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Law and Criminology PhD at Edinburgh Law School University of Edinburgh in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Criminology
Funding
No programme-specific funding is provided. Students are expected to combine sources such as loans, family support, savings, employment, employer sponsorship and scholarships to cover tuition fees and living costs. Tuition fees are charged by award and duration. Estimated living costs in Edinburgh for 2026-2027 are £18,504 per year, or approximately £1,542 per month. University of Edinburgh graduates may receive a 10% tuition-fee discount. There is no application fee.
Deadline
May 31, 2027
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Edinburgh
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About this position
The University of Edinburgh invites applications to its Law PhD programme at Edinburgh Law School, located in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. The programme is designed for independent doctoral research in law, criminology and related socio-legal fields.
Students may study full-time for three years or part-time for six years, subject to visa restrictions and programme arrangements. Research culminates in a 100,000-word thesis that makes an original and significant contribution to knowledge and contains material suitable for publication. Students receive supervision from experts in their chosen field, legal and criminological research-methods training, transferable-skills development and opportunities to join a broad research community.
Potential research areas include company and commercial law, comparative law, constitutional and administrative law, criminal law, criminology and criminal justice, environmental law, European law and policy, evidence and procedure, family law, gender and sexuality, human rights law, information technology law, intellectual property, international law, labour law, legal theory, media law, medical law and ethics, obligations, property, trusts and successions, Roman law and legal history, socio-legal studies and tax law.
Applicants normally need a UK 2:1 honours degree in law, arts or social sciences, plus a relevant Master's degree with at least 60% in the taught component and at least 65% in the dissertation, or international equivalents. Applications from non-law graduates with relevant study and experience may be considered. Required materials may include a personal statement, research proposal, academic transcripts and certificates, two academic references, evidence of English proficiency and certified translations where applicable. IELTS Academic, TOEFL-iBT and other accepted qualifications must meet the published score thresholds.
The programme is not advertised as funded. Applicants should investigate scholarships and other funding sources for tuition and living costs. Estimated Edinburgh living costs for 2026-2027 are £18,504 per year. There is no application fee, and University of Edinburgh graduates may be eligible for a 10% tuition discount.
Application deadlines are 31 May 2027 for the 13 September 2027 start and 30 September 2027 for the 12 January 2028 start. Applications are reviewed in two stages, including academic assessment and, where appropriate, discussion with a potential supervisor.
Funding details
No programme-specific funding is provided. Students are expected to combine sources such as loans, family support, savings, employment, employer sponsorship and scholarships to cover tuition fees and living costs. Tuition fees are charged by award and duration. Estimated living costs in Edinburgh for 2026-2027 are £18,504 per year, or approximately £1,542 per month. University of Edinburgh graduates may receive a 10% tuition-fee discount. There is no application fee.
What's required
Applicants generally need a UK 2:1 honours degree in law, arts or social sciences, or an international equivalent, plus a UK Master's degree with at least 60% in the taught section and 65% or more in the dissertation, or equivalent qualifications. Applicants from non-law backgrounds with relevant study and experience may be considered. Applications should include a personal statement, relevant knowledge or training skills, and, where applicable, a research topic and published work. Supporting materials may include a research proposal, proposed supervisor name if known, research project details if applying to an advertised project, degree certificates and transcripts, two signed and dated academic references on institutional letterhead, evidence of English proficiency, and certified translations where required. English requirements include accepted tests such as IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in other components, or specified equivalent qualifications.
How to apply
Apply online to the University of Edinburgh Law PhD programme, selecting the award, duration, delivery mode and intended start date. Submit the personal statement, research proposal and supporting documents, including two academic references and English-language evidence. For the September 2027 start, apply by 31 May 2027; for the January 2028 start, apply by 30 September 2027.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.