About the opportunity
The UCL Faculty of Laws MPhil/PhD Scholarships support outstanding doctoral candidates undertaking original legal research. Based in central London at Bentham House, UCL Laws is a world-leading community of intellectually dynamic scholars, rated the top law school for research quality in the UK (REF 2021). The Faculty offers a supportive research environment with tailored skills seminars, work-in-progress forums, and opportunities for teaching and international placements. These highly competitive scholarships are designed to enable exceptional students from around the globe to pursue their doctoral studies full-time without financial worry, contributing significantly to their chosen legal fields.
Funding and benefits
- Full tuition fee coverage at either the Home or Overseas (International) rate
- An annual maintenance stipend (living allowance) to cover living expenses in London, aligned with UKRI rates
- An annual Personal Research Allowance of £750 for full-time students (£375 for part-time students) to cover research-related expenses such as books and conference attendance
- Access to the PhD Research and Innovation Fund (PRIF) for additional research activities, trips, or specialized training
- Opportunities for paid tutorial teaching on LLB and LLM programs, with training provided via UCL Arena One
- Access to world-class library resources, including the UCL Library, Senate House Library, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS), and the British Library
Who can apply?
- Must apply for admission to the MPhil/PhD program at UCL Faculty of Laws
- Open to both UK (Home) and international (Overseas) applicants
- Applicants must possess outstanding academic qualifications, typically holding or expecting to achieve a master's degree in law (LLM or equivalent) with high grades or a distinction
- Must submit a highly original, well-structured, and feasible legal research proposal
- Must meet UCL's English language proficiency requirements
Required documents
- Completed online application for the UCL MPhil/PhD in Laws
- Detailed research proposal (typically up to 3,000 words)
- Academic transcripts and certificates from all previous university-level studies
- Two academic references
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
- Personal statement outlining research interests and motivations
- Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable)
When to apply
- Applications for the MPhil/PhD program and associated funding typically open in October for the following autumn intake.
- The deadline to apply for admission and be considered for UCL Faculty of Laws scholarships and UCL-wide graduate scholarships (such as GRS and ORS) is usually in mid-January (typically around January 15).
- Applicants are strongly advised to submit their applications well in advance of the January deadline to ensure references are received on time.
How to apply
- Identify and contact potential supervisors within the UCL Faculty of Laws to discuss your research proposal.
- Prepare your research proposal, personal statement, CV, and other supporting documents.
- Submit a formal online application for the MPhil/PhD Laws program via the UCL graduate application portal.
- Indicate on your application form that you wish to be considered for UCL funding and scholarships.
- Ensure your two academic referees submit their reference letters before the mid-January scholarship deadline.
Additional information
- Scholarships are typically awarded for up to three years of full-time study, subject to satisfactory annual academic progress.
- Successful candidates are initially registered as MPhil students and must undergo a formal upgrade process to PhD status, usually within 9 to 18 months of full-time study.
- UCL Laws also supports doctoral researchers through competitive international opportunities, such as the Max Planck Doctoral Mobility Scheme, the LERU Law PhD Exchange Programme, and the International Court of Justice Judicial Fellowship Programme.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- You have an exceptional academic record, including a distinction or top grades in an LLM or equivalent master's degree in law.
- You have developed a highly original, rigorous, and well-defined legal research proposal that aligns closely with the expertise of UCL Laws faculty members.
- You have already engaged with and secured tentative support or interest from a prospective supervisor at UCL Laws.
What should you think carefully about?
- The selection process is extremely competitive, with only a very small number of fully funded scholarships awarded each year relative to the volume of applicants.
- Funding is typically guaranteed for three years, whereas completing a PhD can sometimes extend into a fourth year, potentially requiring you to secure alternative funding or cover write-up fees for the final period.
- You must secure admission to the MPhil/PhD program first; a rejection from the academic program automatically disqualifies you from scholarship consideration.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This opportunity is an exceptional fit for aspiring legal scholars who aim to establish careers in academia, international organizations, or high-level legal policy. By providing full tuition coverage and a substantial living stipend, it allows researchers to focus entirely on producing high-impact, original legal scholarship in a world-class research environment. Additionally, the program's emphasis on teaching experience, conference funding, and international exchange placements makes it a powerful launchpad for anyone seeking global academic mobility and professional development in the legal field.
Our take
Outstanding law graduates with stellar academic credentials and a compelling, supervisor-aligned research proposal should seriously consider applying. It is less suitable for those who do not meet the rigorous academic entry requirements or whose research topics fall outside the supervisory expertise of the UCL Faculty of Laws.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
Official-source verified
