Postgraduate research in law
The School of Law has an established research culture - over 40 years of legal research at Surrey played a large part in the creation of the School of Law and its doctoral programme. There is a stimulating and supportive research culture with a wide range of projects and postgraduate researchers, who participate in the academic life of the School.
We offer a lively research environment in which doctoral students play an important part. Our academic staff have international reputations and are committed to research that shapes agendas of scholarship and practice. We support an internationally diverse community of doctoral students who are viewed as important collaborators in this venture. We are committed to providing our doctoral students with a sound grounding in research methods and methodology for the research degree programmes we offer.
As a doctoral student you can expect to be challenged by new ideas and to be critical in your research. You will participate in seminars and conferences and be part of a vibrant international community of over 100 doctoral researchers, over two thirds of whom are researching full time within our faculty
PhD
Programme
Our PhD programme is designed to allow you to pursue academically rigorous scholarly research which makes an original contribution to knowledge. Your research will also be of a standard appropriate for publication. Doctoral researchers in law at Surrey use a variety of approaches - from doctrinal to socio-legal, from modern to historical, international and comparative. There is scope for cross- and interdisciplinary projects.
As a School of Law PhD student, you will undertake a structured, supervised programme of research into one of the law fields in which we have expertise.
You will find full links to our research interests and expertise of our academic staff from the School of Law website.
Research training is selected from the University and faculty’s excellent offerings, supplemented by law-specific seminars. The School firmly believes in providing effective supervision, so your proposal is vital to your application.
In your first year you will take up to three modules of core research methods training. You are also expected to take advantage of advanced research training modules that further support your specific research. These include a range of modules focussed on developing the practical skills required for subsequent careers. Our PhD researchers also organise and run their own annual research conference and attend research group seminars.
At the end of your time as a PhD researcher at Surrey you will be expected to submit an extended thesis for examination. This thesis will demonstrate your ability to pursue scholarly research which makes an original contribution to knowledge. Your research will also be of a standard appropriate for publication.
You will also be expected to answer questions on your thesis and your research in a viva voce examination.
Entry Standards
For a PhD, our expectation is that you hold a master’s degree with at least a merit from an approved university. If you do not have such a degree, you may be admitted providing you hold an Upper Second (2:1) from an approved university or a professional or other qualification deemed by the University to be appropriate.
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 7.0 or above with a minimum of 6.5 in each component (or equivalent.)
Funding
Students may be considered for a postgraduate research studentship to cover Home (UK) and European Union Fees and an annual stipend.
Fees
UK/EU students - £3,828
Overseas students 2011/12 entrants onwards - £14,175
Overseas students pre 2011/12 entrants - £13,780
Find out more about our fees and funding policies.
Apply now
Programme length
33–48 months full-time
45–96 months part-time
Start date
1 October, 1 January, 1 April, 1 July
Head of PhD Programme
For general enquiries
T: 0800 980 3200 or
+44 (0)1483 681681
E: pg-enquiries@surrey.ac.uk
For admissions enquiries
T: +44 (0)1483 686300
E: lawadmissions@surrey.ac.uk
Law research overview
Research
Current and potential doctoral research includes:
- Commercial and financial law – national, regional and international – banking, commercial property, contract, competition, employment, intellectual property, international trade
- Corporate law – company law, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility, corporate insolvency law
- Corruption in international transactions
- Criminal law and justice
- Discrimination
- Environmental law, especially relating to water, climate change, environmental and public health, natural resources
- European law, including the EU and its external relations, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
- Family law
- International law, international institutions, courts and conventions, international criminal and humanitarian law, the law of armed conflict
- Medical law
- Professional organisation, ethics
- Property law
- Public law
Research environment
The School of Law enjoys excellent library support with a dedicated law librarian, a wide range of legal databases and access to other UK collections. Postgraduate researchers are encouraged to join relevant research groups and to participate in the activities of scholarly associations. Links with UK and overseas law schools arise through the research connections of academic staff, invitations to postgraduate research conferences and Surrey’s institutional links. There are regular ‘in-house’ research seminars and prominent visiting speakers and researchers.
Law research groups
Combating Corruption
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.
www.surrey.ac.uk/corruption
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.
www.surrey.ac.uk/errg
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.
www.surrey.ac.uk/law/research/SILC
Property Law
Research in property law is centred on property rights theory and on property in land and natural resources. Academic staff and research students are involved in a range of research projects within these broad areas, including property in water, customary and communal resource use rights, indigenous land rights, and forests, property rights and development.
www.surrey.ac.uk/law/research/property
Apply for postgraduate research in law
PhD Programme
Our website details the information we require: www.surrey.ac.uk/law/study/pgresearch/registration
Your application must be accompanied by a research proposal, indicating subject area, proposed methodology, data sources and bibliography, and stating how the research relates to earlier work in the field. Two referees should be familiar with your work.
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