3rd Cycle Programme in Law

Overview

The 3rd Cycle Programme in Law at Universidade Nova de Lisboa is a four-year programme leading to a PhD degree in law. 

The Programme comprises a taught component (over three semesters) where advanced legal studies are carried out with an interdisciplinary focus. 

This period also provides training in research methodologies and other complementary skills. Towards the end of the taught component of the Programme, candidates must prepare and publicly defend their thesis project. 

During the remaining part of the Programme (comprising five further semesters), candidates must complete their research under the guidance of their supervisor, culminating in the preparation and defence of their doctoral thesis. The Programme is internationally oriented. Its main language of instruction is English.

FCT’s generous funding of this Programme has allowed NOVA School of Law to award over 50 research grants to some of its most talented doctoral students. Year upon year, we attract a talented, multicultural cohort of candidates from all corners of the world. This funding also allows a good portion of our annual student intake to carry out their research full-time. This has proved to be an essential element in the creation of a vibrant and close-knit community of doctoral students, who are active in many of NOVA Law School’s research initiatives.

The Programme admits 20 doctoral candidates each academic year. Numbers are low and therefore admission into the Programme is highly competitive, as NOVA School of Law seeks to ensure that every doctoral candidate is afforded sufficient individualised attention and supervision.

NOVA University’s Doctoral School is available to our doctoral candidates. 

Aimed at the university’s PhD students and their supervisors, its purposes are:

• Contribute to the excellence of doctoral training at NOVA;

• Provide cross-disciplinary and complementary training to PhD candidates and their supervisors;

• Promote interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research;

• Share best practices in doctoral programmes;

• Foster cross-institutional cooperation at both national and international levels;

• Encourage research collaboration between students and professors at NOVA.