PhD or LLM by Research in Law

Program Overview

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Law

PhD or LLM by Research

World-class research

Key facts

Start dates

• June 2025
• September 2025
• January 2026
• June 2026
• September 2026

Application deadline

It typically takes up to four months (five months for International and EU applicants) from application to enrollment on your programme. This is subject to all the necessary documentation being in place.

Location

• Headington

Course length

• Full time: 1 - 3 years
• Part time: 1 - 4 years

School(s)

• School of Law and Social Sciences

Funding status

• Self-funded

Overview

We have a lively and supportive research culture with a number of specialist research groups led by internationally recognised academics.

As a research student, you will be encouraged to become involved in Law’s research activities and will have the opportunity to work alongside Oxford Brookes academics who are at the forefront of a wide range of internationally recognised and world-leading research and projects.

Research expertise

Law is placed within the School of Law and Social Sciences which comprises a number of research groups, supporting our doctoral students and encouraging wide participation both through our partnerships with other research groups, and our busy programme of conferences, research events and lectures.

We strongly recommend that prior to submitting a full application you identify and make contact directly with a potential Director of Studies. Please look at our research group pages and individual staff profiles to help you identify the appropriate member of staff and to find out whether your proposed research focus is one that we can supervise.

Groups

• Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
• Fundamental Rights and Equality
• International Law

Degree routes

We offer a wide range of postgraduate degrees, ranging from LLM by Research, PhD, PhD by Publication.

The degree for which you register will depend on your academic qualifications and research experience.

PhD

There are two routes toward obtaining a PhD.

MPhil/PhD route

By far the most popular and common is the MPhil/PhD route. All students enrol as probationer research students. This entails students initially registering for the degree of MPhil/PhD, before transferring to full PhD status, should sufficient progress have been made with their work. Transfer to full PhD status normally happens after 18 months for full time students and after roughly 24-26 months for part time students.

Thesis

• 80,000 - 100,000 words

Length of study

• Minimum of three years full time and four years part time

Entry requirement

• The minimum entry requirement for the MPhil/PhD route is:
  • A first-class or upper second-class UK honours degree
  • A relevant master’s qualification
  • Or an equivalent qualification

Applications from those holding qualifications other than the above will be considered on their merits and in relation to the nature and scope of the work proposed.

PhD Direct

The alternative route toward obtaining a PhD is known as a PhD Direct in which the student registers directly to study for a PhD. Accordingly, the student does not need to undergo a formal transfer assessment and the minimum period of study is shorter compared to the MPhil/PhD route.

Thesis

• 80,000 - 100,000 words

Length of study

• Minimum of two years full time and three years part time

Entry requirement

• This is the same as for the MPhil/PhD route, except that the student must demonstrate an exceptional level of preparedness and aptitude for PhD study, for instance in the form of an MPhil degree or an outstanding performance at Masters level in an area very closely aligned with the PhD.

PhD by Published Work

The degree of PhD on the basis of published work may be awarded to candidates whose submitted work:

• Reflects the same academic standards as those which operate for a traditional PhD based upon an approved programme of supervised research
• Forms a coherent programme of research
• Demonstrates the use of appropriate research methodology
• And makes an original and sufficient contribution to the present state of knowledge in a particular field to the satisfaction of the examiners

Thesis/critical appraisal

• 7,500 - 15,000 words

Length of study

• Normally 1 year

Entry requirements

• Applicants should normally have had a very clear and demonstrable association with Oxford Brookes University (e.g. as a past student or member of staff, as an associate lecturer undertaking regular teaching at Brookes, or as a research collaborator with an established member of staff). The submission for examination comprises the published work on which the application is based, together with a supporting critical appraisal of this work.

LLM by Research

These research degrees allow students to critically investigate and evaluate an approved topic and combine the equivalent of up to one semester’s taught programme (focusing on research training) with a major research project. As with other research degrees, they are examined by thesis and viva.

Thesis

• 30,000 words

Length of study

• 1 year full time or 2 years part time

Entry requirements

• The minimum entry requirement for the degree of MA, MSc and LLM by Research is a lower second-class UK honours degree or equivalent qualification.

Why Oxford Brookes University?

• Research students in the Faculty will be allocated funding towards the costs associated with specific research activities during the research programme. MPhil/PhD students receive £700, LLM by Research students receive £350.
• Close supervision from experts in your chosen research area, including joint supervision across departments for interdisciplinary projects
• Plentiful opportunities to present your work. Depending on your chosen subject you may have the opportunity to attend:
  • Research seminars with presentations from high profile external guest speakers
  • Specialist seminars organised by individual research groups and clusters
  • Methodology workshops
• You will also be encouraged to submit publications to leading research journals.
• You may have the opportunity to develop your teaching, mentoring and demonstrating skills by undertaking paid teaching activities for up to six hours a week. You may also be required to attend the Associate Teachers course which is run by the University’s Oxford Centre for Academic Enhancement and Development.

After you graduate

Career prospects

We are passionate about fostering the careers of our researchers and ensure that they gain research skills training, leadership experience and teaching practice as part of the doctoral programmes we offer.

Bespoke careers advice is also embedded into our programme as we think this is a key element of your personal and professional development during your time with us.

Upon completing their PhD, our graduates venture into diverse career paths, including lecturing and teaching roles, policy advisers for international organisations, barristers and solicitors.

How to apply

Entry requirements

Please see the specific entry requirement details in the degree routes section above.

If you choose to study full-time you must be able to devote a minimum of 35 hours per week over a 44-week year to your research. You should not undertake more than 20 hours per week paid employment or other commitments (including a maximum of six hours per week teaching, demonstrating, or other paid work directly related to your research training).

If you choose to study part-time you must be able to devote a minimum of 15 hours per week over a 44-week year to the programme of research.

You must also meet our residence requirements.

English language requirements

Applicants whose main language is not English must meet the Faculty’s English language requirements. The minimum IELTS score required for entry to the research degree programme is 6.5–7 overall.

In addition, we require a minimum of 6.5 in each component of the test. We do not accept IELTS certificates that are over two years old.

The Faculty reserves the right to decline an application from a candidate who wishes to conduct part of their work outside of the UK if there are concerns over supervision, attendance or the separation of the student from the research environment.

Application process

It is essential that you first check whether your specific research interests can be adequately supervised before submitting a full application. To do this please email the Research Administrator your provisional research proposal. This should be 1500–2000 words in length and should include a title and a summary of the proposed subject area.

There is no specific format for research proposals but the following areas are usually covered:

• Introduction
• Evidence of background reading and knowledge/previous experience of research area
• Details of research methods proposed to carry out the project
• The aims of the research project and any proposed hypotheses/outcomes
• Literature review
• How your research project will make an original and independent contribution to knowledge

If your area of research can potentially be supervised you will be encouraged to submit a full application via our online application system.

The Research Administrator will acknowledge receipt of your application by email. We strive to make a decision within one month of receiving your application. Please note, however, decisions may take longer during busier periods of the academic year.

Supporting documents

Please read through the list of supporting documentation that must be uploaded along with your application or emailed separately.

Tuition fees

2025 / 26

• Home (UK) full time: £5,106
• Home (UK) part time: £2,553
• International full time: £17,750
• International part time: £8,875

2026 / 27

• Home (UK) full time: Fees to be confirmed in Spring 2026
• Home (UK) part time: Fees to be confirmed in Spring 2026
• International full time: £18,300
• International part time: £9,150

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.

For International fees the following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.

Home fees are set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and are released approximately five months before the start of each academic year.

If you have any questions about fees, get in touch with the Research Degrees Team at .

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

• For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
• For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Compulsory costs

• Continuation fee: The continuation fee, where it is payable is compulsory, but not applicable to Masters by research or PhD by Published Work, detailed as follows:
  • All MPhil/PhD full-time students are required to pay the full-time fee for three complete academic years before they are eligible to pay the continuation fee;
  • All MPhil/PhD part-time students are required to pay the part-time fee for six complete academic years before they are eligible to pay the continuation fee.
  • All PhD Direct full-time students are required to pay the full-time fee for two complete academic years before they are eligible to pay the continuation fee;
  • All PhD Direct part-time students are required to pay the part-time fee for three complete academic years before they are eligible to pay the continuation fee.

Optional costs

• It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required. Please note that a lot of the coursework is now submitted online. From £30
• You may choose to purchase books to support your studies. Many books on our reading lists are available via the Library, or can be purchased secondhand. £20-60 per book
• Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills) £94-265 per week
• Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs) £122-180 per week
• Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41. Typically £0-200
• Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes. For the 2025/26 academic year, the University is introducing an alternative subsidised travel offer for all students with further information on our Travel webpages. From £10
• Resubmission fees: If following viva, examiners recommend that a student is required to revise and resubmit their thesis for re-examination, they must pay the resubmission fee for the duration of that period. £1455

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

Postgraduate doctoral loans for home students

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course