PhD in Laws PHD Program By The Chinese University of Hong Kong - Faculty of Law |Top Universities
Subject Ranking

# 51-100QS Subject Rankings

Program Duration

36 monthsProgram duration

Tuitionfee

5,368 USDTuition Fee/year

Scholarship

YesScholarships

Program overview

Main Subject

Law and Legal Studies

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

The PhD in Laws is the most advanced degree awarded by the University. Students are required to conduct extensive research and write a thesis of publishable quality making an original contribution to knowledge, under the guidance of a member of CUHK LAW. Only a limited number of places are available each year and placement is highly competitive.

In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, applicants must:

  • possess a Juris Doctor (JD) degree or a Master of Laws (LLM) degree awarded by a recognized university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above; or
  • possess an equivalent degree (including non-law related) awarded by a recognized tertiary educational institution.

Program overview

Main Subject

Law and Legal Studies

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

The PhD in Laws is the most advanced degree awarded by the University. Students are required to conduct extensive research and write a thesis of publishable quality making an original contribution to knowledge, under the guidance of a member of CUHK LAW. Only a limited number of places are available each year and placement is highly competitive.

In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, applicants must:

  • possess a Juris Doctor (JD) degree or a Master of Laws (LLM) degree awarded by a recognized university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above; or
  • possess an equivalent degree (including non-law related) awarded by a recognized tertiary educational institution.

Admission requirements

3+
95+
7+

In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, applicants must:

  • possess a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree with First Class Honours or Upper Second Class Honours awarded by a recognized university; or
  • possess a Juris Doctor (JD) degree or a Master of Laws (LLM) degree awarded by a recognized university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above; or
  • possess an equivalent degree (including non-law related) awarded by a recognized tertiary educational institution.
Applicants must satisfy the English Language Proficiency Requirement by:

  • possessing a Bachelor’s degree awarded by a recognized university in Hong Kong or an English-speaking country, or taught primarily in the English Language; or
  • achieving a result of Band 7.0 or better in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). IELTS test results must be obtained not more than two years prior to the date of applying for admission to the MPhil Programme; or
  • achieving at least a score of 587 (Paper Based Test) or 95 (Internet Based Test) in the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL). TOEFL test results must be obtained not more than two years prior to the date of applying for admission to the MPhil Programme; or
  • providing alternative evidence of English Proficiency equivalent to one of the preceding measures.
All applicants are required to submit as part of their application an MPhil research plan not exceeding 3,000 words. The research plan should address the following: title of the research, research objectives, major problems to be explored, outline of subject-matter content of the proposal, literature review, research methodologies, and expected contribution of the resulting thesis to knowledge in the field of law. The proposal should include relevant bibliographical references. Applicants should also submit a personal statement not exceeding 1,500 words and a brief curriculum vitae.

3 Years
Sep
  • Candidates are required to submit references or letter(s) of recommendation for acceptance
  • Candidates are required to submit an essay(s) for acceptance

Tuition fee and scholarships

Domestic Students

5,368 USD
-

International Students

5,368 USD
-

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:
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Where to look for scholarship opportunities

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More programs from the university

The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme in the Faculty of Law provides a comprehensive legal education that reflects Hong Kong’s unique position as a common law jurisdiction within the broader Chinese context. Truly international in character, our LLB students benefit from the rich expertise of our diverse Faculty with professors drawn from close to twenty jurisdictions spanning Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan and other parts of Asia.

The Faculty of Law is located in the Lee Shau Kee Building, a purpose-built teaching and research facility located in the University’s scenic campus in Shatin, New Territories. The Lee Shau Kee Building features a state of the art moot court, a legal resources centre, lecture theatres, classrooms and breakout rooms, all equipped with excellent information technology systems to support the learning activities of LLB students. Our students also benefit from the Lee Quo Wei Law Library’s extensive collection of legal resources.

CUHK Law students are among the best and the brightest in Hong Kong. Entry to the LLB programme is highly competitive – each year we receive close to 1,500 applications for approximately 80 possible places. Our students have won top prizes in international mooting competitions, graduate scholarships to pursue further research at leading international universities, and training contracts with top international and local law firms.

We expect CUHK Law students to develop not only academic skills and specialised knowledge, but also a strong sense of ethics and responsibility to contribute to the community. CUHK Law students are encouraged to participate in academic exchange and experiential learning opportunities including clinical and pro bono law courses. In addition to their legal studies, students are also encouraged to participate in a wide-range of extracurricular activities including volunteering with social or charitable organisations in Hong Kong.

CUHK Law students have a well-deserved reputation within the Hong Kong legal community for excellence, dedication, and high achievement. We invite you to apply to Hong Kong’s most dynamic and innovative undergraduate law programme.


The Faculty of Law at The Chinese University of Hong Kong offers a range of tailored postgraduate law courses, each designed to equip our students with the requisite analytical skills and specialised knowledge to enter legal practice or pursue further research.

Our Juris Doctor (JD) is a versatile postgraduate programme, which gives students an intellectually enriching foundational education in law that also lets them study a wide range of challenging elective courses in the common law, Chinese law, comparative law, international law, and the law of trade, business and finance. The Faculty of Law encourages its JD students to look behind the contemporary rules of law to the values, purposes and policies underlying them. The JD Programme has already established itself as a leader in professional legal education in Hong Kong and the East Asian region.

The CUHK award-winning Master of Laws (LLM) Programmes provides students with an ideal platform to develop advanced legal knowledge and skills in one of three specialised subject areas: Chinese business law, common law, or international economic law. Combing academic rigour and practical relevance, the LLM Programmes aim to train legal professionals to bring value to their clients, and to provide innovative and creative solutions in the planning, structuring and execution of transactions in an increasing globalised world. The LLM Programmes are clearly recognised internationally as leaders in the field.

The CUHK Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Laws Programme offers the opportunity to pursue the most advanced research degree in law, while providing generous financial support. Our doctoral students spend three to four years researching and writing on a broad range of issues they select -- from comparative analysis of laws on children’s rights within the family to renewable energy, the WTO and China. With the guidance of up to two supervisors, doctoral students are closely supported throughout their research journey. The Faculty also offers a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Laws for students who want to pursue advanced research, so as to become expert in an area of law or on a complex topic that can help open doors to similar career opportunities.

Our vocational course, CUHK’s Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) Programme, was designed in close consultation with the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Bar Association of Hong Kong to address the needs of today’s profession. On our PCLL, amongst other things, you will draft litigation and commercial documents, write opinions and advices, engage in advocacy and practise the skills of alternative dispute resolution. At every stage you will be engaged in classroom settings which emphasise interaction and participation. A clear measure of the success of our PCLL Programme is that our students are eagerly sought by the profession as evidenced by our nearly-perfect placement success.

PHD programs 28941