To apply for the LLM in Legal Research, LLM in History and Philosophy of Law, LLM by Research or PhD degrees offered by the Law School, please use the link on the relevant webpage of the programme for which you wish to apply. 

The minimum basic admission requirement for research degrees is an Upper Second Class honours degree (or better), or its international equivalent, in Law, Arts or Social Sciences. A masters degree is advantageous for PhD applicants, but not required.

PhD
It is in your interest to provide as much information as possible on the application form. When applying for a PhD, you must also attach a research proposal. Your research proposal should be no more than 1500 words and should include the following:

• a clear statement of your proposed research topic;
• the key research questions that you intend to address;
• the broader context of your research topic i.e. an indication of the relevant key sources in the field, both primary and secondary;
• where relevant, the approach or methodologies that you intend to apply.

If possible, please attach also one sample of your written work (for example, a relevant publication, academic essay, or dissertation).

LLM by Research
Students applying for the LLM by Research should summarise their intended field of research and should also attach a brief outline of their intended project following the general guidance above to the extent possible.

LLM in Legal Research
Students applying for the LLM in Legal Research do not need to attach a separate research proposal, but should summarise their intended field of research on the relevant section of the postgraduate application form.

LLM in History and Philosophy of Law
Students applying for the LLM in History and Philosophy of Law should submit:
-2 academic references
-Previous academic transcripts (with a certified translation if the original document is not in English)
-Evidence of English language proficiency if English is not your first language

Guidance on English language requirements

Once your completed application form has been received and processed, three outcomes are possible: 

1. You may be offered a place unconditionally
2. You may be offered a conditional place, which means that you must fulfil certain conditions that will be specified in the offer letter.  Where a conditional offer is made, it is your responsibility to inform the College Postgraduate Office when you have fulfilled the requirements set out. Candidates who do not fulfil the conditions specified, including our language requirements, cannot be admitted.
3. Your application may be rejected.  

Applications for the LLM in Legal Research and LLM in History and Philosophy of Law are considered from 1 October and accepted until 31 August each year.

We recommend, however, that you apply as early as possible; this is particularly important for students holding conditional offers (for example, you may need to allow sufficient time to take an English language test) and for overseas students who may need time to satisfy necessary visa requirements.
 
There is no application deadline for the LLM by Research.

PhD applications may also be made at any time of the year. We encourage our students to commence studies at the beginning of the new academic year in mid-September, where possible, so that they can take full advantage of our Doctoral Research Training Programme. This applies especially to applicants in the early stages of their research careers.

If you intend to apply for funding please note that your application for postgraduate study must be submitted prior to the scholarship closing date.

Click here for further information about tuition fees.

Click here for further information about scholarships.

We aim to provide office space and a desktop computer for our PhD and one-year research degree students. All research students are also able to draw upon the many other resources we have to offer, including library and computing facilities, seminar and lecture series, and research training seminars (see further below).

The University of Edinburgh library has one of the largest and most important collections in Britain. It has some two million items including the latest publications, key texts, and rare books. The Law School has its own library within Old College. It is well stocked in most important fields of law. The library of the Europa Institute, housed alongside the Law Library, is an outstanding European Documentation Centre. Within walking distance from the Law School is the National Library of Scotland which also possesses an important legal collection accessible to postgraduate students.

Postgraduate students have access to the extensive computing facilities provided by the Law School. The School maintains a number of computer labs, one of which is reserved for the exclusive use of postgraduate students. We are able to provide office space and a desktop computer for most of our research students. Wireless network access is available in many parts of the Law School including within the Law Library and Lecture Theatres. Postgraduate students have extensive access to online legal research facilities including electronic journals, LexisNexis and Westlaw. Additional computing facilities are available in the University's Main Library and via the University's Computing Services.

The School offers a dedicated Doctoral Research Training Programme for all of its PhD students. The key objectives of our programme are:

• to equip students with a high degree of research and transferable skills;
• to demonstrate progression in this vein across the three years of doctoral study;
• to facilitate a research culture both within and outwith the School in which our doctoral researchers are full and active participants.

The Programme offers structured legal research courses in the first year of study, alongside more specific training (e.g. in empirical methods) for students as needed, depending on their project requirements, and transferable skills (e.g. presentation skills). The focus of the second year is on supporting the external dissemination of work. In third year, all students participate in our Graduate Student Seminar Series.

All candidates, with the exception of candidates registered for recognised distance learning programmes, must remain in residence in Edinburgh throughout the period of study prescribed unless authorised leave of absence has been granted.

Residence in Edinburgh is taken to mean (a) residence in, or in the immediate environs of, the city, or (b) a candidate's proximity to Edinburgh so as readily to allow face-to-face supervision and study as directed by the supervisor.

PhD and MPhil candidates, with the written approval of the Head of School, may be absent In order to carry out fieldwork and necessary academic research for periods not exceeding 15 months in total. Such periods of absence may not fall in the first three months of study, and all candidates must be resident in Edinburgh for at least nine months of their prescribed period of study distributed throughout the prescribed period as directed by the candidate's supervisor so that regular and frequent contact is maintained.

Part-time PhD and MPhil candidates who are not resident in or near Edinburgh may be registered on the basis that (a) they spend an initial period at the University of not less than three months; (b) they spend a total period of not less than nine months at the University over the period of study; (c) there is a maximum period of nine months between visits to the University for supervision; (d) there is demonstrable evidence of suitable facilities where they are normally resident and/or employed; and (e) there are appropriate reliable means of communication through which the candidate can maintain regular and frequent contact with his/her Edinburgh supervisor(s).

In exceptional circumstances, and when strongly supported by a particular School, the College may reduce the residence requirements for part-time candidates for the PhD degree to a total period of not less than two months provided that certain conditions specified in the Degree Regulations are met. This normally applies only in the case of experienced researchers wishing now to undertake doctoral work at the Law School while remaining at their e.g. university of employment.

The University is well provided with some excellent postgraduate accommodation. In addition there is no shortage of privately rented accommodation in Edinburgh.

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