Research Study at the School of Law

The School of Law at the University of Aberdeen is a strong and thriving research community that dates back to 1495, when Law was one of the original subjects taught at the founding of our university.

Now in its sixth century, our School of Law has a large body of students and staff members to bring many diverse voices and perspectives to our research and learning activities. We have staff and students from across the globe, we have a wide array of religions and faith present, and we invite applications and accept students with all kinds of identities and backgrounds.

If you are passionate about legal research, we encourage you to apply for our PhD or LLM by Research.

How to Apply for PhD in Law

We welcome research applications from candidates in any area of legal expertise of the Law School.

Here you will find a step-by-step guidance through the various phases of application process

Once you are ready, you can begin your online application here

Entry Requirements

You are expected to hold:

• A first or upper-second class Honours degree in law or a relevant discipline; or,
• A Master's degree in law or related subjects; or
• any international equivalent of the previous two

In the School of Law, we use the University’s ‘postgraduate higher’ standards for English proficiency, find more information here

How to Apply for LLM by Research

The LLM by Research is a master’s degree path that allows you to improve your research skills and conduct independent investigation on any legal topic of your choice. The main requirement is to write a dissertation of 40,000 words (maximum).

This LLM Program is offered on a full-time (12 months) and part-time basis (24 months). You can start the LLM by Research in September or January of each year.

Entry requirements

• A first or upper-second class Honours degree in law or a relevant discipline; or any international equivalent
• “Postgraduate Higher” English requirements

Our Research Expertise – Your Research Choices

The legal research at our School of Law is cutting-edge and first class. Our academics publish at all the top publishing houses, such as Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, and MIT Press. They also publish in a wide array of premier law journals across Africa, Australia, East Asia, Europe, and North America and they also publish in many different languages.

When you start your research at our School of Law, you are opening doors around the world to explore new and exciting legal ideas.

Research Centres

Our School of Law has developed five focal Research Centres:

• Centre for Commercial Law
• Centre for Constitutional and Public International Law
• Centre for Energy Law
• Centre for Private International Law
• Centre for Scots Law

Each of these Research Centres invites PhD students to join them as full members, so you can be engaged in our research from the very first day on campus.

Why Study With Us?

Why should you study with us? Because you are looking for the best chance to develop your full research potential.

The School of Law has a long history of creating great legal scholars. Our graduates go on to teach at globally leading universities.

But the real reason to study with us...

• Because we are ranked a Top 10 UK Law School by the Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
• Because you want more than just dissertation advising, you want rigorous training as a researcher and as a scholar.
• Because we have 60 academic experts waiting to help you with just as many different areas of expertise.
• Because we will support you with on-going training seminars for your whole PhD programme.
• Because you will have a great team of faculty advisers and pastoral support staff to make sure you don’t fall behind with your studies.
• Because you want the best chance to succeed, you want a small campus with a great faculty and history.

Whatever your reason to study with us we promise to support you all the way. Our PhD Programme office has multiple staff and faculty who can help you at every step of your PhD adventure.