43 PhD programmes in Legal Studies in United Kingdom

Research in this area takes place within The Futures of Legal Education and Practice cluster at The Open University UK, which draws together over a dozen researchers with interests in the development and future directions of legal education and legal practice.

The Open University UK Law School’s Legal History research cluster brings together researchers who investigate and publish on a variety of areas of legal history, including members from outside the school.

As one of the most vibrant and important fields in the world today, research and work in Law (Distance Learning) influences personal, national and global perspectives in world affairs.  Join this Law programme at the University of Huddersfield.

A graduate from Law and Social Sciences at Middlesex University will have developed advanced skills in research, analysis and writing, public presentations and, in many cases, teaching at university level. 

The Law programme offered by Queen's University Belfast develops advanced expertise in legal research, critical analysis, and interdisciplinary inquiry, preparing researchers to investigate complex legal issues and contribute to the development of law, policy, and justice.

The Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in Socio-Legal Studies at the University of Oxford entails the carrying out of a research project and writing a thesis of between 75,000 and 100,000 words. 

Our research students benefit immensely from a vibrant research community, a supportive environment and many opportunities to engage critically with academic research and contemporary issues. They are immersed in a research culture which situates legal studies in its historical, social and economic context.

The School of Law at the University of Sheffield is respected locally, regionally and internationally for its robust and impactful legal, socio-legal and criminological research.

Law at Abertay University researches matters which are strongly influenced by political developments within Europe and also by public awareness of the interconnected nature of a business, the availability of human labour, and the need for businesses and governments to act responsibly and in accordance with an established principle of good governance.

The PhD in Bioethics and Medical Jurisprudence at The University of Manchester is a structured research programme containing taught elements designed to provide a solid skills basis for independent research in this area.

Law PhD students from Birmingham City University, benefit from regular supervision meetings with academics who are experts in their field; and have the opportunity to become members of our proactive research community made up of academics, postgraduate researchers and external partners.

The Law programme offered by Anglia Ruskin University explores contemporary legal challenges relating to justice, rights, dispute resolution, environmental responsibility, criminal justice, and the impact of technology on legal systems and decision-making.

The Law programme offered by Aberystwyth University develops advanced expertise in legal scholarship, jurisprudential analysis, and regulatory interpretation.

Law and Criminology at Aberystwyth University combines taught modules with research conducted by students under the supervision of staff who have expertise in the topic of study.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) postgraduate degree in Law at Durham University is a research-based programme of study centred on completing a satisfactory thesis on an approved topic in the field of law.

The multidisciplinary Department of Law and Criminology at the Royal Holloway University of London is home to applied, theoretical and doctrinal research across Criminology, Forensic Psychology, Law, Social Work, and Sociology.

The Law programme offered by Swansea University gives doctoral researchers the chance to pursue a project based around their own passions and interests, leading to a qualification which can open the door to an academic career or boost employment prospects in a range of other fields.

From the effects of the internet on society to the impact of hate crimes on minority communities – the Law School at the University of Sussex is a vibrant, exciting environment for doctoral research.

This Feminism, Law and Gender research cluster at The Open University UK provides an intellectual and collaborative space for academics, visiting researchers and PhD students interested in gender-focused and feminist analysis of the law.

A University of Hertfordshire doctoral research degree in Law is an internationally recognised degree signifying high levels of achievement in research.