about the range of research currently being undertaken by our PhD students and the academics providing supervision, read our  profiles of current doctoral researchers .

At Birmingham, I have the fantastic opportunity to work with talented people from across a range of different cultural backgrounds which broadens my horizons and helps me get to know the world better. My supervisors provide great support and assistance, while I can always find activities on campus that interest me outside of my research. Yunxiang

Why study this course?

• Academic expertise : You will be supervised by experts, internationally renowned for their research in the legal field. Many of our academics ‘wrote the book’ on their area of expertise, or have been commissioned by governments and other public bodies to carry out important applied legal research. The University of Birmingham is a Top 100 University in the World (QS 2024 Rankings).
• Postgraduate community : The postgraduate community at Birmingham Law School is lively and supportive. You will have the opportunity to organise and participate in a range of research events, as well as get involved in social events. It is not without significance that several members of the School’s academic staff were themselves postgraduate students here. You can also make the most of new, dedicated postgraduate study spaces in the Law School and neighbouring Frankland Building.  Read more about the postgraduate community at Birmingham Law School . 
• Employability : Birmingham is one of the top universities in the UK for graduate employment. Our Centre for Professional Legal Education and Research (CEPLER) offers support, whether you are looking to pursue a career in law, academia or elsewhere. 

The postgraduate experience

The College of Arts and Law offers excellent support to its postgraduates, from libraries and research spaces, to careers support and funding opportunities. Learn more about your postgraduate experience .

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2024 entry are as follows:

• UK: £4,778 full-time; £2,389 part-time *
• International: £21,840 full-time; £10,920 part-time (distance learning only)

The same fees apply to both campus-based and distance learning study. The distance learning programme also includes one fully-funded visit to campus in the first year of study.

The above fees quoted are for one year only; for those studying over two or more years, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.

* For UK postgraduate research students the University fee level is set at Research Council rates and as such is subject to change. The final fee will be announced by Research Councils UK in spring 2024.

Eligibility for UK or international fees can be verified with Admissions. Learn more about fees for international students .

Paying your fees

Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding .

How To Apply

Application deadlines.

Applications are accepted at any time though we strongly encourage students to begin their studies at the start of the UK academic year (September).

Before you make your application

Full details of our requirements can be found on our Applications page . 

As part of the application for admission onto our MJur, MPhil and PhD programmes, you must prepare a research proposal outlining your proposed area of study. For more information, please see our  guidance on how to write a research proposal . 

Please also see our additional guidance for applicants to the PhD Distance Learning study mode . 

Making your application

• How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate research programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the research programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page . Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Our Standard Requirements

Our requirements for postgraduate research are dependent on the type of programme you are applying for:

• For MJur and MPhil programmes, entry usually requires a good (normally a 2:1 or above) Honours degree in law (or a subject related to the proposed area of research) or its international equivalent
• Typically, applicants for a PhD will also need to hold a Masters qualification at Merit level or above in law (or a subject related to the proposed area of research) or its international equivalent

Any academic and professional qualifications or relevant professional experience you may have will also taken into account.

If you are applying to study by distance learning, you will also be required to demonstrate that you have the time, commitment, facilities and experience to study by distance learning.

If your qualifications are non-standard or different from the entry requirements stated here, please email [email protected] .

International students

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries - use our handy guide below to see what qualifications we accept from your country.

English language requirements: standard language requirements apply for this course - IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in any band. If you are made an offer of a place to study and you do not meet the language requirement, you have the option to enrol on our English for Academic Purposes Presessional Course - if you successfully complete the course, you will be able to fulfil the language requirement without retaking a language qualification.

International Requirements

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 14/20 from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Argentinian university, with a promedio of at least 7.5, may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent

Applicants who hold a Masters degree will be considered for admission to PhD study.

Holders of a good four-year Diplomstudium/Magister or a Masters degree from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5 will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a good 5-year Specialist Diploma or 4-year Bachelor degree from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan, with a minimum GPA of 4/5 or 80% will be considered for entry to postgraduate taught programmes at the University of Birmingham.

For postgraduate research programmes applicants should have a good 5-year Specialist Diploma (completed after 1991), with a minimum grade point average of 4/5 or 80%, from a recognised higher education institution or a Masters or “Magistr Diplomu” or “Kandidat Nauk” from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0-3.3/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold a Masters degree from the University of Botswana with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (70%/B/'very good') will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Please note 4-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a Diploma of Higher Education. 5-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a British Bachelor (Ordinary) degree.

Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

A Licenciatura or Bacharelado degree from a recognised Brazilian university:

• A grade of 7.5/10 for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement
• A grade of 6.5/10for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement

Holders of a good Bachelors degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good post-2001 Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a minimum average of 14 out of 20 (or 70%) on a 4-year Licence, Bachelor degree or Diplôme d'Etudes Superieures de Commerce (DESC) or Diplôme d'Ingénieur or a Maîtrise will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Holders of a bachelor degree with honours from a recognised Canadian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A GPA of 3.0/4, 7.0/9 or 75% is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1.

Holders of the Licenciado or equivalent Professional Title from a recognised Chilean university will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD study will preferably hold a Magister degree or equivalent.

Students with a bachelor’s degree (4 years minimum) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. However please note that we will only consider students who meet the entry guidance below.

Please note: for the subject areas below we use the Shanghai Ranking 2022 (full table)  ,  Shanghai Ranking 2023 (full table) , and Shanghai Ranking of Chinese Art Universities 2023 .

需要具备学士学位（4年制）的申请人可申请研究生课程。请根据所申请的课程查看相应的入学要求。 请注意，中国院校名单参考 软科中国大学排名2022（总榜） ，  软科中国大学排名2023（总榜） ，以及 软科中国艺术类高校名单2023 .

MSc International Business   国际商务硕士课程入学要求

Business School all other programmes (excluding MBA and MSc International Business)  

商学院其他 课程（ MBA与国际商务课程除外）入学要求

School of Computer Science – all MSc programmes 计算机学院硕士课程入学要求

College of Social Sciences – courses listed below 社会科学 学院部分硕士课程入学要求 MA Education  (including all pathways) MSc TESOL Education MSc Public Management MA Global Public Policy MA Social Policy MA Sociology Department of Political Science and International Studies  全部硕士课程 International Development Department  全部硕士课程

  All other programmes (including MBA)   所有其他 硕士课程（包括 MBA）入学要求

Please note:

• Borderline cases: We may consider students with lower average score (within 5%) on a case-by-case basis if you have a relevant degree and very excellent grades in relevant subjects and/or relevant work experience. 如申请人均分低于相应录取要求（5%以内），但具有出色学术背景，优异的专业成绩，以及（或）相关的工作经验，部分课程将有可能单独酌情考虑。
• Please contact the China Recruitment Team for any questions on the above entry requirements. 如果您对录取要求有疑问，请联系伯明翰大学中国办公室   [email protected]

Holders of the Licenciado/Professional Title from a recognised Colombian university will be considered for our Postgraduate Diploma and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent.

Holders of a good bachelor degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Bacclaureus (Bachelors) from a recognised Croatian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 4.0 out of 5.0, vrlo dobar ‘very good’, or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelors degree(from the University of the West Indies or the University of Technology) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A Class II Upper Division degree is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1. For further details on particular institutions please refer to the list below.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Masters degree or Mphil from the University of the West Indies.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, or a GPA of 3 out of 4, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalár from a recognised Czech Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, velmi dobre ‘very good’ (post-2004) or 2, velmi dobre ‘good’ (pre-2004), or a good post-2002 Magistr (Masters), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 7-10 out of 12 (or 8 out of 13) or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters/ Magisterkonfereus/Magister Artium degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Ecuadorian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 70% or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Magister/Masterado or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Licenciado with excellent grades can be considered.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalaurusekraad from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 4/5 or B, or a good one- or two-year Magistrikraad from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with very good grades (grade B, 3.5/4 GPA or 85%) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

Holders of a good Kandidaatti / Kandidat (old system), a professional title such as Ekonomi, Diplomi-insinööri, Arkkitehti, Lisensiaatti (in Medicine, Dentistry and Vetinary Medicine), or a Maisteri / Magister (new system), Lisensiaatti / Licenciat, Oikeustieteen Kandidaatti / Juris Kandidat (new system) or Proviisori / Provisor from a recognised Finnish Higher Education institution, with a minimum overall grade of 2/3 or 4/5, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters/Maîtrise with a minimum overall grade of 13 out of 20, or a Magistère / Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies / Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures Specialisées / Mastère Specialis, from a recognised French university or Grande École to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Magister Artium, a Diplom or an Erstes Staatsexamen from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5, or a good two-year Lizentiat / Aufbaustudium / Zweites Staatsexamen or a Masters degree from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good four-year Ptychio (Bachelor degree) with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, from a recognised Greek university (AEI), and will usually be required to have completed a good Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis (Masters degree) from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

4-year Licenciado is deemed equivalent to a UK bachelors degree. A score of 75 or higher from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) can be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 60 is comparable to a UK 2.2.  Private universities have a higher pass mark, so 80 or higher should be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 70 is comparable to a UK 2.2

The Hong Kong Bachelor degree is considered comparable to British Bachelor degree standard. Students with bachelor degrees awarded by universities in Hong Kong may be considered for entry to one of our postgraduate degree programmes.

Students with Masters degrees may be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Alapfokozat / Alapképzés or Egyetemi Oklevel from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 3.5, or a good Mesterfokozat (Masters degree) or Egyetemi Doktor (university doctorate), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a 60% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the 4 year Sarjana (S1) from a recognised Indonesian institution will be considered for postgraduate study. Entry requirements vary with a minimum requirement of a GPA of 2.8.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution, with 100 out of 110 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold the Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Students with a Bachelor degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for entry to a postgraduate Masters degree provided they achieve a sufficiently high overall score in their first (Bachelor) degree. A GPA of 3.0/4.0 or a B average from a good Japanese university is usually considered equivalent to a UK 2:1.

Students with a Masters degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for PhD study. A high overall grade will be necessary to be considered.

Students who have completed their Specialist Diploma Мамаң дипломы/Диплом специалиста) or "Magistr" (Магистр дипломы/Диплом магистра) degree (completed after 1991) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of 2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate Masters degrees and, occasionally, directly for PhD degrees.  Holders of a Bachelor "Bakalavr" degree (Бакалавр дипломы/Диплом бакалавра) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of  2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, may also be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/50

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 16/20 or 80% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Libya will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of a Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved score of 70% for 2:1 equivalency or 65% for 2:2 equivalency. Alternatively students will require a minimum of 3.0/4.0 or BB to be considered.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magistras from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, or a good post-2001 Magistras, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, or a Diplôme d'Études Supérieures Spécialisées (comparable to a UK PGDip) or Masters degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (70-74% or A or Marginal Distinction from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 60-69% or B or Bare Distinction/Credit is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Malaysian institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum of 3.0) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from the University of Malta with a minimum grade of 2:1 (Hons), and/or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (Honours) from a recognised institution (including the University of Mauritius) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2:1).

Students who hold the Licenciado/Professional Titulo from a recognised Mexican university with a promedio of at least 8 will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Students who have completed a Maestria from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree, licence or Maîtrise and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students with a good four year honours degree from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham. PhD applications will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Doctoraal from a recognised Dutch university with a minimum overall grade of 7 out of 10, and/or a good Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (minimum 4 years and/or level 400) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of B/Very Good or 1.6-2.5 for a 2.1 equivalency, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters, Mastergrad, Magister. Artium, Sivilingeniør, Candidatus realium or Candidatus philologiae degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0/4 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in the Palestinian Territories will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3/4 or 80% for 2:1 equivalency or a GPA of 2.5/4 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.    

Holders of the Título de Licenciado /Título de (4-6 years) or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Paraguayan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 4/5 or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  The Título Intermedio is a 2-3 year degree and is equivalent to a HNC, it is not suitable for postgraduate entry but holders of this award could be considered for second year undergraduate entry or pre-Masters.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría / Magister or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Título/Grado de Licenciado/a with excellent grades can be considered.

Holders of the Licenciado, with at least 13/20 may be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent. The Grado de Bachiller is equivalent to an ordinary degree, so grades of 15+/20 are required.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría or equivalent qualification.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4 out of 5, dobry ‘good’, and/or a good Swiadectwo Ukonczenia Studiów Podyplomowych (Certificate of Postgraduate Study) or post-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4.5/4+ out of 5, dobry plus 'better than good', will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Licenciado from a recognised university, or a Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializados (DESE) from a recognised Polytechnic Institution, with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, and/or a good Mestrado / Mestre (Masters) from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Romanian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree/Diploma de Master/Diploma de Studii Academice Postuniversitare (Postgraduate Diploma - Academic Studies) or Diploma de Studii Postuniversitare de Specializare (Postgraduate Diploma - Specialised Studies) to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Диплом Специалиста (Specialist Diploma) or Диплом Магистра (Magistr) degree from recognised universities in Russia (minimum GPA of 4.0) will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes/PhD study.

Students who hold a 4-year Bachelor degree with at least 16/20 or 70% will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies,Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. A score of 14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2

Students who hold a Bachelor (Honours) degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (or a score of 60-69% or B+) from a well ranked institution will be considered for most our Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees with a 2:1 requirement.

Students holding a good Bachelors Honours degree will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good three-year Bakalár or pre-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, Vel’mi dobrý ‘very good’, and/or a good Inžinier or a post-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Diploma o pridobljeni univerzitetni izobrazbi (Bachelors degree), Diplomant (Professionally oriented first degree), Univerzitetni diplomant (Academically oriented first degree) or Visoko Obrazovanja (until 1999) from a recognised Slovenian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8.0 out of 10, and/or a good Diploma specializacija (Postgraduate Diploma) or Magister (Masters) will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor Honours degree (also known as Baccalaureus Honores / Baccalaureus Cum Honoribus) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (70%) or a distinction (75%).

Holders of a Masters degree will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelor degree from a recognised South Korean institution (usually with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.5) will be considered for Masters programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 7 out of 10 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or a CGPA 3.30/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Kandidatexamen (Bachelors degree) or Yrkesexamen (Professional Bachelors degree) from a recognised Swedish Higher Education institution with the majority of subjects with a grade of VG (Val godkänd), and/or a good Magisterexamen (Masters degree), International Masters degree or Licentiatexamen (comparable to a UK Mphil), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good "PostGraduate Certificate" or "PostGraduate Diploma" or a Masters degree from a recognised Swiss higher education institution (with a minimum GPA of 5/6 or 8/10 or 2/5 (gut-bien-bene/good) for a 2.1 equivalence) may be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0, 3.5/5 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bachelor degree (from 75% to 85% depending upon the university in Taiwan) from a recognised institution will be considered for postgraduate Masters study. Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for entry to our postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree or Mphil from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a Bachelors degree from the following universities may be considered for entry to postgraduate programmes:

• Ateneo de Manila University - Quezon City
• De La Salle University - Manila
• University of Santo Tomas
• University of the Philippines - Diliman

Students from all other institutions with a Bachelors and a Masters degree or relevant work experience may be considered for postgraduate programmes.

Grading Schemes

1-5 where 1 is the highest 2.1 = 1.75 2.2 = 2.25 

Out of 4.0 where 4 is the highest 2.1 = 3.0 2.2 = 2.5

Letter grades and percentages 2.1 = B / 3.00 / 83% 2.2 = C+ / 2.5 / 77%

Holders of a postdoctoral qualification from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.  Students may be considered for PhD study if they have a Masters from one of the above listed universities.

Holders of a Lisans Diplomasi with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a Yuksek Diplomasi from a recognised university will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (2.1) or GPA of 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree / Диплом бакалавра (Dyplom Bakalavra), Диплом спеціаліста (Specialist Diploma) or a Dyplom Magistra from a recognised Ukrainian higher education institution with a minimum GPA of 4.0/5.0, 3.5/4, 8/12 or 80% or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

The University will consider students who hold an Honours degree from a recognised institution in the USA with a GPA of:

• 2.8 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement 
• 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement 

Please note that some subjects which are studied at postgraduate level in the USA, eg. Medicine and Law, are traditionally studied at undergraduate level in the UK.

Holders of the Magistr Diplomi (Master's degree) or Diplomi (Specialist Diploma), awarded by prestigious universities, who have attained high grades in their studies will be considered for postgraduate study.  Holders of the Fanlari Nomzodi (Candidate of Science), where appropriate, will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of the Licenciatura/Título or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Venezuelan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Scales of 1-5, 1-10 and 1-20 are used, an overall score of 70% or equivalent can be considered equivalent to a UK 2.1.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Maestria or equivalent qualification

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Vietnamese institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum GPA of 7.0 and above) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.  Holders of a Masters degree (thac si) will be considered for entry to PhD programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5/5.0 or a mark of 2.0/2.5 (A) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a good Bachelor Honours degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

Members of Birmingham Law School are active in research and publication, and many of their books have become standard works on numerous areas of law. Academics working in the School are well known for carrying out important applied legal research, much of it commissioned by the government and other public bodies.

Birmingham Law School staff research supervision areas

• Commercial and company law (include banking, international commercial law, corporate governance)
• Comparative law (including civil law)
• Constitutional and administrative law (including legal response to terrorism)
• Criminal law and criminal justice (including international criminal law and evidence) 
• Environmental law
• European Union law
• Health and health care law
• Human rights and civil liberties
• International law and global legal studies (to include conflicts,  international economic law, International sale of goods, international trade law, transitional justice, law and development, international economic law, international criminal law)  
• Jurisprudence and legal theory
• Law and society (disability law, law and religion, gender and sexuality) 
• Legal education and the legal profession (legal education, judicial administration)
• Private law (contract, tort, restitution and common law)
• Property law (including intellectual property)

Related research

• Institute of European Law
• Institute of Judicial Administration

Your degree will provide excellent preparation for your future career, but this can also be enhanced by a range of employability support services offered by the University and the College of Arts and Law.

The University's Careers Network  provides expert guidance and activities especially for postgraduates, which will help you achieve your career goals. The College of Arts and Law also has a dedicated  careers and employability team  who offer tailored advice and a programme of College-specific careers events.

You will be encouraged to make the most of your postgraduate experience and will have the opportunity to:

• Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique, whether you are looking for a career inside or outside of academia
• Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations
• Attend an annual programme of careers fairs, skills workshops and conferences, including bespoke events for postgraduates in the College of Arts and Law
• Take part in a range of activities to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers and enhance your CV

What’s more, you will be able to access our full range of careers support for up to 2 years after graduation. 

Postgraduate employability: Law

Postgraduate research students have the opportunity to benefit from extensive careers advice and employability support from the Law School. If you are interested in a qualifying as a lawyer, you have access to a wide range of events and activities, including regular visits from major law firms and barristers’ chambers. All of our careers and employability activities are organised through the Law School’s  Centre for Professional Legal Education and Research . Over the past 5 years, 83% of our postgraduates were in work and/or further study 6 months after graduation (DLHE 2012 – 2017).

If a career in academia is your goal, we have an annual lecture and exclusive advice sessions for postgraduate researchers, which includes support to develop you career profile and secure a job in higher education. It is not without significance that several members of the Law School’s academic staff were themselves postgraduate students here.

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