PhD Law

Year of entry: 2022

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Overview

Degree awarded
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
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.

The documents that applicants are required to submit to constitute a full application are outlined on our postgraduate research application page .

Full entry requirements

How to apply
Apply online

Programme options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
PhD Y Y N N

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Discover more about Law at Manchester

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

Open days

The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to find out more about our facilities and courses.

For more information, see open days .

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2022, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • PhD (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £4,596
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £20,500
  • PhD (part-time)
    UK students (per annum): TBA
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £10,250

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Scholarships/sponsorships

Various funding opportunities are available to students applying for the three-year PhD degree course. In addition to submitting the relevant scholarship application, you must submit the PhD application (deadlines apply). Please visit our schools' How to Apply Page here https://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/how-to-apply/ for terms and conditions, or email law.scholarship@manchester.ac.uk .

References may be uploaded with your other supporting documents during the application process or emailed directly to research-law@manchester.ac.uk .

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Social Sciences
Contact name
School of Social Sciences
Telephone
Email
Website
https://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/law/research/postgraduate-research/
School/Faculty

See: School Subjects

Programmes in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

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.

The documents that applicants are required to submit to constitute a full application are outlined on our postgraduate research application page .

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.

Other international entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see entry requirements from your country . Please note, these are minimum entry requirements.

Application and selection

How to apply

Apply online

Advice to applicants

You may commence your studies in September or January (with September being the main admissions date).

Applications should include:

  • PhD research proposal .
  • Two academic references (including one from your most recent institution).
  • Degree transcripts - listing your individual marks for your undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications.

An up-to-date CV.

How your application is considered

Once a full application (application form along with all supporting documents) has been received by the School, it will then be passed to academic staff for their consideration.

Several factors will be taken into consideration when the decision to offer a place or not is made.  The academic merit of the applicant will be one.  Other important factors will be whether or not the topic chosen is appropriate to advanced study at PhD level; whether the University's library facilities are adequate to support that study; and whether there are members of staff available with the expertise to supervise the chosen topic.

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.

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.

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 Manchester.

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. 

You may commence your studies in September or January (with September being the main admissions date).

Scholarships and bursaries

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

Facilities

At Manchester, 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 Manchester Library is the third-largest university library in the UK, 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 UK. This means the materials you need for your research are immediately available to you.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

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.

At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help support you with your goals for the future.