Law - PhD (Canterbury)

Our research students benefit immensely from a vibrant research community, a supportive environment and many opportunities to engage critically with academic research and contemporary issues. They are immersed in a research culture which situates legal studies in its historical, political, social and economic context.
Kent Law School (KLS) is widely recognised as a world leader in critical and interdisciplinary scholarship including socio-legal studies, law and humanities, critical legal studies and feminist theory. The school's research was ranked 2nd in the UK in the Times Higher Education (THE) following the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2021).
You can study full-time or part-time and, in addition to the standard on campus research degree, we have also developed an external research route. External research degrees are designed for those who are in the process of establishing their careers as researchers or who need to study alongside other commitments. They are ideal for individuals who are looking for an opportunity to undertake a PhD but may not be in a position to relocate or take time out. International students wishing to undertake their entire programme from overseas will not require immigration sponsorship and should apply as an external research student, stating this clearly in the Reasons for Study section of the application form.
Whatever your mode of study, you will be part of an active, supportive and vibrant student community, with excellent dedicated postgraduate facilities, and benefit from cutting-edge legal training taking place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in person and online. You are usually allocated two supervisors, who give guidance about the nature of the research, the standard of work required, and about the relevant literature and sources that should be consulted. You meet with supervisors monthly, ensuring consistent and continuous support during the length of the degree.
We welcome applications for research degrees in a wide range of areas, this blog post helps offer an insight into the diverse aspects of the law our scholars choose to interrogate.
You should accompany your application with a proposal of up to ten pages including an outline of the research project you envisage, your research questions, your intended methodology, and an explanation of how your project will advance the existing scholarly literature on the topic. You are strongly advised to discuss your project with an appropriate member of staff or with the Director of Postgraduate Research prior to submitting your application. When preparing your proposal, you should read our 'Guide to writing a PhD or LLM by Research proposal.'
Kent Law School offers a limited number of scholarships to prospective PhD candidates.. Read more about scholarship opportunities in Kent Law School on our Postgraduate Funding page.