Doctor of Philosophy (Phd) - Law

The PhD in Law facilitates research across a wide range of areas represented by Essex Law School’s eight research clusters. These include human rights, law and technology, business law, socio-legal studies, public law, law and society, health law, and criminal justice. Essex Law School is also home to several interdisciplinary research centres, including the Human Rights Centre, the Essex Armed Conflict and Crisis Hub, and the Essex Transitional Justice Network. Its strong relationship with the Human Rights Centre has led to the development of further interdisciplinary clusters and initiatives, including the Essex Business and Human Rights Project, the Human Rights and Big Data Project, and the Human Rights and Environment Cluster. Research conducted within Essex Law School and the Human Rights Centre is cross-cutting and has a wide range of applications at national and international levels. Many staff members maintain strong working relationships with international organisations such as the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the World Health Organization. Staff members are also consulted by governments in the UK and overseas. Essex Law School maintains a tradition of conducting cutting-edge research with practical applications to challenges facing citizens, governments, businesses, and the international community. In addition to its PhD programmes, Essex Law School offers an MPhil in Law. This may be suitable for candidates interested in undertaking in-depth research over a shorter period than a PhD. Research graduates from Essex Law School have pursued a wide range of careers, including roles in international and intergovernmental organisations, governments worldwide, commerce and industry, non-governmental organisations, the legal profession, and the judiciary. The structure of the PhD programmes provides candidates with the opportunity to investigate a chosen topic in depth and develop a profound understanding of it. By communicating this understanding through a thesis or other means, candidates can generate new knowledge within a particular field. A clear structure, regular supervision, and defined milestones enable doctoral researchers to develop their work in a supportive environment. The PhD programmes do not include compulsory taught modules, although specific training is available to support each candidate’s research. All students undertake a training needs analysis to identify the most beneficial forms of training. This may include support in developing methodological, interviewing, and presentation skills. A research degree at Essex Law School enables candidates to develop advanced skills, enhance their professional development, and build new networks. It may also provide access to a wide range of career opportunities. Following the impact of the pandemic, changes were made to teaching and assessment arrangements to ensure that students could continue their studies safely and without interruption. These changes included blended delivery through face-to-face teaching, online provision, or a combination of both throughout the academic year. The teaching and assessment methods listed were approved for 2022 entry. Changes may be necessary if the external environment requires adaptations to course delivery, ensuring that students continue to receive the best possible education safely and seamlessly. Components are the blocks of study that make up a course. A component may contain a required module or a selection of modules from which students may choose.