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PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy
University of Oxford
Full Time
SEP-25
3 years
Select a course option
PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy
University of Oxford
Full Time
SEP-25
3 years
PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy
University of Oxford
Part Time
SEP-25
6 years
Select a an exam type
About the course
The Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree entails the carrying out of a research project and writing a thesis of between 75,000 and 100,000 words.
The thesis must make a significant and substantial contribution to the field of socio-legal studies. You will be expected to develop a topic that contributes to an understanding of law in society, drawing on empirical data, to a greater or lesser degree, and adopting theoretical and analytic perspectives from any social science discipline, or a combination of disciplinary perspectives.
During the first year you will attend weekly seminars convened by members of staff at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) on ‘Theory and Methods in Socio-Legal Research’. Part-time students will be able to tailor their study and methods training in liaison with their supervisor, and may attend the seminars over a two-year period. The seminars are intended to develop an appreciation of law as a social phenomenon, to introduce various theoretical perspectives and to consider the variety of practical empirical techniques by which research questions may be addressed.
Assessment
As a DPhil student you will in the first instance be admitted to Probationer Research Student (PRS) status. In your third term (sixth term for the part-time students), you can apply for transfer from probationary status to full DPhil status by taking a qualifying test (QT) which is assessed by two examiners. This requires you to submit a well-developed research outline plus a substantial piece of written work. A similar exercise then takes place in your sixth term, or later (twelfth term for the part-time pathway), when you report on your progress and submit a substantial part of the proposed thesis for a further assessment, which leads to a confirmation of DPhil status.
Graduate destinations
DPhil students pursue a range of career paths after completion of the doctorate. Many take up academic posts, or pursue postdoctoral research. Some enter legal practice and others develop careers in consultancies, government, regulatory agencies, non-governmental organisations and private companies.
As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the equivalent of the following UK qualifications or their equivalent: a first-class or strong upper second class undergraduate degree (average mark of 65% or above) with honours in law, or in any other social science discipline including sociology, anthropology, politics, and economics, or in a relevant humanities discipline. Equivalent qualifications may include a postgraduate diploma or a master’s degree. Most students admitted to the programme have a previous master's qualification but this is not a formal requirement. For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.
Students living in
Domestic
£10,290 per year
Students from Domestic
This is the fee you pay if the University is in the same country that you live in (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
£29,350 per year
Students from EU
The amount you'll pay if you come to study here from somewhere in the EU.
£29,350 per year
Students from International
The amount you'll pay if you come to study here from a country outside the EU.
