Research Focus
Comparative study of constitutional countries, government–parliament relations, constitutional principles, constitutional change, parliament and legislation, power structures, rights protection and institutional design. Suitable student backgrounds: law (especially constitutional and administrative law), political science (especially comparative politics), public administration, international relations, history and sociology, and other related social sciences.
Programme Structure and Funding
- Full-time 3 to 4 years. (36 to 48 months).
Tuition
Department tuition for law: £27,600 per year.
Entry Requirements
- Language requirements: the validity period of the following language scores is within 2 years.. IELTS overall 7.0 (at least 7.0 in Writing and at least 6.5 in Listening, Reading and Speaking). TOEFL-iBT: overall 100 (at least 25 in the written test and Listening, and 23 in Reading and Speaking). Trinity ISE: ISE III, all four components of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing must be passed.. Oxford ELLT: overall 8, with at least 8 in Writing and at least 7 in Listening, Reading and Speaking.. Applicants taught in English at undergraduate or master’s level may be exempt from the language requirement.
- Academic background. A relevant master’s degree with a minimum 2:1 degree.. GPA above 3.0.
Application Materials
. Degree transcripts. If the postgraduate degree has not yet been completed, interim transcripts should be provided.. Degree certificate equivalent to a 2:1 or higher degree certificate.. Two academic references. (Signed by the referee, dated and written within two years).. English language proficiency test report.. Research proposal of no more than 2,000 words.
Application Period
Entry date deadline (UK time) September 2025 entry application deadline 30 May 2025 January 2026 entry application deadline 30 September 2025 Applicants are advised to submit their applications before December.
September entry, application deadline 30 May; January entry of the following year, application deadline 30 September
Career Prospects
Solicitor in England and Wales
Entering large international law firms, top UK law firms or other small and medium-sized law firms.
Barrister
Mainly undertaking advocacy work in court, joining different chambers.
Banking
Working in risk control, compliance and in-house legal departments. 4. Consultancy firms: tax and legal advisory departments of, for example, the Big Four accounting firms (PwC, Deloitte, EY, KPMG). 5. Public sector and government organisations: policy-making and legal adviser roles in, for example, diplomatic services, ministries of justice and interior ministries. 6. International organisations: law-related positions at organisations such as the United Nations (UN), the World Bank and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). 7. Academia and education: continuing to pursue a degree, then devoting oneself to legal research and becoming a university lecturer or professor.
