Law PhD

Our PhD in Law aims to train the next generation of legal thinkers, law reformers, policy advisors, political activists, and academics.  The School of Law's  emphasis on combining theory and practice makes us unique in the UK, and a world-class centre for deep and creative legal research. 

Surrey’s specialisms in law offers you the opportunity to explore a diverse range of areas. We have particular research strengths in legal philosophy and legal theory, neuroscience and law, criminal law,   Roman legal history, environmental law, health sciences and law, artificial intelligence and law, finance law and ethics, human rights law, European law, and public international law. Our unique concentration of expertise in legal philosophy and legal theory is largely unparalleled worldwide. 

Our academic staff are internationally recognised for their research and are experienced legal practitioners, providing consultancy to law firms, governments, non-governmental organisations and businesses around the world. As a School of Law doctoral student, you’ll be part of this thriving community of researchers engaged in a wide range of projects, and – depending on your area of study – will be able to join a subject or research group, as well as participating alongside academic staff in the activities of the School of Law. 

The School also enjoys excellent links with local, national and international legal communities. You’ll benefit from stimulating roundtables seminars, workshops and lectures delivered by distinguished academics, eminent judges and law practitioners. 

Careers and academic placement record

Our PhD programme has an excellent track record of placing our PhD students in academic posts and other high-level careers.

In the 15-year period between 2004 and 2019, we awarded 29 law PhDs and of these, 14 were fully successful in attaining permanent academic posts at universities across the UK and two more obtaining academic posts at universities overseas. The remainder have gone on to successfully pursue career paths at the Bar, as corporate counsel, in government posts and research-intensive positions in industry.  

Between 2014 to 2020, our PhD graduates and current PhD students have attained lectureships at a range of institutions including:

• University of Brighton
• University of Buckingham
• University of Chichester
• Coventry University
• University of Essex
• University of Exeter
• niversity of Westminster.

We have strong academic networks domestically and abroad, and we use these to provide intensive training and preparation for the academic job market for all students on our PhD programme.

Find out more about our research community within the School of Law.

Through a variety of approaches, from doctrinal to philosophical, contemporary to historical, single jurisdiction to comparative, we will help you challenge ideas, hone your skills and develop the hallmarks of a leading researcher. You will work on a structured, supervised programme of research in one of the areas of law in which we have expertise. 

You’ll be able to develop your teaching skills, as well as the ability to think theoretically and provide innovative practical solutions to legal problems. We encourage our postgraduate research students to present work and discuss ideas in both formal and informal settings. We can also support you intellectually and financially to present and exchange ideas and discuss your research in an international fora. 

At the end of your time as a PhD researcher at Surrey you’ll 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. You will also be expected to answer questions on your thesis and your research in a viva voce examination. 

Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.

The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College, which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate Careers and Employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.