PhD PROGRAMME
PhD Programme - 3rd Cycle Societal Challenges, Uncertainty and Law
Coordinator: Prof. Jorge Manuel Coutinho de Abreu
PhD Programme Regulations (under revision - available soon)
Doctoral research entails sucessful demonstration of skills in systematic understanding of an area of legal science; reflective, critical research that complies with the highest standards of ethics and scientific integrity; originality; elaboration of a written research work that aims to contribute to the development of new tools of legal analysis.
1. Candidates willing to apply to the cycle of studies leading to the Doctorate in Law must hold:
a. a master's degree in Law, with a minimum final grade of 14 out of 20 (applications subject to approval by the Monitoring Commission of the Doctorate in Law Programme);
b. a Licentiate in Law, with a minimum final grade of 17 out of 20 and a relevant curriculum (applications subject to appreciation by the Monitoring Commission of the Doctorate in Law Programme);
c. an outstanding academic, scientific or professional profile recognized by the Scientific Board of the UC Faculty of Law as attesting to the capacity to carry out this cycle of studies; candidates must obtain a minimum final application grade of 14 out of 20 (applications subject to review by the Monitoring Commission of the Doctorate in Law Programme).
The main objective of this cycle of studies is to acquire the training needed to carry out high-level research.
The doctoral programme comprises a set of curricular units (Seminars) aimed at providing the doctoral student with specialized legal knowledge and training for research, distributed into two curricular units per semester.
Successful completion of each unit is obtained through continuous assessment, which may include the elaboration, presentation and discussion of a written paper.
In case of obtaining a minimum classification of Good (14 out of 20) in the academic year, the doctoral student is authorized to proceed to the phase of preparing the Doctoral dissertation, under the supervision of a PhD faculty member of the UC/FL.
Research work aimed at the dissertation entails effective, active supervision, respectful of the doctoral student's academic freedom and right to hold autonomous scientific opinions.
School Year 2023-2024
School Year 2022-2023
School Year 2023-2024
The Doctoral grading policies are set out in the Doctorate in Law Regulation of the University of Coimbra Faculty of Law, approved by the Assembly of the Faculty in June 2015, and in the Academic Regulation of the University of Coimbra.
Grading of Doctoral students is performed in accordance with the continuous evaluation method, which may include completion, presentation and defense of a written paper. Grading of doctoral students who are approved in a specialized seminar of the doctoral programme is expressed through the following numerical classification:
- 10-13 – Sufficient
- 14-15 – Good
- 16-17 – Very Good
- 18-20 – Excellent
In the general seminar, grading is done according to the qualitative marks Pass/Failed, reflecting the merit of the student's work on a subject outside his/her area of specialization.
In the doctoral programme (curricular year), final grading includes the arithmetic average of the sum of each single grade obtained in the seminars and the qualitative indication.
The grading of the Thesis project, which is the responsibility of the advisor, is expressed through the qualitative Pass/Fail rubric mark.
The doctoral exam consists of the public discussion of an unpublished dissertation before a jury, one specifically designed for that purpose in the area of legal science and the specialty in question. The final grade is expressed through the Rejected / Approved mark; if the latter, one of the following final grade is awarded:
- Aproved
- Aproved with distinction
- Aproved with distinction and honor
The final grade awarded by the doctoral jury is based on the merit of the thesis discussed in the public act. In the case of a doctoral student enrolled in a doctoral cycle with courses, the final grade also reflects the final grade achieved in the doctoral programme.
The Doctoral grading policies are set out in the Doctorate in Law Regulation of the University of Coimbra Faculty of Law, approved by the Assembly of the Faculty in June 2015, and in the Academic Regulation of the University of Coimbra.
Grading of Doctoral students is performed in accordance with the continuous evaluation method, which may include completion, presentation and defense of a written paper. Grading of doctoral students who are approved in a specialized seminar of the doctoral programme is expressed through the following numerical classification:
- 10-13 – Sufficient
- 14-15 – Good
- 16-17 – Very Good
- 18-20 – Excellent
In the general seminar, grading is done according to the qualitative marks Pass/Failed, reflecting the merit of the student's work on a subject outside his/her area of specialization.
In the doctoral programme (curricular year), final grading includes the arithmetic average of the sum of each single grade obtained in the seminars and the qualitative indication.
The grading of the Thesis project, which is the responsibility of the advisor, is expressed through the qualitative Pass/Fail rubric mark.
The doctoral exam consists of the public discussion of an unpublished dissertation before a jury, one specifically designed for that purpose in the area of legal science and the specialty in question. The final grade is expressed through the Rejected / Approved mark; if the latter, one of the following final grade is awarded:
- Aproved
- Aproved with distinction
- Aproved with distinction and honor
The final grade awarded by the doctoral jury is based on the merit of the thesis discussed in the public act. In the case of a doctoral student enrolled in a doctoral cycle with courses, the final grade also reflects the final grade achieved in the doctoral programme.
NOTICE
We inform all doctoral students enrolled in the PhD in Law General Programme that under Order No 1077/2016, published in Diário da República, 2nd series, No167, of Augusto 31, 2016, the curricular structure and plan of studies of said Programme has been changed.
http://www.uc.pt/fduc/cursos/3ciclo_direito/pdfs/planoestudos_doutoramento.pdf
Further updated information available at: http://www.uc.pt/academicos/inscricoes/alunos