Law
Understanding how laws affect lives has been a major research theme at Surrey for nearly 40 years. The advanced and intimate knowledge we generate underpins progress in domestic, European and international jurisprudence and informs policy in fields as diverse as cross-border water resources, the conduct of elections, the restraint of corruption, sentencing, punishment and intellectual property.
Research programme
Taught programmes
Research Environment
The School of Law brings together diverse research interests, providing a stimulating and supportive environment for postgraduate study. Our academic staff have international reputations for research, and the School is home to a thriving community of doctoral students engaged in a wide range of projects.
As a doctoral student, you can expect us to help you challenge ideas, hone skills and develop the hallmarks of a leading researcher with experience of a variety of approaches, from doctrinal to socio-legal, modern to historical, single jurisdiction to comparative. There is also scope for interdisciplinary research.
We will provide you with office space, PCs, access to major electronic databases and a wide range of online research tools and resources. In addition, there is an excellent law library and a dedicated law librarian. Research students usually join a subject or research group and participate in the activities of our academic staff. General research training is offered by the University and supplemented by law-specific tuition.
Key Research Areas
- Corporate and commercial law
- Corruption Research Group
- Criminal la
- Environmental Regulatory Research Group (ERRG)
- Public law
- Surrey European Law Unit (SELU)
- Surrey International Law Centre (SILC)
Research centres and groups
Corruption Research Group
The aim of this network is to bring academics, early career researchers, doctoral students, policy makers, international organisations, legal practitioners, enforcement and investigative authorities, business representatives and non-governmental organisations together to exchange research findings, set up new lines of enquiry for further research into corruption, organise periodic seminars and workshops, and explore funding opportunities for further research.
Corporate and Commercial Law
Corporate and Commercial Law Corporate and commercial law research at Surrey comprises a range of areas, including banking law, commercial property, contract, company law, competition, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility, corporate insolvency, employment, intellectual property, international trade, and their interactions.
www.surrey.ac.uk/law/research/commercial
Environmental Regulatory Research Group (ERRG)
This interdisciplinary research group is based at the School of Law and deals with four main areas: climate change, environmental and public health, natural resources and water. In each of these, ERRG is actively involved in research, teaching and consultancy. ERRG members include researchers based at Surrey and external members from a wide spectrum of countries and academic backgrounds. It has attracted valuable research funding.
Surrey European Law Unit (SELU)
SELU brings together scholars with the objective of pursuing academic and practical research into the wider European sphere of the European Union, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. SELU aims to provide a sound academic environment, organising seminars and workshops, conducting research and publishing, and encouraging and facilitating collaborations with other academics and research institutions.
www.surrey.ac.uk/law/research/SELU
Surrey International Law Centre (SILC)
International law is now a feature of all aspects of international relations. The growth of international institutions, courts and conventions illustrates that there has never been a more critical time to engage in the study of international law. SILC is a research and teaching centre within the School of Law, providing a forum to research, discuss and contribute to the debate surrounding these issues.
Career Development
Following their PhDs, many of our students continue with academic careers or join law firms, government bodies, NGOs, charities or business organisations in the UK and further afield. Whatever your career aims, we provide development opportunities and training to enhance your skills and satisfy your ambitions.
Links with Industry
The School of Law has excellent links with local, national and international legal communities, and we regularly hold well-attended events to which legal professionals and academics are invited. Amongst our academic staff are experienced legal practitioners, and members of the School provide consultancy to law firms, governments, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and business organisations around the globe.
The University of Surrey means everything to me. Looking back at my time at Surrey, I realise just how much I have developed, not only as a researcher but also as a person.
Walter Nsoh
PhD in Law
I joined the School of Law as a PhD student on a combined University of Surrey Research Scholarship and an Overseas Research Scholarship Awards Scheme (ORSAS).
When deciding to pursue a PhD, I wanted a supervisor who understood what I wanted to do and was prepared to guide me all the way. I got this from Professor Rosalind Malcolm during our very first meeting, before even applying, and throughout my stay at Surrey.
She and my co-supervisor, Professor Alison Clarke, have been everything that any research student could dream of having as supervisors and for this I am very grateful to them. They have made my decision to come to Surrey worthwhile.
My Surrey qualification provides me with the platform on which to build a very successful career, not just in academia but in a wide range of other roles. I want to continue to develop as a researcher, and my qualification from an institution
with an excellent employment record such as the University of Surrey will definitely help me achieve this objective much more easily.
The University of Surrey means everything to me. Looking back at my time at Surrey, I realise just how much I have developed, not only as a researcher but also as a person.
The skills I have developed and memories I have made will remain with me for the rest of my life. And all this is thanks to the people – the supervisors, teaching and PhD colleagues, support staff and the facilities available that make the campus such a great place to be.