The purpose of a PhD in Law is to carry out original research investigation. You test analytical arguments or legal provisions.

Students can select a research project on any legal, socio-legal or interdisciplinary topic. That's subject to availability of expert research supervision.

We assign students to a supervisory team. We are able to offer supervision in a very wide range of legal subject areas. Students register for:

• 3 years (with a further 1 year for writing up, if necessary) for full-time study
• 6 years for part-time study

The research thesis will be approximately 80,000-100,000 words in length. It will be examined by Viva Voce.

An MPhil degree can be a great pathway to a PhD. The thesis submitted at the end of the programme will typically be, at most, 50,000 words.

MPhils enable students to undertake short or more confined pieces of original research.

Students register for 1 year, with a further 1 year for writing up. A Viva Voce may be required at the discretion of the examiners.

The LLM by research can be used as preparation for an MPhil or PhD research. The thesis submitted at the end of the programme will typically be, at most, 30,000 words.

A student registered for the LLM by Research is required to spend a minimum period of:

• 12 months in full-time study
• 24 months in part-time study

Students need to complete module LAW8148, Applied Research Methods in Law. A Viva Voce may be required at the discretion of the examiners.