Durham Law School | Master of Jurisprudence (MJur) Law

Master of Jurisprudence (MJur) at Durham University

[email protected]

Durham Law School's Master of Jurisprudence (MJur) postgraduate degree is a research-based programme of study centred on completing a thesis of up to 50,000 words on an approved subject in the field of Law. The MJur is a great option for students that would like to pursue a specific area of Law in greater detail without undertaking the longer degree of a Doctor of Philosophy. Former Durham MJur students have gone on to successful careers in academia and the legal profession, whether as Solicitors or Barristers.

Most MJur projects range between 20,000 and 40,000 words. The programme is one-year in length and students are normally expected to be resident in Durham. Part-time study over two-years is available. MJur students are supported in the same way as PhD students with a dedicated supervisory team and full access to the research facilities and opportunities that Durham Law School offers.

Durham Law School graduates are highly sought after by leading national and international law firms. To promote career opportunities, these law firms regularly visit Durham University or offer online events exclusively for Durham students.

Durham Law School offers students online access to a comprehensive Employability Handbook that includes detailed timelines on the steps involved from starting as a first-year Law undergraduate to becoming a Solicitor or Barrister, and guidance on preparing for interviews and assessment days.

Students have access to the Durham University Careers & Enterprise Centre which supports students in developing their career planning and employability skills.  It is a free service and is available to students throughout the duration of their academic studies.

The Durham University Law Society, supported by Durham Law School, organises the Peer Mentorship Scheme. This Scheme provides students who take up that option with a student mentor in another year who can offer support and advice in relation to all of the opportunities available at Durham Law School, including societies and module choices.  This opportunity is available to first year Law undergraduates who will have the opportunity to be connected with a peer mentor who is a year two or year three law undergraduate.

In addition, the Durham University Law Society runs a mentoring scheme which connects second and third year law school students with Durham alumni who can offer support and advice in connection with career and other development.

Durham Law School's academic staff produce world-leading research creating significant legal impact. The School's scholars advise parliamentarians and policy-makers around the world, called to give evidence in Parliament, and have their research cited and quoted by the courts and international bodies.

Durham Law School is proud of its dynamic, diverse and high-achieving community of postgraduate researchers. We currently have over 70 excellent research students - from around the UK, mainland Europe and all corners of the globe - carrying out work under the supervision of our academic staff, many of whom are global leaders in their field.

Research students are integrated fully into the life of the Law School. All research students become a member of at least one research centre or group. These groups include the Human Rights Centre, Durham European Law Institute, Law & Global Justice and Gender & Law at Durham. A full list of our centres and groups are available online. Research students participate fully in the research events of these centres and groups, and opportunities exist for them to play an active role in their organisation by becoming Deputy Conveners.

To facilitate our students’ engagement with external activities and conferences while studying at Durham University, the School provides a competitive postgraduate funding scheme, which in the past year provided £16k to support research students in attending research events in the UK, France, the US, Switzerland, Ireland, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Turkiye and Nigeria.

In addition to the formal supervision process, our research students have opportunities for intellectual stimulation and development through the Law School’s and University Graduate School’s Training Programmes. These offer insights into research methods, qualitative and quantitative databases and time management. The courses also help students manage their research projects, plan their future careers and provide an excellent opportunity to meet students from across the many subject disciplines studied at Durham University.

Durham University: Inspiring the Extraordinary

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world.

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other!