This program is offered at ELGS Athens and ELGS Rome campuses.
In your application you will be asked to select the campus of your preference.
The Program
The ELGS PhD is a degree program lasting a minimum of 3 years which enables students to conduct independent research in the fields of Legal Research, Governance Studies, or on an interdisciplinary topic. It is supported by the expansive ELGS International Faculty network of over 100 legal and governance scholars and practitioners worldwide, the ELGS’ Partner Universities across Europe and the world, and the EPLO. Importantly, students of the program will be granted access to attend EPLO events on key themes in EU law and governance and to interact with renown EU leaders and decision-makers. Students graduate with a clear understanding and awareness of the most up-to-date scholarly research, as well as a solid professional network to support them in their career after the ELGS.
Full time residency is not a requirement for this degree, but students may be required to attend several training sessions throughout the program which will be held at the EPLO premises in Greece. The first training session which normally takes place on January every year will introduce students to advanced research methods, while consecutive sessions focus on tutoring and teaching skills. Students are also expected attend classes, seminars, and lectures, as designated by their supervisors, and to be actively involved in presenting their research findings at conferences throughout Europe and the greater world. Upon completion of the program students will deliver up to a 100,000 word thesis.
While this program encourages mobility and flexibility, students are expected to be devoted full time to their PhD studies. Students that are employed should be able to demonstrate balance work and study and be able to deliver their thesis within the established period of time.
Program Benefits
The ELGS PhD program is a modern program of the highest academic standard, which has been designed with flexibility and mobility in mind. Successful applicants will be assigned a supervisor, based upon their academic interests, from the renowned International Faculty Network of the ELGS.
The International Faculty Network is comprised of professors and practitioners from throughout the world, which enables students to conduct research on a wide-range of topics, in many countries and in roughly 10 languages.*
*Dependent upon the availability of a suitable supervisor
Program Content
The structure and content of the program can be found below:
Courses
Year 1
- Students admitted as Probationary Research Students (PRS)
- Attend 2 week orientation program in mid October at Sounion(25 hours of classes in research methods, statistical methods, presentation preparation, public speaking)
- Assign supervisor and devise work program
- Attend classes and conferences as determined by supervisor
- Meetings with supervisor
- Qualifying Test (10,000 word paper on research proposal, Title, Draft Outline)
Year 2
- Successful students from 1st year progress from PRS to PhD status
- 2-day training on ‘How to be a tutor’ at Sounion (optional)
- Assist in undergraduate and postgraduate tutorials of the ELGS (for resident students)
- Attend classes and conferences as determined by supervisor
- Attend PhD Conference (Year 2 or 3)
- PhD Students submit confirmation Test
Year 3
- Tutorship
- Attend classes and conferences as determined by supervisor
- Attend PhD Conference (Year 2 or 3)
- Students granted leave to supplicate
- Delivery of Thesis
- Thesis Defense
Admissions Requirements and Procedures
Academic Requirements
Students from all over the world may be admitted following a rigorous application process. Prospective students for the PhD should have a first or second class master’s degree in law, political sciences, or in a relevant field of the social sciences. High caliber students with a background in a different field of studies or a particularly competitive profile with evidence of relevant professional experience and long-term dedication to the field will also be considered. Due to the international nature of the program, degree equivalencies will be determined by the Faculty Board.
Language Requirements
All taught elements of the program will be conducted in the English language. As a result, students originating from non-English speaking countries must evidence their level of English language skills in accordance with the following:
- TOEFL Internet based, Score of 90 or above
- IELTS, 6.0
- Duolingo, 95
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency, Grade B or above
- Any other internationally recognized test with equivalent marks
- Students intending to conduct their research in a language other than English must demonstrate their level of the relevant language skills.
Application
To apply for a program, students must first review the application form and its requirements to ensure the collection of appropriate material. By the time they have gathered all documentation, they should proceed with payment of the one-time application fee either at the relevant online portal or via a bank transfer. Students should always add their surname, initial letter of their first name and Degree title in the deposit description. Students will be asked first to select the campus of preference. They can then proceed with their application which can only be conducted online and submit it along with the supporting documentation, listed below. All support documents must be in electronic format and uploaded to be sent with the application, except for the reference letters, which should be emailed directly from Referees to PhD admissions at PhD@elgs.eu. Students may be invited to be interviewed. Link to the application process here.
At a glance, the application must include:
- Completed online Application Form in English
- Photograph and ID (scanned and uploaded)
- Most Recent Academic Record (scanned and uploaded)
- Proof of English language skills if non-native English speaker (TOEFL 90, Cambridge Proficiency grade B)
- Proof of proficiency of language that thesis will be written in, if non-native speaker
- Personal Statement with Scholarship request if applicable 400-600 words
- Two Reference Letters (if employed, one must be from current employer)
- Research Proposal 1,500 words
- Two Academic Writing Samples on relevant topic (Master’s thesis accepted)
- Application Fee of 50 euros ( non-refundable)
Deadline
Applications for Session 2024/2025 are open for submission. The Research Skills taught program will take place in January 2025. The exact dates are to be announced.
Applications for session 2025/2026 are open for submission until the end of May 2025.
Tuition and Aid
Tuition and Fees for PhD students for this Academic year is as follows:
- Application fee of 50€
- Tuition fee per year for full time students 15,180€ per year
- Accommodation fees as per availability and request
All students must be able to provide evidence of sufficient funding to cover the cost of their tuition fees throughout the duration of the program. If you have obtained funding from an outside source, please indicate this in your application. Please note that there are a limited number of scholarships available each year, which are select based upon merit. In the event that you are interested in being considered for a scholarship, please submit a scholarship request in the amount of 400-600 words.