The Doctor of Legal Studies (PhD) goal is to help students understand existing legal rules and doctrines, with their underlying policy arguments, so that they can think about these arguments, prepare to present an argument and let their own voices be heard.

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.

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.

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. 

The PhD School in Legal Sciences includes the following tracks:

The purpose of this qualification is to let students demonstrate an ability to make their own, distinctive and novel contribution to the corpus of knowledge on a particular subject of legal study.

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.

Cambridge Graduate University’s College of Law, Policy & Global Studies has an unmatched academic program, offering law and policy Masters and Doctoral degrees – the LL.M., Masters in

Train human resources with a high academic level, capable of carrying out original and innovative scientific research, of applying knowledge and carrying out quality teaching activities in the undergraduate and graduate studies in Law, to promote the development of legal science.

Aimed at doctors of the law. At the end of the research protocol; Integration and presenting final results are sought, evaluating achievements obtained and fulfillment of goals applicable to government programs or law initiatives for the benefit of the research area within the educational program of law at the university for graduate studies in law and policy university of any university public and private, and must submit an application raising an exhibition topic that strengthens legal institutions.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY PLAN To train doctors in law, specialists, and researchers in the field of legal sciences and corporate law that allows them to participate and lead socio-legal changes.

The Doctor of Legal Science (Research) is an industry and professional focused program which combines course and thesis work in an area of legal discipline that is of interest to you, providing you with the opportunity to deepen your research skills and knowledge in an area of the law.

The Ph.D. graduate will be able to develop in society giving a new dimension to the role of the legal profession. It will enhance your knowledge because the development of your research work, together with the application of the methodology and the mentoring that is exercised, will make you a lawyer who can offer more to society and your environment.

The Ph.D. study programme lasts 6 semesters carrying a total of 180 ECTS in accordance with the Bologna declaration. Once the course is completed and the doctoral thesis has been defended, the student is awarded a Doctorate in Law.

The Ph.D. in Law prepares graduates for global leadership in the judiciary, academia, business, and government. Since 1966, the program has offered a select number of diverse students the opportunity to attain their highest professional aspirations and career goals.