Law research degrees
An overview of our postgraduate research in law and entry requirements for PhDs and other research degrees.
We have some of the top law academics in the UK working on world-leading research as part of the wider School of Social Sciences.
Our researchers have expertise across:
- Corporate and commercial law
- Criminal law and justice
- Environmental law
- Human rights
- Private international law
- Public international law
- Public law
- Scots law
Current research topics includes:
- Human Rights and Liberal Democracy
- Towards an International Law of Energy
- Domestic assaults and abuse: a comparison of two or more jurisdictions’ criminal procedures as they impact on the victims of domestic violence
- Developments and specific issues associated with corporate insolvency
- Environmental Accountability
- Subnational Constitutionalism
- The polluter pays principle in energy law
- Law and visuality
- Cultural legal studies
- Critical legal theory / critical legal studies
- Private international law
- Water services governance and regulation
Entry requirements
You should have an honours degree at 2.1 or above, and/or a Masters degree in a relevant discipline.
English language requirements
IELTS (overall) | Reading | Listening | Speaking | Writing |
6.5 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.5 |
We also accept other English language qualifications
You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you are a national of certain countries.
Don't meet the English language requirements?
English language programmes
Prepare for university study and benefit from extra English tuition with an English language programme.
Postgraduate research fees
Before you apply
Before applying please consult the following applicant checklist:
- Check the current staff research interests
- Prepare a research proposal (maximum length of 3,000 words), which must include the following:
- Bibliography
- The statement of a preliminary research question
- Hypothesis and argument
- How the research contributes to the existing literature
- Methodology
Your proposal should allow us to ensure that we have an appropriate supervisor and the library facilities to enable you to complete your study successfully. It will also demonstrate your own ability to produce a substantial and coherent outline for your work.
Apply for a research degree
You can apply for a PhD or other postgraduate research degree using our Direct Application System.
We have three start dates per academic year.
PhD Law (3 years)
- Apply to start in January 2024
- Apply to start in May 2024
- Apply to start in September 2024
- Apply to start in January 2025
- Apply to start in May 2025
PhD Law (part time)
- Apply to start in January 2024
- Apply to start in May 2024
- Apply to start in September 2024
- Apply to start in January 2025
- Apply to start in May 2025
PhD Law (4 years)
- Apply to start in January 2024
- Apply to start in May 2024
- Apply to start in September 2024
- Apply to start in January 2025
- Apply to start in May 2025
LLM by Research Law
- Apply to start in January 2024
- Apply to start in May 2024
- Apply to start in September 2024
- Apply to start in January 2025
- Apply to start in May 2025
Law (non-graduating) (research)
- Apply to start in January 2024
- Apply to start in May 2024
- Apply to start in September 2024
- Apply to start in January 2025
- Apply to start in May 2025
Social Sciences (non-graduating) (research)
- Apply to start in January 2024
- Apply to start in May 2024
- Apply to start in September 2024
- Apply to start in January 2025
- Apply to start in May 2025
The University of Dundee welcomes applications from disabled students.
Enquiries

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