PhD Law
You can study full-time or part-time and, in addition to the standard on campus research degree, we have also developed an external research route. External research degrees are designed for those who are in the process of establishing their careers as researchers or who need to study alongside other commitments. They are ideal for individuals who are looking for an opportunity to undertake a PhD but may not be in a position to relocate or take time out. International students wishing to undertake their entire programme from overseas will not require immigration sponsorship and should apply as an external research student, stating this clearly in the Reasons for Study section of the application form.
Whatever your mode of study, you will be part of an active, supportive and vibrant student community, with excellent dedicated postgraduate facilities, and benefit from cutting-edge legal training taking place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in person and online. You are usually allocated two supervisors, who give guidance about the nature of the research, the standard of work required, and about the relevant literature and sources that should be consulted. You meet with supervisors monthly, ensuring consistent and continuous support during the length of the degree.
We welcome applications for research degrees in a wide range of areas, this blog post helps offer an insight into the diverse aspects of the law our scholars choose to interrogate.
You should accompany your application with a proposal of up to ten pages including an outline of the research project you envisage, your research questions, your intended methodology, and an explanation of how your project will advance the existing scholarly literature on the topic. You are strongly advised to discuss your project with an appropriate member of staff or with the Director of Postgraduate Research prior to submitting your application. When preparing your proposal, you should read our 'Guide to writing a PhD or LLM by Research proposal.'
Kent Law School offers a limited number of scholarships to prospective PhD candidates.. Read more about scholarship opportunities in Kent Law School on our Postgraduate Funding page.
Campus Information
Canterbury
Our campus is surrounded by beautiful woodlands and overlooks the charming city of Canterbury. We have excellent transport links on campus or you can stroll into town on foot.
Intakes
- Jan
- May
- Sep
Application Processing Time in Days: 30
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
In these appointments, you will have up to 45 minutes to talk to a careers adviser about whatever career-related topic is important to you. Topics of conversation could include:
- I have no idea what I want to do after I graduate, what are my options?
- What jobs can I get with my degree?
- How do my skills fit in the labour market?
- I’m interested in taking a gap year after I graduate and I want to plan something employers will value.
- I’m thinking of leaving/changing my course and want to talk through the pros and cons.
- I’m interested in doing a masters or PhD, what are my options?
- I’m not sure how to disclose sensitive information to an employer.
A guidance interview is:
Impartial
A careers adviser will not recommend one route to you over another. They are there to help you explore the options objectively.
Challenging
Careers advisers may question your goals and help you to look at the disadvantages as well as the advantages. This is not to put you off, but to help ensure you have thought it through.
Supportive
The meetings are very informal and relaxed. Careers advisers are there to help you discuss things in a safe environment.
Part of a process
Career choice is a process not an event. A guidance interview is a good starting point but you will need to do further research and continuously update your action plan.
PSW Opportunity
- 2 Years PSW is applicable after completing a minimum duration of 9 months course (like- Undergraduate, Postgraduate Level)
- 3 Years PSW is applicable after completing PhD level courses.?
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
For entry to a Kent postgraduate degree programme (Master’s), Indian students typically need to have completed a three or four-year undergraduate degree (Honours Bachelor degree or Professional degree) at an accredited university or college. General Bachelor degrees may sometimes be considered. Exact requirements will depend on the postgraduate degree you are applying for and the institution you have studied at.
For programmes that require a 2:1 we usually ask for a First Class degree, a final CGPA of 6.0/10, or 60%. Students from top institutions may be considered with a high Second Class degree, a final CGPA of 5.5/10, or 55%.
For programmes that require a 2:2 we usually ask for a high Second Class degree, a final CGPA of 5.5/10, or 55%
Some, but not all, postgraduate programmes require your undergraduate degree to have a related major. Some postgraduate programmes may require work experience in a relevant field or at a certain level.
General postgraduate programmes
IELTS (including IELTS Indicator)
6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in R&W; 5.5 in S&L)
PTE Academic
62 overall with 60 in each subtest
CAE/CPE
176 overall (with a minimum of 169 in R&W; 162 in S&L)
TOEFL iBT
90 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R; 21 in W; 17 in L; 20 in S)
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Doctoral Degree/PhD
- Duration: 04 Year
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Total Tuition Fee:
74400 GBP
Average Cost of Living: 13632 GBP /year
Application Fee: N/A