Research Programmes
Doctor of Legal Science (SJD)
Course Aims:
The degree of Doctor of Legal Science is a doctoral research programme which comprises a research thesis with a coursework component. It is mainly intended for students who are interested in conducting research in the field of law and who would like to benefit from a more structured research programme to assist them in writing the doctoral thesis. It is modelled on new developments in Australian universities, which in turn were borrowed from US law schools. Students are required to take a one-module course on advanced research methodology, and other courses taken from the postgraduate Master of Laws courses on offer in the Faculty to the value of seven modules. A student may in exceptional circumstances be permitted to take some courses from the undergraduate courses taught in the Faculty, or from courses offered in other faculties of the University. A factor in course selection must be preparation for the student's area of research.
In the first instance, registration for this degree will be provisional. If the student obtains sufficiently high grades in his or her courses, registration for the degree will be confirmed. The student may then proceed to the dissertation, which is between 50,000 and 60,000 words long. This is shorter than normally expected for a doctorate degree by research alone, but is nonetheless required to be an original piece of research of publishable standard.
REGULATIONS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LEGAL SCIENCE (SJD)
Mode of Attendance:
FT: 3 Years or 4 Years
PT: 4. 5 Years or 6 Years
Entrance Requirements:
For 3-year full time programme (or 4.5-year part time programme), applicants should hold any one of the following qualifications;
(i) an LLB degree or equivalent from this or any other approved University with honours and a research Master’s degree in law from this or any other approved University; or
(ii) any other qualification accepted by the Senate on the recommendation of the Faculty of Law in an individual case;
For 4-year full time programme (or 6-year part-time programme), applicants should hold any one of the following qualifications:
(i) an LLB degree or equivalent from this or any other approved University with honours and a taught Master’s degree in law from this or any other approved University; or
(ii) an LLB degree or equivalent from this or any other approved University with normally First Class Honours or equivalent; or
(iii) any other qualification accepted by the Senate on the recommendation of the Faculty of Law in an individual case;
Programme Admissions Advisor:
Name: Dr F. W. H. Chan, Associate Dean (Research)
Tel No: 2859 7051 (Ms Gloria Wong)
Fax No: 2559 5690
General Enquiry No: 2859 2953
Online Application: http://www.hku.hk/gradsch/rola/important_notes.htm
(The S.J.D. programme adopts the same online application system as M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes.)
Tuition fee is the same as PhD.
Applications Deadline
PhD, MPhil and SJD programmes (for admissions in 2012-2013)
Hong Kong PhD Fellowships: December 1, 2011
Main round application: December 1, 2011
Clearing rounds application: April 30, 2012 & August 31, 2012