PhD in Law
Kingston University
Key Information
Campus location
Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 - 6 years
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 16,200 / per year **
Application deadline
Request info *
Earliest start date
Request info
* there is no application deadline for postgraduate courses
** home full-time: TBC | international full-time: £16,200
Introduction
Why choose this course?
Whether you are planning a career as an academic within the education sector, or as a professional researcher within the public or private sectors, Kingston University's Law PhD will develop your research skills, help you make an original contribution to your chosen field of enquiry and enhance your professional credibility.
The Department of Law's expert academic team includes National Teaching Award winners and Fellows from the Higher Education Academy, as well as lecturing staff who combine teaching with legal practice.
You will research a topic of your choice in great depth. We particularly invite applications in the areas of:
- Gas and energy law
- Misuse of private information and breach of confidence
- AI embedded in transportation, communication and toys
- Indigenous and tribal peoples' rights
- IP law, particularly on trademarks or patents of biotechnological inventions
- Stress at work in tort
- Collective labour law
- Restorative justice
- Space law and cyber law
- The gig economy
- Natural law theory
- EU law
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- At Kingston University you will have access to an expert academic supervisory team, as well as training and teaching opportunities to help you develop your ideas and achieve your goals.
- You will have the support of the academic and postgraduate community; the high calibre of Kingston University's students and alumni provides excellent networking opportunities.
- Your PhD supervision will be highly specialised to your needs and interests. In addition, the course is delivered in a flexible format, so you can choose a full or part-time programme according to what suits you best.
Accreditation
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
The Department of Law is a recognised Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) outlet for research training for doctoral students.
This programme is recognised by the ESRC as fulfilling its requirements to provide a broad-based programme of research training for those studying at the doctoral level in the UK.
Admissions
Curriculum
What you will study
The programme is made up of individual supervision and as such can be extremely flexible to accommodate your needs.
As a PhD student within the Department of Law, you will be expected to attend the University's research training sessions and a series of in-house training seminars run by the Department. The latter takes the form of research 'masterclasses', where an experienced member of the Department leads a session intended to reflect on different aspects of conducting research in law. You are also invited to attend the Department of Law research seminars arranged for members of the academic staff.
There is also a series of sessions on the Philosophy of Enquiry and a series of sessions on the Conduct of Enquiry. These non-compulsory modules, held with other PhD students and run by various members of the faculty, will help prepare you for your independent studies and introduce you to the other students and staff in the department.
The Department of Law is small and very friendly and has a real community feel with other postgraduate students. There will be opportunities to engage with many members of staff beyond your supervisor.
Teaching experience
You will have the opportunity to teach undergraduates and undertake an ‘academic apprenticeship' to help you pursue a career in academia.
Presenting ongoing research
Once a year, all PhD students are given the opportunity to present to the faculty their PhD research. This ongoing engagement offers students and staff the chance to share and help each other develop their ideas.
Please note
Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.
Career Opportunities
After you graduate
Our research graduates are an important part of the research community at Kingston and remain part of our networks. You can also still access the Careers and Employability Service for up to two years after you graduate, and benefit from an Alumni library membership for just £60 per year.