The PhD Programme in Legal Sciences aims to cultivate a high level of critical awareness of the complexity of the legal phenomenon in all its many dimensions among doctoral candidates, in constant dialogue with the European and international legal frameworks.

Common training activities will play a pivotal role during the first year but will continue to represent the structural foundation of the programme throughout the following years, during which all PhD candidates will be invited to share and discuss their respective research experiences.

The Programme is committed to promoting the publication of doctoral research works that demonstrate scientifically relevant results, whether in the Department’s own publication series, the University’s UnicaPress series, or in peer-reviewed academic journals. It also encourages doctoral candidates to participate as presenters in seminars and conferences related to their research topics.

Upon completion of the programme, PhD graduates in Legal Sciences will have acquired a comprehensive methodological framework for conducting scientific research and developed an independent and critical capacity for achieving original results within the field of legal studies.

Programme description

The PhD Programme in Legal Sciences is integrated into the Doctoral Project in Advanced Legal Training - Progetto Dottorale di Alta Formazione in Scienze Giuridiche — Progetto Dottorale di Alta Formazione in Scienze Giuridichea prestigious consortium comprising the PhD programmes of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, the University of Siena, LUISS Guido Carli University of Rome, the University of Cagliari, the University of Catania, the University of Florence, the Public University of Navarra, and the University of Salamanca (Spain). The Programme is also a founding member of the Association of PhD Programmes in Private Law (ADP).

To further its international scope, the Programme concluded two international doctoral cooperation agreements in 2020 with the Université Sorbonne Paris Nord and the University of Salamanca. Building on this foundation, a further agreement was signed in 2024 with the University of Navarra.

These collaborative agreements are crucial, as they enable PhD candidates to obtain a double doctoral degree, which is fully recognized in each of the partner countries.

Educational Objectives

The PhD Programme in Legal Sciences seeks to cultivate in doctoral candidates a profound and critical understanding of the complexity of legal phenomena in all their multiple aspects. The core mission is to foster the formation of a truly “European Jurist”—one capable of identifying the evolutionary trends and needs of contemporary law, which is increasingly shaped by the interaction among national, supranational, and international sources.

By the end of the programme, PhD graduates in Legal Sciences will have acquired the appropriate methodological framework for planning and conducting scientific research, along with the critical independence required to produce original and innovative contributions to legal scholarship.

The Programme actively encourages the publication of doctoral research results in the Department’s or University’s editorial series or in leading academic journals. Furthermore, it promotes the participation of doctoral candidates as presenters in seminars and conferences related to their research topics.

Annually, the Academic Board, acting upon the Coordinator’s proposal, defines a general thematic focus to be developed in its various applications. This theme—which must remain compatible with each candidate's individual specialization and research project—is explored through structured cycles of lectures and seminars delivered by both members of the Board and distinguished visiting scholars from Italian and foreign universities.

Career Opportunities and Professional Outcomes