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School of Law
  1. School of Law
  2. Postgraduate
  3. Postgraduate law programmes
  4. Law PhD
  5. Application process

PhD law application process

All applications must be made through the online system. Before beginning your application, please read the University's research degree application guidance notes as well as the information provided on this page.

To apply online, please click on the buttons on the right and choose full-time or part-time, depending which mode of study you want. These buttons are portals to the online application system - once you are in the application system, please follow the instructions.

Application deadlines

The deadline for non-funding applications for entry in September 2026 is Wednesday 3 June 2026.

However, if you need to secure funding for your PhD in the form of a Studentship, the deadline for your application will depend on the particular scheme you are applying for. All awards require the submission of the main PhD application and supporting documentation prior to the deadline. Find out more about fees and funding.

You will also need to apply in advance of the June deadline if you need to apply for a visa. Where the grant of a visa depends on your receiving an unconditional offer, you must also make sure that you have also satisfied any English and Academic entry requirements.

The assessment process

Before submitting your application, all applicants must secure the commitment of a full supervisory team before submitting their formal application. If you unable to find secondary supervisor, please consult with your primary supervisor for guidance. Applications without a named, confirmed supervisory team will not be considered.  

When applying, you will need to provide details of your proposed supervisor(s) and a proposal of your intended research. 

We recommend reaching out to potential supervisors directly via email with a concise summary of your research proposal and academic background.

Supervisor profiles 

To help you identify suitable supervisors, we encourage you to explore our academic staff profiles. These include research interests and supervision areas. See our staff page for a list of academic staff and their contact details.

Assessment criteria

Your proposal will be assessed on the following criteria:

  • Quality of proposal 
  • Preparedness of applicant 
  • Feasibility of project
  • Institutional fit

 

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