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PhD Programme in Law

The opportunity to undertake advanced legal research at one of the world's best law schools.

The London School of Economics is a world centre for advanced research and teaching with an outstanding reputation, with a campus situated in the heart of London, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. Only a short distance from Europe's financial, legal and cultural centres, LSE stands at the crossroads of international debate, a location that is fundamental to our identity as an outward looking institution with an active involvement in UK and world affairs. Each year the School attracts many influential outside speakers. Regular events and seminars involving politicians, regulators, practitioners and academics take place to complement your studies. 

LSE Law School is one of the UK's pre-eminent research institutions for law. Our academics are the authors of influential and often path-breaking scholarship, and many have globally leading reputations.  LSE Law is also one of UK's largest law schools, with over 70 academic members of staff. It is a uniquely cosmopolitan academic community, with staff and students coming from all over the world.  Our academics draw on a wide range of literatures and traditions, and pursue analyses that seek to situate the law within the political, social and economic context within which it is formed and operates. 

PhD Programme

The PhD programme at the London School of Economics and Political Science offers the opportunity to undertake advanced legal research at one of the world's best law schools. Students in our PhD programme receive excellent training and work under the supervision of leading scholars with strong international, comparative and interdisciplinary commitments. Our doctoral students become members of a lively academic community which is at the cutting-edge of legal scholarship and which plays a major role in the education of lawyers and law teachers from around the world.

We hope that the questions you have about our PhD programme will be answered in these web pages. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us , or see our Frequently Asked Questions  ...

PhD Funding

PhD Current research

PhD placements What do our PhD students do after leaving LSE?

FAQs Your questions about the PhD programme

PhD completions Browse our completed PhDs

Careers Our careers information and resources

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PhD Academy A dedicated space for PhD students

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Postgraduate Study

What could taught postgraduate study do for me.

The most common form of taught postgraduate study is a master’s course. They usually take one year to complete, involving a mix of lectures, seminars, self-study and practical work, and either lead to a Master of Science (MSc), Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

If you don’t want or need to take a full master’s degree, a postgraduate diploma (PGDip) will often cover the same material but takes less time – usually two terms – and doesn’t require a dissertation. A postgraduate certificate (PGCert) is an even shorter option – usually one term.

There are several ways in which postgraduate study can enhance your development and your future. A key consideration is whether a postgraduate qualification is a necessity or will give you a significant advantage in the career area that interests you.

If a postgraduate qualification is not required by your future employers, there are other advantages to be gained, such as:

the opportunity to expand your network. Other students on your course, lecturers, visiting speakers etc. all have the potential to be useful in your future career.

a chance to build your confidence and enhance your subject specific and transferable skills, including project management, analytical skills, networking and team work.

learning more about a subject that you enjoy in a stimulating academic environment.

Even if your qualification doesn’t enhance your chances of securing an entry level job in your chosen sector, your additional knowledge and experience may help you progress more quickly through an organisation once you are in.

Is it the right direction for me to take?

To help you to decide whether postgraduate study is right for you, there are several questions you can ask yourself. Start with:

Do I have to do it to progress in my chosen career?

Will it give me an advantage in my chosen career?

If the answer to either of those questions is yes, your next step is to explore your options further. Talk to people in the professions that interest you and find out if there are any subjects or courses that they recommend. Look for relevant networking opportunities on CareerHub or research your chosen career area in the  employment sectors  section of our website.

If the answer to both those questions is no, or you don’t yet know what career you might choose, there are other equally valid reasons for selecting this path:

Do I love my subject and want to learn more about it?

Do I thrive in an academic environment?

Do I want to continue to build my study skills, e.g. in critical thinking and analysis?

Do I want to study abroad and gain international experience?

Find out more about studying overseas on our  Studying abroad  page.

Finally, the following questions need honest answers if you are to make the right decision for the right reasons:

Am I using this as an excuse to put off making career decisions?

Does the job market scare me?

If your answer to either of those questions is yes, talk to a Careers Consultant before making your decision. Postgraduate study is not an easy option and can be expensive. There will be other ways to build your confidence and skills.  You can book a one to one appointment on  CareerHub .

How do I choose the right course?

There are several things to think about when choosing a course. As with your undergraduate course, you need to consider the institution, its location, social and support networks, style of teaching, course content, assessment methods etc., but in addition, you might also want to consider:

the reputation and connections of the department  – for example, are there any leading researchers you could work with, do they have visiting speakers from organisations you’d like to work for in the future, etc.? To investigate the leading researchers in your chosen field – look at relevant academic journals and see who is publishing work that interests you. Where are they based? Or talk to academics in your own department.

where students find employment after the course  – are they in jobs/organisations that interest you? The admissions tutor for each course should be able to provide that information, or you might find it on the institution’s website.

what do professionals in the careers that interest you think of the course/institution?  Attend networking events, talk to LSE alumni etc. to find out.

When it comes to choosing your subject of study, there will be many options open to you. Will you decide to specialise, or would you rather combine two or three subjects? If you’re looking for courses in the UK, visit the  Prospects Postgraduate Courses  database. For overseas options, try  FindAMasters .  

Talk to your course tutor or supervisor and find out what they think would suit you. They may be able to provide useful feedback to help your decision making.

For more information, visit our  Researching postgraduate courses  page.

How can I fund my postgraduate study?

Obtaining funding for postgraduate study can be a challenge. In many cases, students combine funding from a variety of sources. There are several options you might explore:

Start with the University you wish to study at and find out whether they offer bursaries or scholarships, e.g. for disadvantage or academic excellence, etc. Charities, foundations and trusts can also be a source of this type of funding. Use resources such as Trustfunding.org.uk or the Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding to identify relevant organisations. Some courses, e.g. teacher training, may offer government bursaries.

Postgraduate study loans are available from the UK government, offering a contribution towards tuition fees and living costs. Sums vary depending on your country of origin, i.e. England, Wales, Scotland or N. Ireland. If you are not a UK citizen, find out whether your home country offers something similar. Make sure you look at the eligibility criteria and conditions. There may also be Research Council grants available – check with the University you plan to apply to.

Many LSE students take part-time jobs, often choosing to study part-time to enhance their flexibility. When considering this option, remember to check your visa stipulations (where necessary) and also see the LSE’s ISVAT guide to working during your studies . Relevant work experience can give you a significant advantage in the job market, so finding part-time work that complements your studies and career ambitions is an excellent way to fund your learning and enhance your CV.

Some employers offer sponsorship for postgraduate study, but you will usually have to be employed by them already and may be tied in for several years post qualification.

This is not an easy option and is likely to take up a lot of your time, but it may be a way to raise a proportion of the funding you need, to add to finances received from other sources. If you don’t need to obtain a master’s qualification to support your career plans, a PGDip or PGCert are usually cheaper options as they are shorter courses. To find out more about different methods of funding, visit the Prospects funding postgraduate study pages.

How do I apply for postgraduate courses?

Applications are made directly to the University. Some set specific deadlines and others take applications throughout the year. Make sure you know the application process for each course that interests you.

You can apply for as many courses as you want, and it is recommended that you start your application between 6 months to 1 year in advance of the course start date. An early application is particularly important if you’re hoping to secure funding. You’ll also need to factor in time for academics or employers to write references.

A typical Master’s application includes:

• a personal statement
• academic transcripts

Some may also require a portfolio or research proposal.

International students will also need to provide:

• a copy of your passport
• proof of your language proficiency, if you're not a native speaker. 

For more information, visit the Prospects Applying for a Master’s degree page.

Applying for a PGDip or PGCert is a very similar process. The Prospects page on Postgraduate diplomas and certificates provides further details.

Useful websites

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/postgraduate-study

https://www.postgrad.com/

https://www.postgraduatesearch.com/

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• Welcome to Suzanne Bloks!

We are pleased to welcome Suzanne Bloks to LSE Philosophy, who will join us in September 2024 as Post Doc (Research Officer).

Suzanne will work as research officer in the ‘Cohesion and Deliberative Decision-Making’ project of the Cohesive Capitalism programme, funded by the Open Society Foundation. She wrote her PhD thesis in Philosophy in the DFG-funded PPE graduate program ‘Collective Decision-Making’ at Hamburg University. Her PhD thesis explored the relationship between democratic boundaries, territorial rights and territorial presence, with a particular focus on the boundaries of the demos and of electoral districts. Suzanne holds Master’s degrees in Philosophy, Law and Mathematics from Leiden University, Utrecht University and LSE. She aspires to bring a unique perspective to questions in democratic theory by integrating ideas and perspectives from social choice, game theory and legal philosophy. Her publications can be found on her  personal website .

More about the ‘Cohesion and Deliberative Decision-Making’ project.

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Coordinates of Elektrostal in decimal degrees

Coordinates of elektrostal in degrees and decimal minutes, utm coordinates of elektrostal, geographic coordinate systems.

WGS 84 coordinate reference system is the latest revision of the World Geodetic System, which is used in mapping and navigation, including GPS satellite navigation system (the Global Positioning System).

Geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) define a position on the Earth’s surface. Coordinates are angular units. The canonical form of latitude and longitude representation uses degrees (°), minutes (′), and seconds (″). GPS systems widely use coordinates in degrees and decimal minutes, or in decimal degrees.

Latitude varies from −90° to 90°. The latitude of the Equator is 0°; the latitude of the South Pole is −90°; the latitude of the North Pole is 90°. Positive latitude values correspond to the geographic locations north of the Equator (abbrev. N). Negative latitude values correspond to the geographic locations south of the Equator (abbrev. S).

Longitude is counted from the prime meridian ( IERS Reference Meridian for WGS 84) and varies from −180° to 180°. Positive longitude values correspond to the geographic locations east of the prime meridian (abbrev. E). Negative longitude values correspond to the geographic locations west of the prime meridian (abbrev. W).

UTM or Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system divides the Earth’s surface into 60 longitudinal zones. The coordinates of a location within each zone are defined as a planar coordinate pair related to the intersection of the equator and the zone’s central meridian, and measured in meters.

Elevation above sea level is a measure of a geographic location’s height. We are using the global digital elevation model GTOPO30 .

Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russia