For the admission to the Doctoral Programme in Law, the School of Law announces admission to the Doctoral programme taking into account the thematic areas of the research projects of the School’s academic staff.

Admission to the Doctoral Programme in Law is subject to the following cumulative requirements:

• Holding a Master of Research in Law or an equivalent academic degree, or holding a Master of Law degree in the case of graduates of educational programmes who enrolled before 1st September of 2026 and completed a Master’s Programme in Law comprising at least 120 ECTS;

• Successful completion of the English-language examination (the minimum competency threshold is 70% of the maximum assessment);

• A person is exempt from the English-language examination upon presentation of an international certificate confirming English-language proficiency at no lower than B2 (Upper Intermediate) level (IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge English Exam) and successful completion of the relevant examination (scores corresponding to B2 level are IELTS 5.5–6.5; TOEFL iBT 72–94; Cambridge English Exam 160–179), or upon presentation of a document confirming study in an English-taught Bachelor’s/Master’s/Doctoral programme in Georgia or abroad;

• An applicant to the programme must submit a research concept prepared in accordance with ACADEMIC WRITING STANDARDS;

• The candidate is required to have a previous paper/publication in the field of law and/or participation in scientific research projects and activities and/or at least two years of work experience in the relevant field.

When making its decision, the School Council takes into account: (a) the candidate’s research skills; and (b) the alignment of the research concept and topic with the School’s research areas and human resources.

The objectives of the Doctoral Programme in Law are to:

• Prepare a researcher in the field of law who possesses knowledge based on the latest advances in law and is capable of conducting original, contemporary and innovative research aimed at creating new legal knowledge and/or developing existing knowledge;
• Develop the doctoral student’s research and analytical skills so that the student is able to independently study current and complex legal problems, select an appropriate research methodology and, taking into account the research topic, apply interdisciplinary approaches;
• Facilitate the dissemination, in academic and professional settings, of new legal knowledge created by the doctoral student, including through scientific publications, research projects, academic discussions and teaching activities;
• Develop the competencies required for the doctoral student to engage in teaching activities at a higher education institution, including the ability to plan, conduct and assess the learning process.

Graduates of the programme may be employed as scholars/researchers in research and scientific organisations and institutions in the field of law and/or in academic positions at higher education institutions.

• discussion/debate;
• induction, deduction, analysis and synthesis;
• critical analysis;
• review of recent developments;
• delivery of presentations;
• problem-based learning;
• problem-solving exercises;
• case study and analysis (Case Study);
• critical and comparative analysis
• research-oriented learning
• critical analysis of scientific sources
• doctrinal (normative) analysis
• reflective learning
• searching for relevant materials electronically or in the library;
• written work method;
• seminar preparation and presentation;
• practical work (research project);
• portfolio compilation;
• report preparation and presentation.

The doctoral dissertation shall comprise no fewer than 30,000 and no more than 50,000 words.

The doctoral student’s scientific research component is assessed according to the following system:

• Excellent (summa cum laude) – an excellent work;
• Very Good (magna cum laude) – a result that exceeds the prescribed requirements in all respects;
• Good (cum laude) – a result that exceeds the prescribed requirements;
• Average (bene) – an average-level work that meets the prescribed basic requirements;
• Satisfactory (rite) – a result that, despite deficiencies, nevertheless meets the prescribed requirements;
• Unsatisfactory (insufficient) – an unsatisfactory work that fails to meet the prescribed requirements;
• Completely Unsatisfactory (sub omni canone) – a result that completely fails to meet the prescribed requirements.

The doctoral student’s workload consists of teaching and research components. The teaching component comprises 60 ECTS. Of the 60 ECTS allocated to the teaching component, the doctoral student completes 50 ECTS from the programme core block and 10 ECTS from the programme elective block.

The teaching components are delivered on a semester basis. The duration of a semester is 22 weeks, and the academic year is 44 weeks. The teaching components are led by the authors of the respective components, while the research components are supervised by the doctoral student’s academic supervisor.

To support the doctoral student’s scientific and research development, a Scientific Advisory Council is involved in the implementation of the programme. At the initial stage of the doctoral student’s enrolment, the Council reviews and approves the plan of teaching/research components agreed upon by the doctoral student and the supervisor; at subsequent stages, it periodically evaluates the doctoral student’s progress and issues relevant recommendations. The Council also considers the appropriateness of the doctoral student’s scientific activities, including the preparation of publications, the delivery of scientific seminars and participation in conferences, thereby ensuring systematic monitoring of the research process and academic support for the doctoral student.

Prior to the doctoral student’s conduct of research, the ethical compliance of the research is assessed. Where a questionnaire, test, experiment or other research instrument is used, the doctoral student submits the relevant information in advance to the Human Subjects Council. The Council verifies that the research complies with the requirements relating to the protection of human rights and dignity, research ethics, the safety and well-being of participants, the legislation of Georgia, and the fundamental principles of the University.

Additional mechanisms are available to support the doctoral student’s research activities, including opportunities to fund scientific publications, scientific mobility and scientific experiments. Particular attention within the doctoral programme is devoted to the doctoral student’s scientific activity: admission to the defence of the doctoral dissertation requires publications related to the relevant research topic, scientific seminars, and participation in a conference as a presenter.