law phd new zealand

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The PhD involves a minimum of 3 years of full-time or at least 6 years of part-time study and may be commenced at any time of the year.

It is awarded on the basis of the submission of a thesis, which evidences your ability to carry out original and independent research and which makes a significant contribution to knowledge in the field of law. It is expected that at least some of the work in the thesis would be worthy of academic publication.

A PhD from Otago will give you excellent standing in your field of research.

Regulations via the PhD qualification webpage

Discuss your research interests with Faculty of Law staff

Prospective candidates are welcome to contact the Postgraduate Director to discuss their research interests.

Postgraduate Director Email [email protected]

However, in all cases, admission to the programme remains dependent upon the outcome of the formal application procedures described above.

Faculty of Law – staff areas of research

PhD requirements

The PhD degree requires:

• A period of residency in Dunedin is preferred, however, this requirement may be waived by agreement, on a case-by-case basis.
• A thesis of approximately 300-400 pages (90,000 to 100,000 words), which makes a distinct contribution to legal research or scholarship.

If your first language is not English, you must provide evidence of a satisfactory level of English language proficiency.

Otago postgraduate English requirements

It is possible to do the PhD from a distance within New Zealand, subject to approval. However, you will need to visit the Faculty during the course of your PhD. You will be required to visit at least once a year for a face-to-face meeting with your supervisors. You should also expect to spend 1–2 weeks in the Faculty in the early stages of your thesis establishing a supervision relationship and clarifying/refining the thesis proposal with your supervisor and then another 1–2 weeks six months prior to your anticipated completion to enable you and your supervisor to confirm the final structure and content of your written thesis. During the remainder of the project, regular contact via email and Skype with your supervisor is expected.

PhD Formal Progress Requirements (PDF)

Standards for admission to PhD programme

You must have:

• An LLB from New Zealand with honours, a master's degree, or a comparable level of achievement at a law school outside of New Zealand with substantially equivalent standards as Otago
• Attained at least a B+ average for all 300- and 400-level papers (or equivalent) taken in prior degrees

Visit the University of Otago PhD Office website

How to apply for PhD

All applications to the University of Otago are made online.

Learn about the enrolment process

We strongly recommend that, before applying, you email our Postgraduate Director to discuss your proposed research project so that we can advise you on whether we are likely to be able to offer you supervision within the Law Faculty at Otago.

Preparing your research proposal (PDF)

Scholarships

Visit the Postgraduate scholarships page for more information

This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.

Regulations on this page are taken from the 2023 Calendar and supplementary material.

Te Kauhanganui Tātai Ture

Faculty of --> faculty of law, research degrees—phd and master of laws.

Our position in the heart of the legal decision-making district of Wellington means we offer students, staff and visitors a unique university experience.

With the courts and parliament as our close neighbours, we are at the centre of debate, analysis and dialogue about law and legal policy issues in New Zealand.

A globally-ranked capital city university

Victoria University of Wellington’s graduate-level law students benefit from conducting their studies in a law school that is located amongst other globally ranked faculties and schools. Located in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, Victoria University of Wellington has a tradition of fostering strong global links in teaching and research and programmes of national significance and international quality.

Prospective students

For those seeking to pursue higher degrees by research, a PhD or Master of Laws (which can be completed either by course work or by thesis, or by a combination of a dissertation and course work), could be for you.

Before embarking on further study toward a higher-level research degree, it is important to consider the “fit” between the proposed project and the particular law school.

For prospective candidates seeking admission at the Victoria University of Wellington, two factors may be especially influential:

• the areas of expertise of the University’s full-time law faculty, and
• the New Zealand legal environment.

Research quality

As New Zealand’s top ranked university for research quality Victoria University of Wellington has a great reputation for academic excellence—excellence that is underpinned by the quality of our learning environment and innovative teaching.

The excellence of the University’s legal academics was confirmed in a report released by the Tertiary Education Commission, which ranked the University number one in New Zealand for research quality. The report shows the University has the highest-rated Law faculty for research in the country and establishes its research pre-eminence in New Zealand.

New Zealand’s leading legal minds

The Victoria University of Wellington Law School is home to a diverse and expert group of distinguished Faculty . Their work is published in the top international and domestic law reviews and they are deeply involved in law reform initiatives and collaborate internationally in key research consortia.

Our conferences and lectures are attended by judges, politicians, practitioners and New Zealand and international academics. It is a rich brew of talent and experience that offers a priceless experience—to interact, debate and interact and exchange ideas with the very best the legal community has to offer.

The New Zealand legal environment

Some of the key features of the New Zealand legal environment include the unique relationship between the indigenous peoples and the Crown, in the context of a Westminster-style democracy, the mixed member proportional representation system of elections, its unicameral Parliament and the role of New Zealand’s parliamentary Bill of Rights.

The small size of New Zealand economy presents unique challenges and opportunities, and the location of the country foregrounds the importance of international trade and international commerce.

Leading research

Victoria University of Wellington’s law faculty combine scholarly activities with the practice of law—as legal advisors, counsel and arbitrators. Read recent profiles, highlighting the range of legal research projects of the University’s law faculty.

Legal community and events

The Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Law is also committed to outreach to the local legal community, and hosts a wide array of seminars, conferences and colloquia—creating an intense and vibrant intellectual life for our faculty and students.

Expert librarians

Research students are supported by an excellent law library that is part of the wider Victoria University of Wellington library system. Our expert subject librarians work closely with our research students to develop research strategies and with instruction on legal research methodology.

Faculty journals

The Faculty’s own research publication, the Victoria University of Wellington Law Review , offers an opportunity for postgraduate students to have their work published, while the New Zealand Journal of Public and International Law offers world-class writing on those key areas of speciality.

Research projects and profiles

Find out more about the research projects and award winning scholarships that our faculty staff and students have been working on. View our current postgraduate student profiles .

Human Ethics guidelines

If your research involves human subjects or human tissue or affects people’s privacy, rights and freedoms, it is subject to Human Ethics Committee Guidelines .

Doctor of Juridical Science

The Doctor of Juridical Science is a structured programme that incorporates coursework and independent research. Individually tailored, it’ll help you achieve a PhD degree with maximum support.

360 points, 3 years

Hamilton, Tauranga, Online

Papers offered differ by location.  Find a Paper for full location info.

• School of Law, Politics and Philosophy

School of Graduate Research

Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July)

Why study the Doctor of Juridical Science?

If you have an established professional or academic record, this degree may suit you. You'll achieve mastery of content, acquire skills and develop attributes appropriate to senior positions in academia, law and related professions.

The Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) is structured to ensure that you have optimal supervision to contribute to these outcomes. The University of Waikato has developed strong relationships and networks with national and international communities of researchers to ensure that this doctoral programme is relevant and responsive to your needs as well as to the needs of the profession.

Programme structure

Part 1 requires you to complete the Research Portfolio paper (LAWS995). You'll attend selected seminars and cohort meetings with your supervising academic staff.

You'll have to produce two research papers of publishable quality demonstrating your expertise in an area of law of your choice. You'll also have to produce a research proposal at the level of a PhD proposal.

Part 1 counts for 120 points and you must gain a pass grade in the Research Portfolio. You'll have 1 year to complete Part 1 if you study full-time (and 2 years if you study part-time).

For part 2, you'll complete a major thesis at the doctoral level of a maximum of 60,000 words. You'll be required to undertake approved and supervised research, and present the results lucidly in a thesis of publishable quality, which:

• Critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance
• Demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship
• Displays intellectual independence, and
• Makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area.

Part 2 counts for 240 points. You'll have 3 years to complete Part 2 if you study full-time and at least 6 years if you are enrolled in part-time studies.

SJD Regulations

For more information, please read the  Doctor of Juridical Science programme regulations.

Degree information

To qualify to enrol in the Doctor of Juridical Science degree, you’ll be required to:

• Hold a bachelor's degree with honours or a master's degree, and must have achieved first or second class honours (first division) or distinction, or
• Hold a Master of Philosophy, or
• Have passed qualifying papers at a satisfactory level.

In exceptional circumstances, if you have produced other evidence signifying that you hold adequate skills and knowledge to proceed with the proposed research to the satisfaction of the Postgraduate Research Committee you may be permitted to enrol in the DJS programme.

Estimated fees

$6,800 - $7,221 per year

Domestic tuition fees

Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.

Scholarships

Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.

Relevant as of 02 August 2024.

All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. View information about fees free study .

$6,940 per year

International tuition fees

Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for international students enrolled in one year of full-time study.

All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. 

Graduate study options

View our other graduate and postgraduate study options:

Master of Laws

Master of laws in māori/pacific and indigenous peoples' law, doctor of philosophy, doctor of laws.

Other higher degree qualifications offered by the University of Waikato:

Master of Philosophy

Phd research opportunities.

Browse our available PhD or Doctoral opportunities, our research areas and potential supervisors.

• Find a PhD opportunity
• Law Postgraduate Handbook (PDF)

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• Ngā akoranga | Study
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• Commercial Law
• You are currently on: Doctoral study

Doctoral study in Commercial Law

The MCom, BCom(Hons) in Commercial Law, the MTaxS, MLS and LLM are all pathways to a PhD in Commercial Law.

Why study with us?

• The University of Auckland consistently ranks in the top 100 globally and is New Zealand’s No. 1 university. (QS World University Rankings)
• The Business School at The University of Auckland is part of the 1% of Business Schools worldwide with Triple Crown accreditation. (AACSB International, EFMD-EQUIS, and AMBA)
• The University hosts more researchers in business and economics than any other New Zealand university. This expertise provides opportunities for original and significant contributions to knowledge in various disciplines.
• Students have opportunities to connect with professionals from their discipline through networking event, fostering collaboration and industry connections.
• The Business School offers state-of-the-art facilities, including dedicated workspaces for full-time PhD students.
• Doctoral candidates receive annual Postgraduate Research Student Support (PReSS) funding to cover research expenses.
• The Business School Careers Centre assists students with career planning through skills workshops, employer interactions and individual support.

Research opportunities

When you undertake your doctorate in Commercial Law at the University of Auckland, you’ll join a high calibre community of internationally-recognised researchers. You’ll have opportunities to publish your research and present it at international conferences. You may also be actively involved in supporting industry and government initiatives.

We welcome research proposals in topics relating to our key research specialisations:

• Governance and financing of business enterprises
• Taxation and regulation
• Intellectual property, innovation and information
• Data privacy law
• Law and artificial intelligence
• Employment law

Our staff focus on producing excellent research that is current, relevant and has an impact on business and the professions.

Auckland Law School supervisors

Craig Elliffe : International taxation, corporate taxation, taxation of trusts and non-corporate entities, tax avoidance,tax reform including capital gains tax.

Rohan Havelock : Equity, unjust enrichment, restitution, contract, insurance.

An Hertogen : International law, international economic law.

Michael Littlewood : Tax law and tax policy including international tax (for example, tax treaties), tax avoidance, tax history, political and constitutional aspects of taxation (for example, fiscal responsibility), tax competition, doctrinal analysis.

Chris Noonan : Company law, competition law, economic regulation, international trade and the WTO.

Marcus Roberts : Contract law, company law and tort law.

Warren Swain : English legal history, especially the history of contract law, tort law and unjust enrichment, the history of legal literature, legal biography, English, New Zealand or Australian contract law, and the history of contract law in New Zealand.

Peter Watts : Company law, equity, restitution, agency law, trusts, securities.

Joshua Yuvaraj: Intellectual property, copyright, and contract.

Business School supervisors

Gehan Gunasekara : Franchising law, data privacy law, whistle-blowing/protected disclosures law.

Michael Josling : Insolvency law, company law and legal history.

Benjamin Liu : Law and artificial intelligence, financial markets law, international finance and derivatives.

Chris Nicoll : Marine law, carriage of goods by sea, international sale of goods, insurance, contract law.

John Ren : Commercial law, including construction contracts and credit law.

Alex Sims: Intellectual property law, including copyright and trademarks, consumer law including unfair contract terms law, information technology law including smart contracts and the block chain, cryptocurrencies, partnership law and incorporated societies law.

Alan Toy : Employment law, online contracts and data privacy law.

Past research topics

• ‘Strengthening the Settings for Inland Revenue’s Statutory Role as Tax Collector’, supervised by Professor Craig Elliffe and Dr Mark Bowler-Smith
• ‘Corporate Political Spending Information Disclosure Regime: Economic Consequences and Future Development’, supervised by Professor Susan Watson and Professor David Mayes
• ‘A Legal Perspective On Incorporated Family Businesses Through The Lens of Corporate Governance and Company Law’, supervised by Professor Susan Watson and Professor John Farra
• ‘Online Shopping: Pearls and Pitfalls for New Zealand Consumers – How to Increase Consumer Protection and Confidence’, supervised by Associate Professor Alexandra Sims and John Ren
• ‘Tax Response to Global Matchmakers’, supervised by Professor Craig Elliffe and Dr Chris Noonan

Scholarships and awards

There are several scholarships you may be eligible for when you decide to pursue your doctoral studies in Commercial Law.

University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships

Barry Spicer and Owen G Glenn PhD Scholarship

Doctoral Scholarships in Law

Phone the University

•  923 7186 (within Auckland)
• 0800 61 62 63 (outside Auckland)
• +64 9 373 7513 (overseas)

Email the Business School Postgraduate Adviser Paul Gutierrez Quiroga: p.quiroga@auckland.ac.nz

Email the Auckland Law School student adviser Angela Vaai: postgradlaw@auckland.ac.nz

Apply for doctoral study

Doctoral programmes.

• Doctor of Philosophy

Related subjects

• International Business

Related links

• Doctoral applications
• Find a scholarship

Master of Laws

This course is available

On-Campus, Online

Level of Study

Master's Degree

With a one-year Master of Laws qualification from the University of Waikato you can tailor your programme through a selection of taught papers and/or research thesis.

Studying in NZ

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