Information for Student Applicants
The Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) welcomes applications from students who wish to pursue research in any aspect of socio-legal studies, broadly defined.
CSLS Students and Programmes
We offer programmes of study leading to:
- MPhil in Socio-Legal Studies
- DPhil in Socio-Legal Studies
- MPhil in Law
The MPhil and DPhil in Socio-Legal Studies are wholly undertaken at the Centre. The MPhil in Law is available to students who have completed the BCL or MJur in the Law Faculty and wish to undertake a socio-legal project during the second year of their programme.
Due to the high volume of applications received, Centre staff are unable to enter into personal correspondence with applicants about research proposals or supervision. Applicants invited to interview will, however, have ample opportunity to discuss their projects with members of the Centre.
The Benefits of being a research student at the Centre
As a research student at the Centre, you will benefit from:
Access to a team of expert supervisors with extensive experience in socio-legal research and a strong track record of supervising students to completion.
Eligibility for ESRC-funded scholarships through the Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership.
Membership of the largest group of socio-legal research students in any academic unit in the UK.
Participation in a Centre-run methodology course, alongside access to a wide range of advanced methodology lectures across the University of Oxford.
Dedicated workspace in the Centre’s open-plan office, including a desk and storage facilities, alongside shared access to Centre facilities (kitchen, seminar room, social space) and administrative support.
Access to two world-class libraries within minutes of the Centre:
The Oxford University Social Science Library (same building)
The Bodleian Law Library (adjacent Law Faculty building)
Access to research funds to support conference attendance and fieldwork.
An extensive programme of events, including guest lectures, seminars, socio-legal masterclasses, reading groups, and student-led workshops.
A lively and supportive student community, including:
Weekly social events during term time
Student representation on the General Purposes Committee and other committees
Weekly Thursday afternoon teas and end-of-term celebrations
How to Apply
Applications are now closed for entry in the 2026–27 academic year.
All applications are reviewed together after the January deadline.
Interviews take place in February–March.
Applicants not contacted for interview by late February should assume their application has been unsuccessful.
Final decisions for interviewed applicants are normally communicated by late March.
Admissions information and application forms are available via the University Admissions website.
Research Proposals and Supervision
Applicants should demonstrate an interest in exploring the relationship between law and society. Members of the Centre supervise research across a wide range of socio-legal areas, including both theoretically informed empirical research and more theoretical socio-legal inquiry.
When preparing a research proposal, applicants may find it helpful to consider whether they have:
Engaged with existing literature in the field;
Identified a body of scholarly work and a clear gap in the literature;
Formulated a focused research question; and
Identified likely sources and appropriate research methods.
When naming referees, academic referees who have taught or supervised the applicant are preferred.
Please do not contact Centre staff to identify a supervisor in advance of applying. Supervisors are allocated to successful applicants. The application form includes an optional section where applicants may indicate staff members they feel may be particularly well suited to supervise their work. In the interests of fairness, the Centre is unable to read or comment on proposals prior to submission.
For procedural queries not addressed on these pages, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies.
Funding
Funding opportunities within the University are limited, and admission to a CSLS programme does not guarantee funding.
General information on fees and funding is available on the University’s Fees and Funding pages.
ESRC Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)
A small number of applicants can be nominated by the Centre for Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership studentships, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). These studentships cover both fees and maintenance.
Awards can be made either for the DPhil (full or part-time) or for the MPhil if the applicant is intending to continue immediately to DPhil study. In the latter case, the student should indicate this intention in their application, although the form is the same as for the MPhil.
DTP awards are open to both UK resident and international students, although only 30% of the awards may be given to international students. As a result, the Centre is very restricted in the nominations it can make for international students.
In order to be considered for nomination for a studentship, applicants must select ‘ESRC Grand Union DTP Studentships’ in the scholarships section of the application form. They must also complete a DTP Application Form and upload it, together with the graduate application form, by the funding deadline for the course.
Applicants should note that DTP studentship applications are assessed according to four criteria, namely academic record (as indicated on the University’s application form), proposal (as indicated on both application forms), personal statement, and impact. All carry equal weight in the process.
(OICSD) Scholarship Opportunity (applicants from India)
We are please to share that Oxford Indian Centre for Sustainable Development (OICSD) is offering a range of scholarships for outstanding Indian students working on India's sustainable development for October 2025 entry.
