PhD in Law

Program Overview

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Overview

PhD study is substantially different from other types of postgraduate work as each candidate devises their own independent research project. At the University of Bristol Law School, comprehensive research training is provided by expert academics, who also offer guidance and supervision of your research project. If you are undertaking socio-legal research, initial research training can take the form of the MSc Socio-Legal Studies programme, which is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

As a PhD Law student you will join a vibrant and diverse research community that will include membership in one of our centres of research excellence. You will be invited to participate fully in the life of the school, including frequent research events like the staff and invited scholar's seminar programme and the annual Law PGR showcase. There may also be opportunities to undertake some part-time teaching within the school. Travel and conference funding is available for research students.

Key Information

Programme Duration

• Up to four years full-time; up to eight years part-time.

Start Date

• September 2025

Application Deadline

• The closing date for a September start date is 1 June 2025.
• ESRC funding: Internal deadline - 2 December 2024.
• ESRC deadline - 12 noon on 14 January 2025.
• Bristol Postgraduate Research Scholarships: Internal deadline - 2 December 2024
• Bristol Postgraduate Research Scholarships deadline: 12 noon on 24 January 2025

Delivery Method

• On-Campus

Location

• Clifton

Awards Available

• PhD

Programme Structure

All PGRs will from 2025/26 be required to take 20 credits of research training in addition to the Advanced Legal and Socio-Legal Methods unit, unless they are exempted from individual units after applying for Recognised Prior Learning. Visit our unit and programme catalogue to view the units available for PhD Law.

ESRC/SWDTP-students may be required to take additional credits as determined by SWDTP.

World-Leading Research

• 5th: The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK (Times Higher Education).
• 94%: 94% of our research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of an upper second-class honours degree in law (or equivalent) and normally at least a merit at master's level (or equivalent).
• Alternatively, a first-class honours degree in law (or equivalent) and evidence of ability to conduct independent and original research.

English Language Requirements

• If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level B.

Fees and Funding

Home Students

• Full-time: £4,850 per year
• Part-time: £2,425 per year

Overseas Students

• Full-time: £21,300 per year

Alumni Discount

• University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study.

Funding and Scholarships

• The Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences has an allocation of MSc + PhD and PhD only ESRC scholarships.
• The internal deadline to apply for admission to the PhD programme and for ESRC is: 2 December 2024.
• The ESRC deadline is: 12 noon 14 January 2025 (exact deadline TBC).
• For details on applying for ESRC funding, please visit the South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP) website.

Career Prospects

The PhD in Law at the University of Bristol offers useful preparation for several different careers, including academia. The ability to plan, research and write a sophisticated thesis, including an ability to conduct, for example, detailed doctrinal analysis, to think in broad theoretical terms and to engage in empirical research can provide a firm foundation for a career in the academy.

A second possible career is that of working for an NGO or policy organisation, drawing on skills in research and writing, which are invaluable for work of this kind. A third possibility is working within governments, again building on analytical, doctrinal or empirical research skills developed through the PhD, which incorporate both an ability to undertake rigorous research and to see the bigger picture.

Finally, some students choose to enter the legal profession, carrying with them a rich understanding of legal principles and practice. We offer extensive opportunities for career development and advice through our Careers Service, as well as opportunities for mentoring throughout your degree that will help you prepare for a career.

Meet Our Supervisors

• Professor Foluke Adebisi
• Dr Kathryn Allinson
• Dr Katie Bales
• Dr Andrew Bell
• Professor Lois Bibbings
• Professor Eirik Bjorge
• Professor Alan Bogg
• Mr Matthew Burton
• Professor Patrick Capps
• Dr Tania Cheng-Davies
• Professor John Coggon
• Dr Jennifer Collins
• Professor Joanne Conaghan
• Dr Robert Craig
• Dr Katie Cruz
• Professor James Davey
• Dr Christian Delev
• Dr Sandra Duffy
• Dr Peter Dunne
• Professor Clair Gammage
• Dr Emily Hancox
• Dr Eleanore Hickman
• Professor Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne
• Professor Emma Hitchings
• Dr Ilias Ioannou
• Dr Vaclav Janecek
• Dr Eva Janeckova
• Professor Catherine Kelly
• Dr Katarzyna Kryla-Cudna
• Professor Judy Laing
• Dr Yin Harn Lee
• Mrs Sumayyah Malna
• Miss Katie Mccay
• Dr Lee McConnell
• Dr Joanna McCunn
• Professor Greg Messenger
• Dr Jule Mulder
• Professor Rachel Murray
• Professor Tonia Novitz
• Professor Ken Oliphant
• Dr Temitope Onifade
• Dr Joshua Paine
• Professor Gavin Phillipson
• Professor Margherita Pieraccini
• Dr Katie Richards
• Miss Caoimhe Ring
• Mr Matt Rollinson
• Professor Albert Sanchez Graells
• Dr Sahar Shah
• Professor Sally Sheldon
• Professor Philip Syrpis
• Dr Clare Torrible
• Dr Alice Venn
• Dr Katherine Wade
• Dr Tiffany Wang
• Dr Sarah Zaghloul
• Dr Beke Zwingmann

Research Groups

A wide variety of subject areas are covered in the Law School. This reflects a range of different approaches to legal research - doctrinal, socio-legal/interdisciplinary and theoretical. The school has a strong portfolio in immigration and citizenship, socio-legal studies, environmental law, gender and law, legal history, corporate governance and regulation, international law, employment law, and health law and policy.

The school usually has 80 research postgraduates at any one time, working in a wide variety of subject areas and adopting a range of different approaches to legal research.

How to Apply

Apply via our online application system. Please see the guidance for how to apply on our postgraduate research webpage.

Please see our list of Law School staff supervisory interests for supervisors available from 2025/26.

Application deadline:

• The closing date for a September start date is 1 June 2025.
• ESRC funding: Internal deadline - 2 December 2024.
• ESRC deadline - 12 noon on 14 January 2025.
• Bristol Postgraduate Research Scholarships: Internal deadline - 2 December 2024
• Bristol Postgraduate Research Scholarships deadline: 12 noon on 24 January 2025

Start Your Application

Select your award type to begin your application

• Law (PhD)
• Law (Visiting) (PGR)
• Law Postgraduate Research (Occasional)

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

PhD study in Law at the University of Bristol Law School is distinct from other postgraduate programs as each candidate designs their own independent research project. The program provides comprehensive research training by expert academics who guide and supervise students' research projects.

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Teaching:

The program offers a vibrant and diverse research community with primary units organized around research specialisms and various centers of research excellence. Students are invited to participate in the Law School's staff seminar program and other frequent research events. Opportunities for part-time teaching within the school may also be available.

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Careers:

The PhD in Law prepares graduates for various career paths, including academic work, particularly if the thesis or parts of it are published in respected academic journals. Other career options include working for NGOs or policy organizations, utilizing research and writing skills, or within governments, leveraging analytical, doctrinal, or empirical research skills. Some students also enter the legal profession with a deep understanding of legal principles and practice.

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Other:

• Travel and conference funding is available for research students.
• The program duration is up to four years full-time or up to eight years part-time.
• The start date is September 2024.
• The application deadline for a September start date is 1 June 2024.
• ESRC funding deadlines: Internal deadline - 11 December 2023.
ESRC deadline - 12 January 2024 at 12 noon.
• The program is delivered on-campus in Clifton.
• The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK (Times Higher Education).
• 94% of the university's research is assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

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UK: full-time £4,758 per year UK: part-time £2,379 per year Overseas: full-time £20,700 per year For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.