University of Sussex

PhD Law

University of Sussex

Course overview

The PhD in Law at the University of Sussex is a 4-year full-time programme that offers an opportunity to undertake an original piece of research that makes a substantial contribution to knowledge in any chosen area of law. Students will work with academic supervisors to develop their research question, methodology, and findings, and will receive training and support through the University’s doctoral school. They get to explore a range of areas, including human rights, healthcare law, migration, child and family law, cyber law, and criminal law.

Learning and assessment are based largely on the research thesis and rather than taught modules. Students will be expected to engage with scholarly literature, possibly publish work, and attend seminars or workshops as required by their school. Additionally, students’ PhD research work makes a substantial original contribution to knowledge or understanding in their chosen field.

Entry requirements

Candidates applying for a PhD Law at the University of Sussex will need to write a research proposal. Qualification should be in law or a related subject area, but applicants may still be considered for the degree if they have a qualification in a different subject area or have other relevant professional qualifications and research experience of equivalent standing.

Grade Requirements:

  • Applicants are expected to have the equivalent of a UK Masters degree, which will mean having completed some academic study beyond their Bachelor's degree.
  • Applicants should have an upper second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree or above.

English Language requirements:

  • TOEFL iBT score of 80 overall, including at least 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking, and 17 in Writing.
  • IELTS Academic score of 6.0 overall, including at least 5.5 in each component
  • PTE Academic score of 59 overall, including at least 59 in all four skills.

Scholarships

  • Cate Haste Scholarship in History

    £3,000 tuition fee reduction.

    Up to £3,000

  • Cate Haste Scholarship in Media and Film

    £3,000 tuition fee reduction.

    Up to £3,000

  • Chancellor's International Scholarships

    £5,000 in the first year of full-time study.

    Up to £5,000

  • Chancellor's Masters Scholarship

    £3,000 for applicants assessed as 'Home' for fees or £5,000 for applicants assessed as 'Overseas' for fees.

  • Gazelle Twin Scholarship for Women in Music Technology

    £500 each year of study. The opportunity to organise an annual student music event.

    Up to £500

  • Jan Metzger Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence and Adaptive Systems MSc

    £12,550 fee waiver

    Up to £12,550

  • John Kinghorn Scholarship in Engineering

    £10,000 tuition fee reduction.

    Up to £10,000

  • MBA Impact Scholarship

    £2,500 - £5,000 towards tuition fee reduction.

    Up to £2,500

  • Professor Colin Eaborn Chemistry Scholarship

    Up to £2,000 for BSc students, up to £3,000 for MChem students.

  • Sanctuary Scholarship (Masters)

  • Sanctuary Scholarship (Undergraduate)

  • Shan Vaswani Borgartz Scholarship in Media

    £5,000 tuition fee reduction.

    Up to £5,000

  • Stuart Hall Scholarship

    £5,000 tuition fee discount.

    Up to £5,000

  • Sussex Alumni Scholarship

    £3,000 tuition fee reduction.

    Up to £3,000

  • Sussex Progressive Futures Scholarships

    £10,000 tuition fee reduction.

    Up to £10,000

  • The University of Sussex Business School International Masters Award

    £2,000 will be awarded as a fee waiver to all overseas fee-paying students who start a full-time Masters course at the Business school.

    Up to £2,000

  • The University of Sussex Engineering and Informatics International Masters Award

    £2,000 will be awarded as a fee waiver to all overseas fee-paying students who start a full-time Masters course at the School of Engineering & Informatics.

    Up to £2,000

Career opportunities

With a PhD in Law from the University of Sussex, students gain access to a range of professional opportunities and future careers. Graduates can work in positions such as;

  • University Or College Lecturer In Law
  • Legal Researcher
  • Policy Advisor
  • Consultant
  • Senior Legal Practitioner

Cost of study

International students enrolling for a full-time PhD Law at the University of Sussex are required to pay a yearly tuition fee of £23,500. Students will need to cover some research and training costs depending on their research topic and training needs.

Admission

To apply for the course, you can apply directly to the university through its online application portal. For personalised help with your application, please speak to one of our trained counsellors.

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