Phd in Law
The higher you get, the better we see
NOVA School of Law’s 3rd Cycle Programme in Law is a four-year programme leading to a PhD degree in law. The Programme comprises a taught component (over three semesters) where advanced legal studies are carried out with an interdisciplinary focus. This period also provides training in research methodologies and other complementary skills. Towards the end of the taught component of the Programme, candidates must prepare and publicly defend their thesis project. During the remaining part of the Programme (comprising five further semesters), candidates must complete their research under the guidance of their supervisor, culminating in the preparation and defence of their doctoral thesis. The Programme is internationally oriented. Its main language of instruction is English.
In 2014, FCT, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (the national funding agency for science, research and technology) awarded the NOVA School of Law Third Cycle Programme the prestigious FCT PhD programme status. It is thus far the only public higher education institution to have been bestowed with this distinction in the field of legal studies. FCT’s generous funding of this Programme has allowed NOVA School of Law to award over 50 research grants to some of its most talented doctoral students. Year upon year, we attract a talented, multicultural cohort of candidates from all corners of the world. This funding also allows a good portion of our annual student intake to carry out their research full-time. This has proved to be an essential element in the creation of a vibrant and close-knit community of doctoral students, who are active in many of NOVA Law School’s research initiatives.
The Programme admits 20 doctoral candidates each academic year. Numbers are low and therefore admission into the Programme is highly competitive, as NOVA School of Law seeks to ensure that every doctoral candidate is afforded sufficient individualised attention and supervision.
Scientific Commission
President: Mariana França Gouveia | Board Members: Cristina Queiroz (taught component) | Margarida Lima Rego (non-taught component)
OBJECTIVES
The main goal of the Programme is to provide advanced training to promote state-of-the-art academic research. In the process, the programme prepares the next generation of highly-qualified legal professionals to enter the market ready to face the challenges of our time and to pursue a career in academia. As well as fostering knowledge creation across all legal disciplines, the programme encourages an interdisciplinary and international approach to legal studies. It familiarises candidates with new technologies and research techniques, promotes team-based research and collaboration in all fields of the law, and creates networking opportunities with other national and international academic institutions.
CERTIFICATION
|
Study Cycle |
Degree |
A3ES Decision |
Number of Years |
Publication of the A3ES decision |
DGES registration number |
Publication in Diário da República |
|
Law |
Docotor |
accredited |
6 |
R/A-Ef 3194/2011 |
Course Brochure Code of Good Practices | Regulations for 3rd-Cycle Studies leading to a PhD in LawRegulation for the Award of the Title of European PhD | FAQs
Curricular Plan
1st semester
B
P
2nd semester
B
3rd semester
B
P
NOVA University’s Doctoral School is available to our doctoral candidates. Aimed at the university’s PhD students and their supervisors, its purposes are:
• Contribute to the excellence of doctoral training at NOVA;
• Provide cross-disciplinary and complementary training to PhD candidates and their supervisors;
• Promote interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research;
• Share best practices in doctoral programmes;
• Foster cross-institutional cooperation at both national and international levels;
• Encourage research collaboration between students and professors at NOVA.
4th to 8th semesters
B
Coordinators
APPLICATIONS
LENGTH 8 SEMESTERS
240 ECTS
TAUGHT IN ENGLISH.
ENTRIES
25 places
APPLICATIONS
1st Phase:
Submission of applications: from 1 to 26 February
Announcement of application results: 30 March
Submission of appeal against results: from 30 March to 05 April
Enrolment: from 06 to 12 April
2nd Phase*:
Submission of applications: from 19 April to 14 May
Announcement of application results: 31 May
Submission of appeal against results: from 30 May to 04 June
Enrolment: from 07 to 11 June
*1st phase remaining places, if any
ADMISSION REQUIRMENTS
- Holders of a master’s degree or legal equivalent;
- Holders of a specially relevant academic, scientific or professional curriculum recognized by the Scientific Board as denoting equivalent capabilities to those holding a master’s degree.
- Minimum knowledge of the English language equivalent to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates shall be selected on the basis of their merit, having regard to the following parameters and respective weighting:
- Academic curriculum vitae (50%);
- Scientific curriculum vitae (publications, other scientific output indicators and proven research experience and proven research experience) (20%);
- Relevant professional curriculum vitae (15%);
- Motivation letter/ Work plan to be developed (15%).
SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS (ONLINE):
- Completion of the application form (online);
- Payment of the application fee using the ATM or PayPal reference provided through the submission procedure (51.00€);
- Online submission of the following documents: curriculum vitae; motivation letter (maximum 300 words); copy of the course(s) certificate(s); copy of the citizen or other identification card; digital copies of scientific papers deemed relevant to the application; certificates of proficiency in English (if available);
- During the application, candidates must submit a request for accreditation of academic qualifications and professional experience obtained before entering the study cycle. For this purpose, the applicant must complete the appropriate form and attach all relevant documentation. When the request for accreditation occurs at the time of the application, the accreditation is not a sufficient condition to be accepted into the study cycle and only can be granted after the admission into the study cycle, in the same study cycle only. All documents must be presented in Portuguese, English, French or Spanish, and endorsed by the competent authority of the State where the document originates.
Applications omitting the documents requested or where the application fee has not been paid will be rejected.
Applications available through the NOVA School of Law applications portal.
FEES*
- Application fee: 51.00€
- Administrative costs per registration/enrolment (each year): 35.00€
- School insurance (each year): 3.00€
- 1st and 2nd semester: 1,800.00€ (per semester)
- From the 3rd semester: 1,000.00€ (per semester)
*Tuition fees are subject to approval of the General Council of NOVA University, Lisbon.
*Consult the full documentation regarding fees, emoluments and taxes for the academic year in question.
Tuition fees are annual and due in full upon enrolment in the course. The payment in instalments is allowed for the students’ mere convenience.
In the case of withdrawal from the course, the amounts already paid are not refundable. The remaining tuition fee payments due for the academic year to which the application relates must also be paid.
The application fee is to be paid by ATM or Paypal. The reference will be given online upon submission of the application form.
MERIT SCHOOLARSHIPS:
– Students whose final average admission to this PhD is equal to or higher than 18 points (on a scale 0/20) benefit from a 50% discount on the total amount of the tuition fee, which cannot be combined with other discounts.
– Students whose final average admission to this PhD is equal to or higher than 17 points (on a scale 0/20) benefit from a 30% discount on the total amount of the tuition fee, which cannot be combined with other discounts.
ALUMNI DISCOUNT:
Students or ex-students (undergraduate, graduate, master’s and doctoral) with a degree already completed at FDUNL benefit from a 10% discount on the tuition fee, in addition to the financial discount.
FINANCIAL DISCOUNT:
– Students who choose to pay tuition fees in a single initial payment (for the entire study cycle) receive a 5% discount on the amount to be paid;
CURRENT PROTOCOL DISCOUNTS:
Discount of 25%, which cannot be combined with other discounts, for members of:
– Association of Portuguese Judges and the Trade Union
– Association of Public Prosecution Service Magistrates.
* Discount on the annual fee, within the degree’s stipulated time limit (two semesters on the taught component and six semesters on the research component).
* Discounts are applied on the final payment of the tuition fee.
* Discounts are not applied to international students. Discounts not applicable to fees financed by FCT (or equivalent).
TUITION FEES, EMOLUMENTS/CHARGES AND TAXES
National and International Students
Annual fee for the taught component: 3,600.00 €
| Instalments | Amount € | Payment deadline |
| 1st payment | 950,00 € | From 6 to 12 April 2021 |
| 2nd payment | 294,80 € | From 1 to 10 July 2021 |
| 3rd payment | 294,40 € | From 1 to 10 September 2021 |
| 4th payment | 294,40 € | From 1 to 10 October 2021 |
| 5th payment | 294,40 € | From 1 to 10 November 2021 |
| 6th payment | 294,40 € | From 1 to 10 January 2021 |
| 7th payment | 294,40 € | From 1 to 10 February 2021 |
| 8th payment | 294,40 € | From 1 to 10 March 2021 |
| 9th payment | 294,40 € | From 1 to 10 April 2021 |
| 10th payment | 294,40 € | From 1 to 10 May 2021 |
Tuition fees are annual and are due in full upon enrolment in the course.
Students may also choose to pay the annual tuition fee in 4 installments, in which case they should select this option during registration.
Annual fee for the research component (from the 3rd semester): 2,000.00 €
| Instalments | Amount € | Payment deadline |
| 1st payment | 500.00€ | From 1 to 10 September 2021 |
| 2nd payment | 500.00€ | From 1 to 10 October 2021 |
| 3rd payment | 500.00€ | From 1 to 10 November 2021 |
| 4th payment | 500.00€ | From 1 to 10 January 2021 |
The course has a total duration of 8 semesters and the total cost of the course is 9,600.00€ subject to change according to the approval of the UNL General Council.
Emoluments/Charges and Taxes
The charges presented in the table below are currently applicable. The publication of the national table of fees and charges of academic acts and services of public university education and polytechnic higher education is still awaited, and consequently charges may change at any time.
| Designation | Amount € | Payment Deadline |
| Administrative costs per enrolment/registration | 35.00€ | Upon registration/enrolment |
| Institution Insurance | 3.00€ | Upon registration/enrolment |
| Registration Certificate | 6.00€ | At the time of request |
| Conclusion Certificate | 50.00€ | At the time of request |
| Improvement grade exam | 15.00€ | At the time of request |
Payments must be made by ATM or PayPal using the references available in the Restricted Area. Failure to make tuition fee payments within the indicated periods may incur an increased charge in the amount to be paid, or the suspension of registration and enrolment, as well as annulment of all acts performed in the academic year to which the non-compliance relates.
Testimonials
Maria Beatriz Brito
NOVA School of Law PhD Student, Lawyer at CMVM, Researcher at CEDIS
“The PhD Programme in Law at NOVA School of law has a very innovative, international and practical approach and gave me the opportunity to sharpen my academic thinking on a broad range of legal aspects. Furthermore, the programme has been highly complementary to my path as a Lawyer. I feel incredibly lucky to be part of the NOVA School of law community of doctoral students and I would not recommend any other programme.”
Miguel de Azevedo Moura
Assistant Professor, NOVA School of Law. Legal Consultant
NOVA School of Law’s PhD Program has exceeded all my expectations: the sharing of ideas with colleagues from different nationalities and with different interests, the possibility of becoming a member of a high-quality I&D Centre, the free access to almost unlimited resources, the feeling of permanent companionship by the Law Faculty and by its Professors are some of the main points that are worth highlighting.
Eleanor Lumsden
Juris Doctor. Professor, Golden Gate University
“I am happy that I decided to enroll in the PhD program at NOVA. I believe that obtaining this degree will allow me to fulfill my professional goals, and I really enjoy living and working in Lisbon. My colleagues in the program are supportive and kind, as are the staff. I have made real friends here. Overall, I believe that I have joined a community that would like me to succeed and will do whatever they can to see that it happens.”
