PhD in Law Programs in United Kingdom 2017. Research Degrees in Law The School of Law accepts candidates for research work leading to a PhD. The central feature of PhD work is the close relationship between the doctoral candidate and his or her supervisor, in which they meet regularly and consult closely. This relationship is supported and strengthened in various ways. Every doctoral candidate has an adjunct supervisor, another member of staff with a close interest in the candidate’s region and/or subfield of the discipline. There is a research tutor with overall responsibility for doctoral candidates who is available for a discussion of general problems. In addition there are a number of other activities which contribute to a doctoral candidate’s work and training. All incoming MPhil/PhD candidates are required to take the School of Law’s Research Seminar Programme in their first year. Doctoral candidates are encouraged to contribute to the research activities of the department. Several of them are active in the various Research Centres run in the School of Law and are encouraged to participate in conferences and other projects organised by the department. The School of Law hosts Reading Groups, which doctoral candidates are encouraged to participate in. Doctoral candidates are expected to participate in the School of Law PhD Colloquium which is held once a year. The colloquium gives doctoral candidates the opportunity to present their research and progress to colleagues and staff. Many SOAS doctoral candidates spend some time doing field work in the regions of... [-]

PhD/MPhil Law A PhD is the most advanced form of postgraduate study. It is awarded on the successful completion of a programme of supervised research and is assessed by a verbal examination and final thesis. A MPhil requires research skills and training similar to a PhD yet its scope and complexity are less than that required for a doctorate. The MPhil is assessed by the submission of a thesis. The School of Law strives to promote research excellence among all of its scholars. We recognise that high-quality legal research may take many different forms, with a wide variety of legal research methods being employed in the numerous ongoing research projects within the school. We are recognised by the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 as disseminating world class research of international significance, and are ranked 6th in terms of research power. Supervision expertise All doctoral students are allocated two research supervisors, who will have the appropriate topic and/or methodological expertise to support the research project being undertaken. The School of Law offers supervision for research degrees in most subject areas of law, and also for interdisciplinary projects which have a legal aspect. Candidates are asked to be aware that the school cannot guarantee that two appropriate supervisors may be found to oversee their project, as this is dependent upon the available capacity of colleagues in any given academic year. Our students The school currently has around 50 registered research students, who come from all over the world, and we actively seek... [-]