Admissions Open for PhD in Law at Kathmandu University School of Law 2026

Kathmandu University School of Law invites applications for its PhD in Law program from highly motivated candidates interested in advanced legal research across specialized areas of law.

Key Details

Application Submission Start Date: Baisakh 08, 2083 (April 21, 2026)

Application Submission Deadline: Jestha 17, 2083 (May 31, 2026)

Application Link: Here

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Master’s degree in Law (LLM or equivalent)
• Minimum CGPA of 2.5 out of 4.0 or 50% aggregate marks
• At least 17 years of total education
• Demonstrated research experience and legal writing competence in the proposed area of study

Admission Process

Step 1: Preparatory Stage

• Applicants are encouraged to contact a prospective supervisor and discuss their research interest.
• If accepted by a supervisor, the candidate may refine the research proposal before formal application.

Step 2: Application Submission

Applicants must submit:

• Completed application form (Annex 1)
• Research proposal (Annex 2)
• Non-refundable application fee of NPR 2,500
• Submission email: sol_admission@ku.edu.np

The research committee will review applications and may suggest supervisors if not already identified.

Step 3: Admission Test

Shortlisted candidates will undergo:

• Written examination
• Presentation of research proposal
• Interview

Step 4: Final Selection

Selection is based on:

• Academic merit
• Admission test performance
• Interview evaluation
• Quality of research proposal and publications (if any)

Final admission requires acceptance by a supervisor.

Timeline

• Applications: Open throughout the year (rolling basis)
• Admission review: Twice a year
  • June (Fall intake)
  • November (Spring intake)

Course and Training Requirements

Candidates may be required to complete the following courses within the first year:

• Advanced Legal Writing or Academic Writing
• Advanced Legal Research Methodology
• Advanced Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods
• Additional courses prescribed by the supervisor or committee

Teaching Requirement

PhD candidates must teach at least one 3-credit course per year relevant to their research area and will be remunerated as per university rules.

Research Areas and Supervisors

Applicants may apply under the following research areas with designated primary supervisors:

• Corporate, Commercial, or Energy Law
  Supervisor: Dr. Shiva Kumar Giri, Dean
• Contract Law, Arbitration, Human Rights Law, or Nepali Legal and Judicial History
  Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Rishikesh Wagle
• Nepali/Comparative Constitutional Law or Federalism
  Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Bipin Adhikari
• Environment, Natural Resources, Climate Change Law, or Adjudication
  Supervisor: Dr. Ananda Mohan Bhattarai (Visiting Professor, Former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal)
• Child Rights, Women’s Rights, Human Rights Law, or Environmental Law
  Supervisor: Dr. Shiva Prasad Paudel, Associate Professor

Each PhD candidate will be guided by a Research Advisory Committee comprising 2 to 4 academic members, including internal and visiting faculty from KU or KU-partnered universities.

Note: Each professor will supervise a maximum of two candidates for the next two academic years.

Funding and Support

• The program currently does not offer institutional PhD funding.
• Candidates are encouraged to apply for external PhD scholarships or research fellowships.
• The School may facilitate selected candidates in obtaining or retaining scholarships/fellowships.
• Teaching or Research Assistantships may be offered based on availability and candidate merit.

Program Fee

• Total fee for the program: NPR 6,72,000 (for 4-year full-time or 6-year part-time study)
• Subject to revision by the university
• Extension beyond the stipulated period will incur additional fees

Download: Guidelines_for_Writing_a_PhD_Research_Proposal1776768690 (1).pdf