Law - PhD

Kent Law School (KLS) is widely recognised as a world leader in critical and interdisciplinary scholarship including socio-legal studies, law and humanities, critical legal studies and feminist theory. The school's research was ranked 2nd in the UK in the Times Higher Education (THE) following the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2021). You can study full-time or part-time and, in addition to the standard on campus research degree, we have also developed an external research route.

External research degrees are designed for those who are in the process of establishing their careers as researchers or who need to study alongside other commitments. They are ideal for individuals who are looking for an opportunity to undertake a PhD but may not be in a position to relocate or take time out. International students wishing to undertake their entire programme from overseas will not require immigration sponsorship and should apply as an external research student, stating this clearly in the Reasons for Study section of the application form.

Whatever your mode of study, you will be part of an active, supportive and vibrant student community, with excellent dedicated postgraduate facilities, and benefit from cutting-edge legal training taking place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in person and online. You are usually allocated two supervisors, who give guidance about the nature of the research, the standard of work required, and about the relevant literature and sources that should be consulted. You meet with supervisors monthly, ensuring consistent and continuous support during the length of the degree.

We welcome applications for research degrees in a wide range of areas, this blog post helps offer an insight into the diverse aspects of the law our scholars choose to interrogate. You should accompany your application with a proposal of up to ten pages including an outline of the research project you envisage, your research questions, your intended methodology, and an explanation of how your project will advance the existing scholarly literature on the topic. You are strongly advised to discuss your project with an appropriate member of staff or with the Director of Postgraduate Research prior to submitting your application.

When preparing your proposal, you should read our 'Guide to writing a PhD or LLM by Research proposal.' Kent Law School offers a limited number of scholarships to prospective PhD candidates.. Read more about scholarship opportunities in Kent Law School on our Postgraduate Funding page. Research student Jess talks about studying for a PhD at Kent.

Kent Law School (KLS) is the UK's leading critical law school. Its research has been ranked second in the UK by the Times Higher Education. A cosmopolitan centre of world-class critical legal research, it offers a supportive and intellectually stimulating place to study postgraduate taught and research degrees.

In addition to learning the detail of the law, students at Kent are taught to think about the law with regard to its history, development and relationship with wider society. This approach allows students to fully understand the law. Our critical approach not only makes the study of law more interesting, it helps to develop crucial skills and abilities required for a career in legal practice.

You study within a close-knit, supportive and intellectually stimulating environment, working closely with academic staff. KLS uses critical research-led teaching throughout our programmes to ensure that you benefit from the Law School’s world-class research. It has established a number of research centres and groups that focus on particular areas of law, and postgraduate research students are encouraged and welcome to become involved with those that are close to their own research interests