Doctor of Philosophy in Human Rights, Society, and Multi-Level Governance

Entry Requirements

• Academic Qualifications: An accredited Bachelor’s degree in Law, Politics, International Relations, European Studies, Public Administration or a related field (LLB, BA, BSc or equivalent) in addition to an accredited Master’s degree in Law, Politics, International Relations, European Studies, Public Administration or a related field (LLM, MA, MSc or equivalent). Copies of degrees awarded must be submitted as part of a complete application package.
• Application form: Applicants must submit an application form for admission and enrolment to the programme. The application form requests general information about the applicant, their qualifications, and relevant experience.
• Curriculum vitae: a complete CV specifying all academic and professional background and activities.
• Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must obtain two recommendation letters from individuals who have known the applicant in an educational and/or professional environment. At least one of the recommendation letters must be from an academic institution where the applicant has studied previously.
• Previous theses/dissertations and any published work of academic relevance (if any).
• Initial Research Proposal: An initial proposal (1,500 – 3,000 words) outlining the research topic, aims and objectives, research questions and proposed research methodology.
• Statement of Purpose: Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive outline highlighting their academic and individual competencies and state why they believe they are suitable for admission to the Programme, as well as their reflections regarding the expectations and value of the Programme for their personal advancement and career development.
• Individual Interviews: The Department Doctoral Programme Committee will hold an individual interview of the applicant prior to deciding. The Department Doctoral Programme Committee, having examined the applicant’s suitability against the entry criteria, having reviewed the application and interviewed the applicant, will determine his or her suitability and the appropriateness of their initial proposal.
• In view of the limited number of applicants to be admitted to the programme, the Department Doctoral Programme Committee will decide on the basis of merit and by evaluating specific criteria who are the most suitable candidates to be admitted to the programme. The Committee will exercise its judgment, taking into account the overall quality, merit and feasibleness of the research proposal, the quality of the prior research work of the candidate and the candidate’s academic and other relevant qualifications as included in the curriculum vitae and the applicant’s replies and performance during the individual interview.
• In assessing the research proposal, the Committee will also examine the extent to which it corresponds with the objectives of the PhD programme as described in Annex 1 of the Joint PhD Agreement, i.e. producing researchers with a multi/interdisciplinary profile, mainly in the fields of law, politics, economics and sociology, where both theoretical dimensions and empirical analyses are given relevance in the overall approach to be embraced. The proposal should aim to address the multi-level dimensions of human rights implementation policies, focusing on the most innovative and critical developments, so as to critically assess the effectiveness and consistency of doctrines and practices and their impact. Focus should be on the global dimension; the European regional context as well as other regional systems; the nation-wide dimensions, preferably with a comparative approach; or the local community actors and dynamics. Institutions and private actors’ roles can be addressed. The proposal should aim to reflect the subjects addressed in the human rights instruments, as well as the practice that comes along with their implementation.
• The decision to admit the selected students to the programme must be approved by the Academic Board of the programme.

English Requirements

• English Language Proficiency: TOEFL (paper-based test 600, computer-based test 250, internet based test 100) or IELTS 6.5. For students who graduated from an English-speaking University, English language is not a requirement.