Course details

Summary

As a Law student, you will learn how to think critically, analyse complex facts and issues, and persuade by logical argument. You will gain a comprehensive grounding in working with statutes, cases and other legal materials. You will understand about the law in its wider social, political and historical contexts.

The UC Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a research-only degree carried out under expert supervision and using world-class facilities.

A PhD involves extensive, sustained and original research and study in your chosen subject, with the results being presented in a thesis that will contribute to intellectual knowledge of the field. It is a mark of intellectual ability, self-discipline and commitment. A PhD prepares you for a number of careers, including as an academic.

The minimum period of enrolment for a full-time candidate is two years and the maximum period four years; most PhD students take between three and three-and-a-half years.

Career opportunities

Law degrees are popular because of the value placed on core legal skills and the career opportunities available to graduates. UC Law graduates can be found among the judiciary and at all levels of the legal profession, across New Zealand and the world.

Employers are increasingly seeking work-ready graduates. Law students at Canterbury have the opportunity to participate in a variety of internships and community placements which will satisfy this requirement.

UC graduates can become a practice solicitor, in-house lawyer or a self-employed barrister. Recent UC graduates also found roles as research counsel, judge's clerk, policy analyst and Maori development advisor.

Legal skills of research, writing, analysis and reasoning are highly prized in many professions such as politics, policy, public service, foreign affairs, journalism, publishing, immigration and business.

Entry criteria

Enrolment in a PhD requires completion of a research-focused honours or master's degree at first-class or second-class division 1 level (or equivalent qualifications). Applicants with qualifications from outside New Zealand must have been granted admission to the University.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum B+ grade; CAE or CPE score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 64 and no PTE communicative skills score below 58.