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PhD studies

Doctoral studies, which lead to the degree of PhD in Law, are designed to train scientists capable of performing independent scientific research.

Doctoral studies begin on the 1st of October. The duration of the studies is four years for full-time students and up to six years for part-time students, and involves exams of PhD subjects (study programme), focused scientific research and preparation of a thesis (dissertation). Respected law scholars of the highest qualification supervise PhD students. After the completion of the publications and the thesis, the PhD student defends the dissertation in a public meeting. Having defended the dissertation, the person is granted an internationally recognized degree of Social Sciences, Branch of Law.

Find more about PhD studies at Vilnius University.

Additional admission to doctoral studies in 2024:

  • Applicants must have a Master’s degree in Law or a higher education degree equivalent to it. Detailed information about the required application documents and terms can be found here.
  • Applicants must submit a research project to the Secretary of the Doctoral Committee of the Faculty of Law and participate in an interview with the admissions committee, during which the submitted research projects and their presentation at the interview are evaluated.
  • Submission of applications and admission documents from 2024 August 14 until 2024 September 10 (until 23:59).*

* Recognition of qualifications obtained abroad is carried out by the University. Please send the required documents for the recognition of the qualification by e-mail drs@cr.vu.lt. The applicant may also apply to the Study Quality Assessment Center (www.skvc.lt) for recognition of the qualification obtained abroad.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

  • Research projects must be submitted by 10 September 2024 (inclusive), but sent as early as possible. Projects must be sent to Coordinator for studies Dovilė Rakauskienė, by e-mail: dovile.rakauskiene@tf.vu.lt;
  • Once the research projects will be submitted all applicants will have motivational interviews with the admissions committee , which are scored on a 10-point system based on their presentation during the interview.
  • Motivational interviews will take place:
    • Date: 20 September 2024;
    • Time: from 10 am;
    • Place: Vilnius University Faculty of Law (Saulėtekio av. 9, 1st block) Room 302.

Research project and its evaluation:

  • The research project must be based on one of the topics listed in the list of dissertations themes.
  • The title of the research project may coincide with one of the approved PhD topics in the field of Law or may deal with a more specific scientific problem.
  • The length of the research project is up to 10 pages.
  • The proposal should describe the project’s scope, aim and goals, its scholarly significance and research methodology, including any source materials on which the project will rely, it should introduce the stages of planned research.

Components of the competition score:

  1. Weighted grade point average of the Master‘s diploma (or integrated Master‘s diploma) supplement (maximum score – 10 points);
  2. Research project and interview assessment (maximum score – 10 points);
  3. Evaluation‘s grade of scientific qualification, significance of scientific works and correspondence of scientific experience to the chosen topic (maximum score – 10 points).

Selection criteria:

Field of science, code Law, S 001
Selection procedure Research project and interview
The structure of the competitive score and their coefficients
Diploma Supplement Grades

weighted average (WA), up to 10 points

 Research project and interview

assessment (RPI), up to 10 points

 Scientific experience and science

evaluation of works (SW), up to

10 points
0,25 x (WA) 0,6 x (RPI) 0,15 x (SW)
Minimum score 5

Tuition fee:

State funded place with scholarship. Free of charge for full-time most talented and motivated students from the EU countries.

State non-funded place. Students admitted to part-time state non-funded doctoral studies must pay the stated tuition fee per one academic year.

For more detailed information

Coordinator for PhD studies (Secretary of the Doctoral Committee) at the Faculty of Law:
Dovilė Rakauskienė
+370 5 236 6182
dovile.rakauskiene@tf.vu.lt
304 room, Saulėtekis av. 9 – I block, 10222 Vilnius
Advising hours:
I – IV  9.00 – 12.00,  12.30 – 17.00
V  9.00 – 12.00,  12.30 – 15.45

 

Office of Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies:
+370 5 268 7095; +370 5 268 7093
drs@cr.vu.lt
108–109 room, Universitetas st. 3, 01513 Vilnius
Advising hours:
I – V 9.00 – 16.00