Law
Source: https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/discover-opportunities/explore-programs/law-phd Parent: https://law.ucalgary.ca/
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Thesis-based program
Program overview
The PhD program in Law gives qualified students the opportunity to engage in sustained research in an area of interest to them, under the supervision of our diverse, energetic faculty members.
The Faculty of Law includes endowed chairs in natural resources and business law. Our graduate programs in energy and environmental law are world-renowned. We have experts in a wide variety of areas of law, including international environmental law, internet and cybersecurity law, business law, and legal theory and history.
The Faculty of Law is a home of the Journal of Environmental Law and Practice and for our acclaimed law blog, ABlawg.
Completing this program
- Core Courses: Graduate seminar in legal research and methodology, graduate seminar in legal theory, and independent, supervised research.
- Thesis/Dissertation Proposal
- Written Field of Study Examinations
- Oral Candidacy Examination
- Completion of Original Thesis/Dissertation: Approximately 300 pages in length.
Outcomes
The PhD program is for students passionate about research and writing in a focused area of law, and who may be interested in an academic or research career.
A PhD in law is usually considered a final degree; some graduates go on to post-doctoral research.
Thesis-based program
Students are required to prepare a thesis/dissertation and successfully defend in an open oral defense.
Courses
Three core courses.
Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar
Classroom delivery
Time commitment
Four years full-time. \ Part-time enrolment with permission from the Graduate Program Director
Supervisor
A supervisor is required; potential supervisors must be listed when applying to the program
Fees and funding
See the Graduate Calendar for information on fees and fee regulations, and for information on awards and financial assistance.
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Supervisors
Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.\ Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.
Accepting Inquiries 2. Gideon Christian
Accepting Inquiries
Law and technology; artificial intelligence and law; environmental impact of new and emerging technologies 3. Greg Hagen
Accepting Inquiries
Technology and Intellectual Property Law; Legal Theory & Philosophy 4. Lorian Hardcastle
Accepting Inquiries
Health law and policy, tort law 5. Howard Kislowicz
Accepting Inquiries 6. Emily Laidlaw
Accepting Inquiries
Technology and the law 7. Sharon Mascher
Unavailable
Climate Change Law 8. Michael Nesbitt
Accepting Inquiries
Criminal law, national security law 9. Evaristus Oshionebo
Accepting Inquiries
Natural resources law and regulation 10. Bryce Tingle
Accepting Inquiries
Corporate Governance, Entrepreneurial Law, Corporate Finance
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Admission requirements
GPA
Minimum GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0 on JD, LLB or equivalent Law degree, plus 3.0 out of 4.0 on Masters of Law of equivalent. Generally, successful applicants will have a GPA of at least 3.7 out of 4.0 in their Masters degrees.
International applicants should visit this website to determine whether or not their GPAs meet program minima.
Minimum education
An LLM or other relevant and appropriate master's degree.
Work samples
Writing sample required.
Documents
- Applicants must provide a 10-page statement describing their research interests and propose a dissertation project.
- A C.V.
- Writing Sample: Should be approximately 10-30 pages long. It must be your own original writing. It should be reasoned scholarly or professional work that serves to demonstrate to a committee of professors that you have a well-developed capacity for writing, analysis and research. It may be published or unpublished. Be prepared to explain in your application the circumstances under which you wrote it. Do not submit writing that you co-authored with someone else: application files relying on co-authored work will be treated as incomplete. Do not submit any material that is confidential or to which others might have claims of privilege, e.g. confidential or privileged memoranda prepared for clients or employers.
- You will be asked to identify two referees. Ensure that the contact information you provide is accurate. At least one, and preferably both, of your references should be provided by individuals who have worked with you at the Master’s level and is well familiar with your past work and research proposal.
- Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions that you have attended, including any that you may currently be attending. Information about transcripts is available HERE
Reference letters
Two academic.
Test scores
None
Supervision and Funding
Applicants must identify a potential supervisor in their application.
English language proficiency (ELP)
An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in different ways. For accepted criteria, please refer to the program “Admissions” tab in the Academic Calendar.
*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements.
Dates and Deadlines
For admission September 1:
- Application portal (below) opens September 1.
- Application deadline: December 1.
- Deadline for submission of supporting documents and reference letters: December 15.
If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements
Are you ready to apply?
Learn more about this program
The Faculty of Law
Law Graduate Programs\ MFH 2380, 2500 University Drive NW\ Calgary, AB T2N 1N4\ 403.210.8718
Contact the Graduate Program Administrator
Related programs
If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.
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