School of Law

Prospective Students

Legal Research at Queen's
Legal research at Queen’s has international, national and local dimensions. Though Northern Ireland has its own separate legal system and a unique relationship with the Westminster Parliament, the close similarities between much of the law of Northern Ireland and that of England and Wales make it possible to carry out research which simultaneously serves both local needs and, very importantly, contributes to national scholarship.  With the recent striking globalisation and Europeanisation of Law,  it is no longer possible to carry out research work which ignores the wider international context of law.  Therefore, at Queen’s we fully encourage and support the student who is interested in the international jurisdiction, or the international legal problem. We are keen to hear from potential students who are interested in studying either on one of our taught postgraduate courses or by research degree. Note that a good first degree in law is usually required for entry to this programme, though relevant legal experience may be considered.

Research-based study
Students may also enrol for the PhD and MPhil degrees which are awarded on the basis of original research work. The student will study, write a thesis and then be orally examined on this by a respected academic in the field who teaches and researches at different university. Usually PhD students are enrolled as "undifferentiated" (that is, for both PhD and MPhil) and after one year, a joint decision is made about whether the student will terminate with an MPhil or carry through to a PhD. There are no length limits to the dissertation but an MPhil thesis is usually around 50,000 words and a PhD around 80,000 words. An MPhil is "normally submitted" within 2 years (4 years for part-time) and a PhD within 3 years (6 years part-time), though - in truth - it usually takes slightly longer to complete the latter.

To qualify for a PhD the student's thesis "must make a distinct and original contribution to scholarship and afford evidence of originality as shown by the discovery of new facts or by the exercise of independent critical powers. It must contain an acceptable amount of original work by the candidate which is of publishable standard". To qualify for an MPhil the student must "demonstrate that he or she has acquired an advanced level of knowledge and understanding in the field of study and an understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field, is capable of relating knowledge of particular topics to the broader field of study involved and of presenting such knowledge in a critical and scholarly way".

The rewards from this research-based study are large: the confidence that comes from becoming an expert in a field, and the skills to carry out detailed research work in isolation. However, in order to achieve these rewards the path can be difficult: postgraduate study is often described as a lonely life, since the student effectively concentrates upon a small, esoteric field which is of little interest to their friends and family. Few, though, who have trodden this path regret having carried it through.

Applications for postgraduate study by research
In order to ensure that students are properly supervised, we are only prepared to accept applications in fields where there exists sufficient expertise in the Law School. That said, Queen's School of Law staff have a very wide range of legal specialisms.You should, in the first instance, consult the Staff  homepages to identify potential supervisors for your work. The best proposals are typically those developed in consultation with a member of staff and building on her or his existing research. When making contact with a member of staff, you might at first send him or her a very short synopsis (100-200 words) of your proposed research area.  On the basis of this short outline, we will be able to tell you whether we at the School have the sufficient expertise to supervise this topic, and whether a fuller application is worthwhile.

There is no closing date for study by research degree ( though if you wish to apply for funding, there are important closing dates for these awards (- see scholarships page) and you can start studies at any convenient time of the year. Study can be undertaken either part-time or full-time.

Current Research Students
The School of Law currently has a vibrant comminity of research postgraduate students undertaking research in a wide variety of legal fields.

Current Research Students