PhD in Legal Studies

Bocconi University invites applicants for 8 fully funded PhD positions within the Legal Studies doctoral program. Fellowships amount to € 27,000 for year 1 and € 23,000 for the year 2 and 3. Students with fellowship are exempt from the payment of tuition fees for the duration of the three-year program. 

The International and European Law curriculum seeks to foster world-class research on any topic within the two broad subject areas of international law and European law. Potential fields of interest include, but are not limited to, general public international law, international trade law, international investment law, international cultural heritage law, international criminal law, private international law, European economic law, European trade law, European internal market law, European external relations law, European Citizenship, European constitutional law, EU governance, EU fundamental rights, and European social law, privacy and media law. Interested students will become part of the Bocconi European Studies Lab (BLEST - https://blest.unibocconi.eu/), a centre for interdisciplinary research in the field of European matters.   

The Business and Social Law curriculum aims to promote excellence in  study of business law with an approach combining an interdisciplinary perspective, an international orientation and the analysis of the specific fields of the law covered by the program (e.g. corporation, securities, competition, commercial contracts, bankruptcy, IPRs, labor law, white collar crimes). The study of law and economics and social sciences complements business and legal studies. 

Bocconi university is part of CIVICA, the European University of Social Sciences (civica.eu), a network of 8 European universities (Science Po, European University Institute, Hertie School, London School of Economics Stockholm School of Economics, Central European University, and SNSPA School of Governance). Beside the courses offered by the Bocconi PhD in Legal Studies Programme, including a joint course with LSE, students can choose from a rich portfolio of courses offered by our partners. PhD students are encouraged to take part in exchanges and activities (including targeted summer and winter schools) within the CIVICA network. Furthermore, Bocconi has several exchange programmes with partners outside the CIVICA network. 

Students are expected to take an active part in the life of the Department In their second and third years, where possible, students have the opportunity to gain experience as Teaching Assistants. 

Students are encouraged to network with PhD students from other departments and universities and with speakers at our guest seminar series and at other events. 

The program aims to create a vibrant community of young researchers fully integrated into the life of the Department and in this way to contribute to forming the next generation of research leaders. Successful applicants will spend the first part of the program at Bocconi following a set of tailored courses on legal and interdisciplinary research methodologies and specialized seminars on selected topics. Students are subsequently encouraged to spend a period abroad as visiting researchers at foreign universities, taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by the CIVICA network and by the other partner institutions, in international research centers or international organizations. Bocconi University provides support to PhD students for research stays abroad. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Applications can be submitted by candidates of any citizenship who: 

• Have completed or are completing their graduate studies and
• Have at least a “proven” B2 (CEFR) level of competence in English  

For the PhD in Legal Studies, the PhD School offers:

• A maximum of 8 places with a fellowship (4 for the curriculum in International and European Law, 4 for the curriculum in Business and Social Law);
• A maximum of 2 places with payment of tuition fees. 

Tuition fees for students without a fellowship or tuition waiver amount to €15,000 for year 1 and €5,000 for year 2 and 3.

For more detailed information, please see the full official call published on the website www.unibocconi.eu/admissionphd

For more detailed information about our program, please visit the website: http://www.unibocconi.eu/phdlegalstudies 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: To apply for our PhD program only our online application procedure may be used.

The deadline for applications is 15 January 2025.  

Applicants shall select on the on-line application the curriculum they opt for.  

The Admission Board will first evaluate the suitability of the applicants’ qualifications and, after a first step of selection, the Board will interview some candidates in order to better assess their qualifications (second step of selection).

The first step assessment is based on a candidate’s: 

1. Personal curriculum (indispensable): full CV
2. Research proposal (indispensable): detailed description of research proposal coherent with one of the curricular disciplinary fields
3. Reference letters: up to three reference letters uploaded by referees appointed in the online application procedure
4. Academic records (indispensable): transcript of exams and certification of undergraduate and graduate degrees awarded and final grade (if any); if the graduate program has not been completed, an enrollment document with the full study plan, the exams taken and the grades achieved;
5. Statement of purpose (indispensable): short description (max 1200 words) of candidate’s motivation for enrollment in a Bocconi PhD program and of his/her professional goals
6. Other relevant documents (maximum five): e.g. thesis’ abstract, publications, other programs attended, etc.  

The Admission Board will interview (online) candidates who have obtained at least 70 points out of 100 in the qualifications assessment.

The second step assessment is based on the online interview, whose maximum score is 30 points.

A candidate will be eligible for admission if he or she has obtained at least 70 points out of 100 in the qualifications assessment and at least 20 points out of 30 in the interview.

Please consult our website for complete details of our application procedure by clicking the 'Apply' button

For more information about the program, please feel free to contact our Program Assistant at infophd@unibocconi.it