General description

Doctoral candidates learn the essential methodological skills for in-depth and broad-ranging study of legal issues. The doctoral program of the Faculty of Law includes submitting a written PHD thesis and completing modules worth at least 30 ECTS credits. The doctoral thesis must be submitted in the form of a monograph and should make an independent contribution to research.

Admission requirements

The general doctorate is open to graduates who have obtained a Master of Law or Licentiate Degree in Law from the University of Zurich with a summa cum laude or magna cum laude distinction. Graduates who are not awarded a distinction will be admitted to the doctoral program if a Faculty member declares him or herself willing to supervise them. Candidates who have obtained a Master of Law or Licentiate Degree in Law from another Swiss University will be admitted if a Faculty member declares him or herself willing to supervise them. Candidates who have obtained a Master of Law or a degree recognized as equivalent under §
41 letter b of the Ordinance on Admission to Studies at the University of Zurich will be admitted if a Faculty member declares him or herself willing to supervise them. Admission may be tied to conditions or restrictions. Decisions on admissions will be made by the Admissions Committee. Candidates with a Master’s degree from a different university faculty that is recognized by the University of Zurich or an equivalent, recognized university qualification may be admitted in individual cases. There is no legal entitlement to admission.
Admission may be subject to conditions or restrictions. Decisions on admissions will be made by the Admissions Committee. Candidates with further education degrees at the level of Master of Advanced Studies and equivalent qualifications are not eligible for admission to the doctoral program. These qualifications may, however, be taken into account in the decision on admission if they were in the field of law and were completed successfully. Candidates who have successfully passed the selection procedure at the Faculty of Law will be admitted to the doctoral program Biomedical Ethics and Law. Applications for admission to the doctoral program must be submitted in writing to the BmEL RWF doctoral committee

ECTS credits

30 ECTS Credits
The general doctorate includes submitting a written PHD thesis and the attendance of two colloquia worth at least 30 ECTS credits.

Degree

PhD

Major/minor subject combinations

The degree program does not provide a minor subject. The degree program cannot be studied as a minor subject as part of another degree program.

Examination and assessment regulations

Performance is graded on a „pass“ or „fail“ basis.

Language of instruction

German