Victoria University has developed a new pathway to a Doctor of Philosophy. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (Integrated) in Law provides an alternative pathway to a PhD for applicants who have not had previous research training and/or experience. With the assistance of an experienced research supervisory team in one of our Academic Colleges, your original research in the field of Law will be conducted in an area that is of interest to you, relevant to industry and the community, and within VU’s research focus areas. In the first year of your degree you will undertake intensive research training in the form of required coursework and a Year 1 thesis. Upon meeting the hurdle requirement (70% average across the Year 1 coursework units and 70% in the Year 1 thesis), you will conduct further original research at the frontier of its field in Years 2-4, leading to the presentation of a doctoral thesis within the normal 4-year period and to the award of Doctor of Philosophy.

Become an independent, competent and highly sought-after researcher, equipped to pursue a research career in relevant industries and/or to become an academic. As a Doctor of Philosophy graduate, you will be expected to demonstrate a scholarly and enquiring mind, and strong capabilities in: research conceptualisation and design including reviewing of the literature; the marshalling and critical analysis of data and evidence, and conceptual innovation in order to make a significant new contribution to knowledge and society; and deep disciplinary immersion and broad interdisciplinary literacy, including methodological literacy.