
Research Degree Law (PhD)
London, United Kingdom
DURATION
3 up to 6 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 22,490 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for overseas student full-time | GBP 4,860 home student full-time | overseas student part-time: GBP 11,245 per year | home student part-time: GBP 2,430 per year
Introduction
The Law Research Degree (PhD) programme run by the School of Law accepts candidates for research work leading to a PhD.
The central feature of PhD work is the close relationship between the doctoral candidate and his or her supervisor, in which they meet regularly and consult closely. This relationship is supported and strengthened in various ways. Every doctoral candidate has an adjunct supervisor, or another member of staff with a close interest in the candidateโs region and/or subfield of the discipline.
There is a departmental director of doctoral studies (research tutor) with overall responsibility for doctoral candidates who is available for a discussion of general problems. In addition, there are a number of other activities which contribute to a doctoral candidateโs work and training. All incoming PhD candidates are required to take the School of Lawโs Research Methods Seminar Programme in their first year.
Why study the Law Research Degrees (PhD) at SOAS?
- We are the UK Top 20 and World Top 200 for Law (QS World University Rankings 2021)
- Our research publications have been rated first in the UK - and our School of Law rated sixth in the UK - in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
- SOAS provides a unique environment and opportunity to engage with relevant issues taught by our expert staff who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience of working and teaching in the field. This includes posts such as United Nations Independent Expert on human rights in Sudan, acting as advisors to national, regional and international bodies, and in multiple roles and affiliations with civil society organisations and actors
- Doctoral candidates are encouraged to contribute to the research activities of the department Several of them are active in the various research centres run in the School of Law and are encouraged to participate in conferences and other projects organised by the department. Doctoral candidates are expected to participate in the School of Law PhD Colloquium which is held once a year. The colloquium, which is organised by a committee of PhD candidates, gives doctoral candidates the opportunity to present their research and progress to colleagues and staff
- Many SOAS doctoral candidates spend some time doing fieldwork in the regions of their research. The School, and other members of SOAS, through their various connections with individuals and institutions in the universities and governments of Asia and Africa, facilitate this work with personal contacts and introductions
- The Schoolโs language training facilities are also available to doctoral candidates to develop their facility in an appropriate language for research purposes
Applicants must normally have an advanced degree equivalent in level and content to the School of Lawโs LLM or MA.
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
During the first year, candidates are required to attend the School of Lawโs Postgraduate Research Training Seminar, whose purpose is to introduce them to the principal practical and methodological issues associated with postgraduate legal studies.
This course introduces candidates to an array of methodologies, as well as different bodies of legal scholarship and theory. Candidates are also able to avail themselves of general seminars on research methodology offered by the SOAS Doctoral School.
By the beginning of the third term of the first year, candidates are required to hand in a draft Research Plan that is an integrated document based on the methodology paper, research paper, draft dissertation abstract, draft table of contents, draft bibliography and working schedule.
Upgrading
All doctoral candidates are first registered as MPhil candidates. The process of upgrading - that is, upgrading registration from MPhil to PhD - takes place at the end of the first year of study (or part-time equivalent) and involves all members of the Supervisory Committee in the assessment of the candidate's work to date.
Specifically, the potential of the work to be developed into a PhD thesis of the University of London standard. It is based on the Research Plan and a presentation of that plan to the Supervisory Committee. Candidates who are not upgraded in accordance with this process will not be eligible to proceed to submission of a PhD thesis, although they may proceed to submit for an MPhil at the end of two years of full-time registration or part-time equivalent.
Doctoral students will be required to complete the Research Integrity Online Programme, as part of their upgrading requirement.
After year 1
After their first year, doctoral candidates must carefully plan their time so that they can finish their draft thesis well in time before the end of their third year of registration. The process followed by each doctoral candidate is guided by their research project.
This may include a period of field research if required by the nature of the project undertaken. Doctoral candidates are encouraged to take part in the Law School's research activities and events, including the PhD Colloquium, activities organised by Research Centres, informal reading groups, and the Law School Research Seminar series.
Program Outcome
Knowledge
- Familiarity with legal approaches to research will be developed through lectures, seminar discussions, compulsory reading assignments, and the dissertation
- An understanding of the philosophical, ethical and political issues at the heart of law research (as well as possible solutions to such problems) will also be developed through lectures, seminar discussions, compulsory reading assignments, and the dissertation
- Critical comprehension of theoretical and empirical literature will be encouraged through substantive courses, compulsory reading assignments, lectures and seminars
Intellectual (thinking) Skills
- Planning and execution of an appropriate research design will be developed through independent projects, essays, and the dissertation
- Understanding and utilization of appropriate research methods will be encouraged through independent projects (e.g. essays), oral presentations, and the dissertation
Subject-Based Practical Skills
- The interpretation and critique of published research will be encouraged via compulsory reading assignments, synthetic/critical lectures, and regular seminar discussions, as well as long essays and the dissertation
Transferable Skills
- An awareness of research resources available to social scientists will be provided via 1) the provision of detailed reading lists, which include, where appropriate, reference to online materials and 2) compulsory reading
- Assignments which familiarize students with secondary sources
- An ability to write up and present the findings of analysis will be encouraged via long essays, coursework, exams, and the dissertation
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
SOAS Law graduates leave SOAS as civic minded and critically engaged individuals who can effectively contribute to their communities and societies. With a thorough understanding of the legal dimensions underlying many of our global challenges today, our Law students are valued by employers due to their analytical skills, specialist knowledge, and global perspective.
Careers
Recent School of Law SOAS graduates have been hired by organisations including:
- PwC LLP
- BLM Law
- BloombergNEF
- British Medical Association
- Clifford Chance
- DAC Beachcroft LLP
- Department for Work and Pensions
- EY
- HM Treasury
- Latham & Watkins
- Legal Cheek
- Simpson Millar Solicitors
- The Economist
- Travers Smith
- Vodafone
- World Cancer Research Fund