Research Degrees

We encourage outstanding applicants to apply for our PhD programme in Law.

PhD candidates have the opportunity to conduct their own original research under the supervision of our experienced academic faculty. We offer supervision in diverse areas of law, including criminal law and criminology, constitutional law, corporate governance, European law, legal theory, media law, medical law, international environmental law and international refugee law. We offer one of the leading environments in the UK for the study of competition law and the School of Law is a key partner in the Centre for Competition Policy. We also have strong concentrations of expertise in intellectual property, commercial law, media law, human rights and public protest law. See our staff profiles for further details of faculty expertise.

PhD students receive dedicated support and regular feedback throughout their years of study. As a school, we aim to build a thriving community of PGR students and support a new generation of scholars and colleagues. We ensure that all PhD students acquire essential professional skills for future academic careers. PhD students are given the opportunity to teach on core and elective undergraduate modules and to present their work either at our staff research seminar series or in a dedicated PGR colloquium. Extensive training opportunities are available on a wide range of topics, from research software to project management and other professional skills.

Many of our former PhD students have gone on to academic careers, with recent graduates securing lectureships at University College London, Chulalongkorn University, Chiang Mai University, Deakin University, University of East Anglia, University of Keele, Lancaster University, University of Suffolk, University of Swansea, and University of New South Wales. Others have chosen alternative career paths, including working for OFGEM, the Financial Ombudsman Service and at Linklaters LLP. 

The School of Law is located in the beautiful historical building of Earlham Hall, where all our PhD students are provided with workspaces. We are a friendly and welcoming law school, always keen to expand our community with new and talented young researchers. Our formal deadline for admission is 28th March 2022 but we welcome applications at any time.

Prospective students can submit research proposals on any topic but admission to the PhD programme requires acceptance from two supervisors who have relevant expertise. Prospective students are therefore encouraged to contact a potential supervisor before submitting a formal proposal to assess their interest and availability. After a formal application has been submitted, it will be reviewed by faculty and will either be rejected (possible grounds for rejection include falling short of the minimum eligibility requirements, quality of the proposal or unavailability of suitable supervisors). Applicants who pass the review stage will be invited to interview before a final decision is taken on admission.

Studentship opportunities

We offer a range of funding opportunities for aspiring PhD students, including studentships funded by the SENSS Doctoral Training Partnership, UEA Social Sciences Faculty, and by the Law School. Prospective students who wish to apply for these funding opportunities must submit their application by fixed deadlines.

These studentships cover tuition fees irrespective of UK or International status. Studentships will be allocated to applicants submitting the most promising project proposals.

If you have further questions on specific aspects of the PhD programme in Law, please contact the PGR Team of the School of Law:


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