Law - Research

Coming to UCD Law School creates the possibility of expert supervision by leading researchers in a wide variety of fields. We have the largest group of academic lawyers in Ireland and leading researchers of high international standing across many of the main fields of law including European Union law, commercial law, criminology, criminal justice and criminal law, regulatory studies, constitutional law and governance, human rights, administrative law, employment law, environmental law, intellectual property law, WTO law, legal history, agricultural law and private law.



The aims of the PhD programmes offered by the School of Law in UCD are:



that candidates will conceive, design and give effect to a substantial and innovative piece of research which will expand the frontiers of knowledge. This is done by developing of a substantial body of work (leading to publication of a monograph or a series of academic articles);



that candidates will be able to evaluate and synthesise new and complex ideas;



that candidates will become effective communicators orally and through writing;



that candidates will demonstrate knowledge and understanding in their chosen field of legal study. They will develop advanced conceptual frameworks and provide systemic understanding of the problems they identify;



and



that candidates will be able to promote intellectual, social and cultural advancement in a knowledge-based society.



The doctoral programme in law is a structured programme. The core element in the programme is of course the carrying out of research leading to the completion of a thesis. Students are also required to complete a minimum number of taught modules (30 credits).



These modules include one compulsory course - Introduction to Advanced Research in Law - Optional courses which a student might choose to take include a course in qualitative and quantitative research methods, in substantive areas of law or in other areas where the student feels skills might be required to advance his or her PhD studies, for example languages or economics.



Students are assigned to a main supervisor before arrival at the Law School. The supervisor, in turn, is supported by a team of two other members of academic staff with expertise in the field of research. The supervisor plus the other staff members constitute your 'doctoral panel'.



At the end of the first year of the PhD programme each candidate is required to complete a transfer process in order to move from the first to the second stage of the PhD programme. This process provides an opportunity for students to review the progress they have made in the first year. It also enables the School of Law to ensure that all candidates are making sufficient progressing towards completion and accruing the transferable skills which PhD studies are designed to foster in a student - independence of research, originality of thought and competence in advanced research methodologies and skills



Professional Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in London, and students awarded the Diploma will be eligible for election to Membership of the Institute (M.C.I.Arb.) and exemption from the Institute’s Fellowship (F.C.I.Arb) and Chartered Arbitrator examinations - credentials which are recognised worldwide. Further details of the Institute's fellowship requirements may be obtained directly from the Institute's website at www.arbitrators.org. Local information may also be obtained from the institute's Irish Branch at Merchants House, 27-30 Merchant’s Quay, Dublin 8, Tel: 01-7079739, e-mail ciarb@iol.ie

Stage 1 Core Modules

LAW50030 Advanced Research in Law Autumn 5



Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:



PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. Please, ensure that you have discussed your choice with your supervisor. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website.



GSBL50050 Approaches & Techniques in Qualitative Research Autumn 7.5

LAW40120 Foundations of Environmental Law Autumn 10

LAW40150 International Competition Law Autumn 10

LAW40760 NGOs: Law, Governance and Social Change Autumn 10

LAW40780 Law of the ECHR Autumn 10

LAW41040 Law and Governance of the EU Autumn 10

LAW41270 Data Protection and Privacy: National and International Perspectives Autumn 10

LAW41610 Patent Law Autumn 10

LAW41730 Foundations of Environmental Law SBES Autumn 5

LAW42000 Copyright Law Autumn 10

LAW42280 International Refugee Law Autumn 10

LAW40060 International Commercial Arbitration Spring 10

LAW40280 Trade Mark Law Spring 10

LAW40360 Advanced Issues in European Competition Law Spring 10

LAW41090 Climate Change Law and Policy Spring 10

LAW41150 Online Regulation Spring 10

LAW41200 Cross-Border Litigation: European and International Perspectives on the Conflict of Laws Spring 10

LAW42020 Law of Armed Conflict Spring 10

LAW42040 Culture, Heritage and Human Rights Spring 10

LAW42170 Behavioural Laws Spring 10

LAW42300 Law & Rationality Spring 10

LAW42310 AI Regulation Spring 10



Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:



PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. Please, ensure that you have discussed your choice with your supervisor. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website.



GSBL50050 Approaches & Techniques in Qualitative Research Autumn 7.5

LAW40120 Foundations of Environmental Law Autumn 10

LAW40760 NGOs: Law, Governance and Social Change Autumn 10

LAW40780 Law of the ECHR Autumn 10

LAW41040 Law and Governance of the EU Autumn 10

LAW41270 Data Protection and Privacy: National and International Perspectives Autumn 10

LAW41610 Patent Law Autumn 10

LAW41730 Foundations of Environmental Law SBES Autumn 5

LAW42000 Copyright Law Autumn 10

LAW42280 International Refugee Law Autumn 10

LAW50030 Advanced Research in Law Autumn 5

LAW40060 International Commercial Arbitration Spring 10

LAW40280 Trade Mark Law Spring 10

LAW40360 Advanced Issues in European Competition Law Spring 10

LAW41090 Climate Change Law and Policy Spring 10

LAW41150 Online Regulation Spring 10

LAW41200 Cross-Border Litigation: European and International Perspectives on the Conflict of Laws Spring 10

LAW42020 Law of Armed Conflict Spring 10

LAW42040 Culture, Heritage and Human Rights Spring 10

LAW42170 Behavioural Laws Spring 10

LAW42300 Law & Rationality Spring 10

LAW42310 AI Regulation Spring 10

4/6 years, FT/PT, On Campus.

B142 Law Doctor of Philosophy Full-Time Commencing January 2026 Graduate Research



B143 Law Doctor of Philosophy Part-Time Commencing January 2026 Graduate Research



B142 PhD Law Doctor of Philosophy Full-Time Commencing September 2026 Graduate Research



B143 Law Doctor of Philosophy Part-Time Commencing September 2026 Graduate Research

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

Apart from being the highest level of academic achievement, obtaining a PhD is now regarded as an essential feature in the curriculum vitae of anyone aspiring to a career in academia. Many graduates of UCD Law School's PhD Programme are now themselves academics either in or outside Ireland. Graduates in recent years from UCD Law School's PhD programme have been appointed to academic positions in HEC Paris, the Queen's University Belfast, the University of Portsmouth, the University of Ulster at Jordanstown, University College Dublin, the University of Maynooth, Dublin City University and NUI Galway, among other institutions and universities.



Of course, PhD graduates don't just end up in academia. For those who decide that they would prefer a career in legal practice, we have an excellent Careers Development Centre here at UCD, designed to help you with information regarding future employment or studies. UCD hold a number of graduate events throughout the year including a dedicated law fair at which at which many of the big law firms are in attendance. The School of Law has a dedicated careers advisor on its academic staff and a staff member from the careers office is in attendance at the School of Law on a number of occasions throughout the academic year. To see the full range of services offered by the careers office go to http://www.ucd.ie/careers/