Program Overview

Doctor of Philosophy in Laws (Ph.D.)

This program is designed for students who wish to become legal researchers as well as those who desire to make use of the results of technical research in their work, including lawyers, business legal staff, and civil servants. It provides students with the training, skills, and methodology needed to conduct research in law.

Academic Requirements

• Ph.D. students are required to complete their degree within 7 years.
• A: Dissertation Supervisor Application Requirements
  • Students should submit their choice of dissertation supervisor and the topic of the dissertation to the office before the end of the second month in the second academic year.
  • Students can only apply for the degree examination at least one year after they have actually submitted the dissertation supervisor.
  • The supervisors should be professors of our college, and the topic of the dissertation should be the supervisor’s specialized or related area.
  • Students who wish to engage adjunct professors as the dissertation supervisor should at the same time engage full-time professors to joint instruct as well.

Credits Requirements

• Students are required to obtain at least 18 credits towards their graduation.
• The credits can only be obtained from courses with M code (for graduate students), or U code (shared by graduate students and senior undergraduates).
• Credits from courses offered by other colleges can be accepted with a maximum of 4 credits, and must be approved by the supervisor and closely related to the content of the dissertation proposed.
• "U courses" can only be recognized up to 6 credits.

Academic Subject Examination

• Application deadline: before the mid-term week of every semester.
• Students should attach an application form and a transcript of academic records.
• Dissertation supervisor should assign two LL.M. degree courses given by our college as examination subjects.

Ph.D. Candidacy

• At least one semester before the application of oral defense, students must apply to be doctoral candidates by submitting the following documents:
  • Transcript of academic records (with the required 18 credits finished)
  • Copy of supervisor application form
  • Certification of passing the academic subject exam
  • List of published essays and copies of them
  • Certification of attendance at dissertation seminar in our college
  • Certification of attendance of at least 10 academic activities held by our college
  • Evaluation of the applicant’s plan on dissertation by the supervisor

Dissertation Proposal

• Students should submit their dissertation proposal for a review at the semester before the oral defense.
• The following documents should be attached while applying for the review:
  • Certification of at least 2 essays published in a journal with peer review
  • Certification of substantial assistance in teaching or academic research
• After our office receives the proposal, the dissertation supervisor shall invite two faculty members—one faculty member in our college and one non-NTU-affiliated faculty member—with complementary and relevant expertise to form a Steering Committee and review the dissertation proposal.

Submission of Dissertation Draft

• Before the semester that students plan to graduate, Ph.D. candidates must select “Dissertation (Ph.D.)” in the NTU Course selection system.
• Students are required to study for at least four semesters in order to receive a doctoral degree, which means the oral defense can only take place after the fourth semester of the study.
• Dissertations written in a foreign language would be accepted, subject to the approval of the Course Committee.
• An abstract written in Chinese should be submitted together with the dissertation on the oral defense if the dissertation is written in a foreign language.

Seminar and Oral Defense of Dissertation

• Application deadline:
  • Fall semester: November 30
  • Spring semester: April 30
• Before the oral defense, the Ph.D. candidate must host a dissertation seminar, in which the dissertation is discussed and given advice openly.
• The minutes of the seminar will be a requirement of graduation.
• Deadline:
  • Fall semester: December 15
  • Spring semester: May 15
• Students should announce the dissertation seminar 2 weeks before the seminar takes place, and must submit the minutes and the QA record of their seminar afterwards.

Nomination of Oral Defense Committee

• Ph.D. candidates must discuss the composition of the Oral Defense Committee with the supervisors.
• The nomination list must be submitted to office and will be examined by our college.
• Deadline:
  • Fall semester: December 15
  • Spring semester: May 15
• The committee has to be composed of five to seven examiners, including the dissertation supervisor.

Oral Defense of Dissertation

• Deadline:
  • Fall semester: January 31
  • Spring semester: July 31
• Please have the Invitation stamped by the office, take the Official Letter of Appointment, and hand them to the Oral Defense Committee together with the oral defense version thesis two weeks before the oral defense.
• On the day of the oral defense, please arrange one person to collect the receipt, the payment for the Committee, the transcript, and the dissertation revision confirmation form from the office.

Revocation of the Oral Defense

• If the defense cannot be held within the regulated time, please revoke the defense.
• Deadline:
  • Fall semester: January 31
  • Spring semester: July 31
• Please note that the student has to pass the oral defense within two attempts, or he/she will be disqualified from pursuing the degree.

After the Oral Defense of Dissertation

• Graduation Procedures
  • Students who successfully passed the oral defense should complete the following graduation procedures before the designated date:
    • Upload the dissertation to the library website
    • Hand in three copies in print (1 hardcover and 2 paperbacks) to the library
    • Return the keys of research chamber and dorm
  • After all the procedures are done, students could take the certificate of degree from the Office of Academic Affairs.
• Graduation Postponement Application
  • Students who passed the oral defense but wish not to graduate in the semester should complete the application form, have it signed by the supervisor, and hand it to the office.
  • Deadline:
    • Fall semester: January 31
    • Spring semester: July 31
  • Please note that in the expected graduation semester, students should visit “Online Application System for the Oral Thesis/ Dissertation Defense” again, and click “Application Form for those who passed the thesis/dissertation defense” to apply for starting the graduation procedures.