Program Overview

Program Overview

The Doctorate in Law at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra is characterized by offering an interdisciplinary training in the field of legal sciences, with the objective of elaborating and defending a doctoral thesis. The program has obtained a mention of excellence (2011), is adapted to Royal Decree 99/2011, within the framework of the UPF's Doctoral School, and incorporates the baggage of more than three decades of training, with more than 255 doctoral theses directed by academics from the different research groups of the Department.

Program Details

• Duration: Four academic years. If, exceptionally, the doctoral thesis is to be carried out part-time, it must be requested from the Academic Commission of the Doctorate in Law.
• Calendar: From September to June
• Schedule: Seminars during the 1st trimester
• Language: Catalan, Spanish, and English
• Places: 30
• Organization and Contact: Department of Law

Presentation

The Doctorate in Law program of the UPF's Doctoral School, regulated by RD 99/2011, aims to provide interdisciplinary training in legal sciences, culminating in the elaboration and defense of a doctoral thesis. The program has been recognized for its excellence and is adapted to the European Higher Education Area framework.

Research Areas

• Dret administratiu (Administrative Law)
• Dret civil (Civil Law)
• Dret constitucional (Constitutional Law)
• Dret eclesiàstic de l'Estat (State Ecclesiastical Law)
• Dret financer i tributari (Financial and Tax Law)
• Història del dret (History of Law)
• Dret internacional privat (Private International Law)
• Dret internacional públic i relacions internacionals (Public International Law and International Relations)
• Dret mercantil (Commercial Law)
• Dret penal (Criminal Law)
• Dret processal (Procedural Law)
• Dret romà (Roman Law)
• Dret del treball i de la seguretat social (Labor Law and Social Security)
• Filosofia del dret (Philosophy of Law)

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the Doctorate in Law, candidates must:

• Hold an official university degree in a relevant field (or equivalent).
• Have completed a minimum of 60 ECTS credits in a master's program.
• Have a total of at least 300 ECTS credits.
• Alternatively, candidates may be admitted with:
  • A Spanish or equivalent university degree, having completed at least 300 ECTS credits and accredited a level 3 of the MECES.
  • A non-Spanish degree from the European Higher Education Area that accredits a level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework, provided it allows access to a doctorate in the country of issue.
  • A non-EHEA foreign degree equivalent to a Spanish master's degree, allowing access to a doctorate in the country of issue.
  • A doctoral degree.

Mandatory Documentation

• Photocopy of the official university degree.
• Photocopy of the official academic transcript.
• If the master's degree is completed:
  • Photocopy of the master's degree.
  • Photocopy of the official academic transcript of the master's degree.
• If the master's degree is not completed:
  • Declaration of being in a position to obtain the master's degree before the start of the doctoral program.
  • Photocopy of the provisional academic transcript of the master's degree.
• Research proposal.
• Academic recommendations or endorsements (two letters).
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Letter of support from a researcher in the Department of Law.
• National Identity Document or Passport.

Optional Documentation

• Accreditation of B2 level in English.
• Application for a predoctoral grant.

Master's Programs Preceding This Doctorate

• Master in Legal Sciences
• Master in Criminology and Penal Execution
• Master in European and Global Law