PhD in Law

The PhD in Law at Kathmandu University School of Law is a research-intensive doctoral program designed for scholars, legal professionals, and academicians who wish to contribute original and impactful knowledge to the field of law. The program is offered as a 4-year full-time or 6-year part-time degree, allowing candidates flexibility while maintaining strong academic rigor and structured research progression.

This doctoral program enables candidates to pursue advanced research across a wide range of legal disciplines, including corporate and commercial law, constitutional and federalism studies, arbitration and contract law, human rights law, environmental and climate change law, child and women’s rights, legal history, and adjudication. Each candidate is guided by a designated primary supervisor along with a research advisory committee consisting of experienced faculty members and visiting professors, ensuring continuous academic mentorship and interdisciplinary support.

The program is centered on independent scholarly research and emphasizes originality, critical thinking, and policy-relevant legal inquiry. Candidates are required to develop a high-quality research proposal and may be required to undertake advanced coursework in legal writing, research methodology, and quantitative or qualitative analysis depending on their research needs. In addition, PhD scholars are expected to engage in teaching activities by delivering at least one credit-bearing course per year in their area of specialization.

The admission process is competitive and involves multiple stages, including evaluation of the research proposal, written examination, presentation of research design, and interview. Final selection is based on academic merit, research potential, performance in the admission process, and approval by a designated supervisor. Admissions are conducted on a rolling basis, with formal review cycles held twice a year.

This PhD program is designed for candidates aiming to strengthen their academic careers, contribute to legal scholarship, and produce research that informs legal development and policy discourse at both national and international levels.