The Doctorate in Law
The Law Department offers a four-year programme leading to the doctorate. For the general rules governing admission and the doctoral programme, go to the Academic Service webpages. In the first year, researchers in the doctoral programme follow a series of seminars and courses. Researchers who benefit from four years of a grant will have four years to present their PhD at the Institute and a fifth year during which the defence may take place.
The First-Year PhD Programme
The First-Year PhD Programme aims to provide our doctoral researchers with opportunities for intensive engagement with permanent and visiting faculty, in order to assist in the iterative development of their research design and enhance scholarly literacy. At the start of the academic year, there are two days of intensive orientation, including introductions to faculty and basic topics such as the researcher-supervisor relationship. In December, every First-year researcher will participate in a workshop with faculty and fellows to discuss the researcher's Research Question. In February, all researchers will present their February papers at the Peer Feedback Workshop, and will give and receive peer feedback on their papers
For more information about the First Year Programme, click here.
Courses and Seminars
Our courses and seminars seek to reflect the department’s commitment and profile: European and international in character, comparative in approach, and contextual in methods. These three dimensions are represented both in the general programme and within the individual seminars. They have, however, not been codified in a mandatory curriculum. Therefore, researchers enjoy freedom in planning their studies, subject to their supervisors' agreement. Researchers are expected to take an active role in all courses offered; course convenors expect that researchers have completed the required readings and participate actively in seminar discussions. Each professor will also specify additional requirements for the courses for which they are responsible. Although some short seminars and workshops may be offered, the third term is essentially dedicated to the writing of the thesis or a substantial paper relating to the doctoral project, on the basis of which admission to the next year is decided.
For seminars offered each year, see the description of each seminar in the Course Catalogue
Linguistic Diversity
The Law Department attaches particular importance to maintaining and encouraging linguistic diversity in all its activities. It therefore encourages both professors and researchers to use languages other than English whenever they can be used by all those concerned. The writing of theses in languages other than English continues to be encouraged wherever this is desired by the researcher and appropriate supervision is available.
Law Working Groups
The Law Department hosts several active Working Groups at the EUI.