Program Overview

Doctor of Juridical Science

The Doctor of Juridical Science is a structured programme that incorporates coursework and independent research. Individually tailored, it’ll help you achieve a PhD degree with maximum support.

Points and Duration

• The total number of points to gain this qualification and how long this is expected to take full-time: 360 points, 3 years

Locations

• The study locations where the qualification is offered: Hamilton, Tauranga, Online
  • Papers offered differ by location.

Area of Study

• This shows which Faculty or School you can study this qualification under:
  • School of Law, Politics and Philosophy
  • School of Graduate Research

Start Dates

• Which trimester this qualification can be started in: Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July)

Why study the Doctor of Juridical Science?

If you have an established professional or academic record, this degree may suit you. You'll achieve mastery of content, acquire skills and develop attributes appropriate to senior positions in academia, law and related professions.

The Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) is structured to ensure that you have optimal supervision to contribute to these outcomes. The University of Waikato has developed strong relationships and networks with national and international communities of researchers to ensure that this doctoral programme is relevant and responsive to your needs as well as to the needs of the profession.

Programme structure

Part 1

• Part 1 requires you to complete the Research Portfolio paper (LAWS995).
• You'll attend selected seminars and cohort meetings with your supervising academic staff.
• You'll have to produce two research papers of publishable quality demonstrating your expertise in an area of law of your choice.
• You'll also have to produce a research proposal at the level of a PhD proposal.
• Part 1 counts for 120 points and you must gain a pass grade in the Research Portfolio.
• You'll have 1 year to complete Part 1 if you study full-time (and 2 years if you study part-time).

Part 2

• For part 2, you'll complete a major thesis at the doctoral level of a maximum of 60,000 words.
• You'll be required to undertake approved and supervised research, and present the results lucidly in a thesis of publishable quality, which:
  • Critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance
  • Demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship
  • Displays intellectual independence, and
  • Makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area.
• Part 2 counts for 240 points.
• You'll have 3 years to complete Part 2 if you study full-time and at least 6 years if you are enrolled in part-time studies.

SJD Regulations

For more information, please read the Doctor of Juridical Science programme regulations.

Degree information

Entry Requirements

• To qualify to enrol in the Doctor of Juridical Science degree, you’ll be required to:
  • Hold a bachelor's degree with honours or a master's degree, and must have achieved first or second class honours (first division) or distinction, or
  • Hold a Master of Philosophy, or
  • Have passed qualifying papers at a satisfactory level.
• In exceptional circumstances, if you have produced other evidence signifying that you hold adequate skills and knowledge to proceed with the proposed research to the satisfaction of the Postgraduate Research Committee you may be permitted to enrol in the DJS programme.

Fees and scholarships

• Domestic students:
  • Estimated fees: $7,640 - $8,113 per year
  • Domestic tuition fees: Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
• Scholarships: Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.

Graduate study options

View our other graduate and postgraduate study options:

• Master of Laws
• Master of Laws in Māori/Pacific and Indigenous Peoples' Law
• Doctor of Philosophy
• Doctor of Laws
• Master of Philosophy

PhD research opportunities

Browse our available PhD or Doctoral opportunities, our research areas and potential supervisors.

Documents

• Law Postgraduate Handbook (PDF)

What our students are saying

• Waikato differs from other universities by having a large population of people who identify as Māori. This environment meant the move was an easy one for me.
• Waikato feels like home to me now – coming here was the best decision I’ve ever made for my academia.
• Te Piringa – Faculty of Law promotes the concept of ‘colleagues not competitors’ and I was drawn in by the individualised and ongoing support students receive from their lecturers, tutors, mentors and fellow students.
• What stood out for me was how well informed I felt before deciding on this university. Any information I needed was easily accessed, and there were always student advisers to answer my questions.
• Ask yourself, ‘what can I do to help our people?’ That’s where the passion will come from, and from there you will do well.