What will I learn?

We welcome proposals for original research to inform the understanding of law and policy in doctrinal, applied, comparative or socio-legal contexts. The law group has diverse interests with specific, discipline-leading, strengths in intellectual property, cyberlaw, discrimination, human rights, family, legal theory, legal history, cultural heritage and environmental law. Our staff profiles and school research pages will provide further insight into how we could help match your ambition. You work on an advanced research project with a small supervisory team of academic experts under the direction of a Director of Studies. You are expected to fully engage with your personal skills development and to present your research in a range of scholarly contexts.Our themed research groups are: Health, Vulnerability and Inclusion Environment, Harm and Culture and, Global Instability and Society. This full time or part time doctoral programme is suitable for people who have a particular research question or topic in mind, and wish to explore this through independent study in order to produce an original contribution to the subject. If you aspire to a research career this is the most appropriate research degree to undertake.You will be guided by a small supervisory team of academic experts under the direction of a Director of Studies. You will be expected to fully engage with skills development and training and to present your research in a range of scholarly contexts.Full time: 2-4 years, Part time: 4-8 years

Which department am I in?

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

Study options

Full Time (2 Years)

Tuition fees

£19,315.00 (21,04,489) per year

This is a provisional fee yet to be approved

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

October 2027

Venue

Plymouth Campus

Drake Circus,

Plymouth,

Devon,

PL4 8AA, Southern England, United Kingdom

Full Time (2 Years)

Tuition fees

£19,315.00 (21,04,489) per year

This is a fixed fee

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

October 2026

Venue

Plymouth Campus

Drake Circus,

Plymouth,

Devon,

PL4 8AA, Southern England, United Kingdom

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Entry requirements

For international students

Applicants are expected to have completed a masters level qualification to a high standard (e.g. at 'merit' or 'distinction' level) as well as either a good 2:1 or first class honours undergraduate degree in an area of study appropriate to your project proposal. We are happy to consider equivalent qualifications (for instance, you may have studied different subjects at undergraduate and masters level but have worked in and/or developed an interest in your sector since then). We also accept exceptional undergraduate students (1st class) from a cognate discipline straight in to PhD where there is an associated excellent research proposal. If you do not already have a masters degree, you may be interested in one of our masters level research degrees – for instance, an MPhil degree or MSc. You will also need to provide evidence that you are ready to pursue the project you propose in your application. This will take the form of a research proposal.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.