Doctor of Juridical Science

S.J.D. Program

The Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.; in Latin, Scientiae Juridical Doctor) Program, modeled on the Ph.D. programs in other disciplines, is designed for those seeking to pursue academic careers as teachers and scholars of law. This highly selective program is open only to applicants who possess a distinguished prior academic record in law, show promise of outstanding scholarship, and demonstrate a high potential for completing a scholarly dissertation of the required quality. The S.J.D. The program provides a unique opportunity for outstanding international law graduates to study at the KoGuan School of Law. Students with outstanding academic credentials are welcome to apply to our S.J.D. program.

S.J.D. candidates must have completed an S.J.D. program degree or equivalent in China or a foreign country. Each S.J.D. candidate will be assigned a primary faculty supervisor with expertise in the student's research area and two additional faculty members who form the student's doctoral committee.

The S.J.D. program normally takes a minimum of three years. It will involve one to two semesters of course work. The student must successfully pass oral examinations in the general field of study before formal admission to candidacy. The student will be asked to prepare a research proposal, which must be accepted before research on the dissertation begins. The S.J.D. student's faculty committee will assess the student's progress, make recommendations, and hold an oral examination on the final draft of the dissertation.

The S.J.D.Program (The Doctor of Juridical Science)tailors to those seeking to pursue academic careers as teachers and scholars law. The program duration is 3-4 years. It opens to applicants who possess a distinguished prior academic record in law, show promise of outstanding scholarship, and demonstrates a high potential for completing a scholarly dissertation of the required quality.

The tuition of the S.J.D. program is CNY45500/Year for Doctoral program (Approximately USD 7350/Year).

Our Faculty

KoGuan School of Law has been ranked among the top 10 law schools in the nation. Our faculty are known for their academic excellence as well as the commitment to students. Our distinguished faculty and administrative staff have also established strong ties to various governmental departments and agencies, courts, law firms, multinational corporations, and other important institutions in the Shanghai metropolitan area and beyond. This secures our students a variety of extracurricular offerings on a not-for-credit basis, such as study visits and internship opportunities. The program will offer you both unique insights into the Chinese legal system and exciting practical experience in Shanghai and China.

Our Students

The S.J.D program is interested in attracting intellectually curious and thoughtful students from a variety of legal systems and with various career plans. As an intellectually and culturally diverse program, we welcome students from around the world. The diversity of the participants in the S.J.D program will contribute significantly to the educational experience of all our students at KoGuan School of Law. International students can forge lifelong friendships with KoGuan law students, faculty and alumni, and establish a part of a global network of KoGuan Law graduates.

Degree Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 26 coursework credits (6 compulsory coursework credits) and write a degree thesis under the supervision of a faculty member.

To qualify for the S.J.D. program degree, students must:

1. Successfully complete at least 26 coursework credits.
2. Successfully complete: First year courses, Second year thesis proposal, third and fourth year independent research, and an S.J.D program thesis under the supervision of a KoGuan Law faculty member.
3. Spend at least two semesters in residence.

For the year of independent research and S.J.D program thesis writing, students are not required to stay in Shanghai.