1. Academic Qualifications: An accredited Bachelor’s degree in Law, Politics, International Relations, European Studies, Public Administration or a related field (LLB, BA, BSc or equivalent) in addition to an accredited Master’s degree in Law, Politics, International Relations, European Studies, Public Administration or a related field (LLM, MA, MSc or equivalent). Copies of degrees awarded must be submitted as part of a complete application package.
2. Application form: Applicants must submit an application form for admission and enrolment to the programme. The application form requests general information about the applicant, their qualifications, and relevant experience.
3. Curriculum vitae: a complete CV specifying all academic and professional background and activities.
4. Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must obtain two recommendation letters from individuals who have known the applicant in an educational and/or professional environment. At least one of the recommendation letters must be from an academic institution where the applicant has studied previously.
5. English Language Proficiency: TOEFL (paper-based test 600, computer-based test 250, internet based test 100) or IELTS 6.5. For students who graduated from an English-speaking University, English language is not a requirement.
6. Previous theses/dissertations and any published work of academic relevance (if any).
7. Initial Research Proposal: An initial proposal (1,500 – 3,000 words) outlining the research topic, aims and objectives, research questions and proposed research methodology.
8. Statement of Purpose: Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive outline highlighting their academic and individual competencies and state why they believe they are suitable for admission to the Programme, as well as their reflections regarding the expectations and value of the Programme for their personal advancement and career development.
9. Individual Interviews: The Department Doctoral Programme Committee will hold an individual interview of the applicant prior to deciding. The Department Doctoral Programme Committee, having examined the applicant’s suitability against the entry criteria, having reviewed the application and interviewed the applicant, will determine his or her suitability and the appropriateness of their initial proposal.
10. In view of the limited number of applicants to be admitted to the programme, the Department Doctoral Programme Committee will decide on the basis of merit and by evaluating specific criteria who are the most suitable candidates to be admitted to the programme. The Committee will exercise its judgment, taking into account the overall quality, merit and feasibleness of the research proposal, the quality of the prior research work of the candidate and the candidate’s academic and other relevant qualifications as included in the curriculum vitae and the applicant’s replies and performance during the individual interview.
11. In assessing the research proposal, the Committee will also examine the extent to which it corresponds with the objectives of the PhD programme as described in Annex 1 of the Joint PhD Agreement, i.e. producing researchers with a multi/interdisciplinary profile, mainly in the fields of law, politics, economics and sociology, where both theoretical dimensions and empirical analyses are given relevance in the overall approach to be embraced. The proposal should aim to address the multi-level dimensions of human rights implementation policies, focusing on the most innovative and critical developments, so as to critically assess the effectiveness and consistency of doctrines and practices and their impact. Focus should be on the global dimension; the European regional context as well as other regional systems; the nation-wide dimensions, preferably with a comparative approach; or the local community actors and dynamics. Institutions and private actors’ roles can be addressed. The proposal should aim to reflect the subjects addressed in the human rights instruments, as well as the practice that comes along with their implementation.
12. The decision to admit the selected students to the programme must be approved by the Academic Board of the programme.

Course assessment usually comprises of a comprehensive final exam and continuous assessment. Continuous assessment can include amongst others, mid-terms, projects.

Letter grades are calculated based on the weight of the final exam and the continuous assessment and the actual numerical marks obtained in these two assessment components. Based on the course grades the student’s semester grade point average (GPA) and cumulative point average (CPA) are calculated.

The student must complete 180 ECTS and all programme requirements.

A minimum cumulative grade point average (CPA) of 2.0 is required. Thus, although a ‘D-‘ is a PASS grade, in order to achieve a CPA of 2.0 an average grade of ‘C’ is required.

Upon successful completion of this program, the students should be able to:

1. Be specifically trained in case-analysis, project-setting and problem-solving contexts.
2. Acquire research skills and analytical competences to address the socio-political challenges posed by the processes of implementation and contextualization of human rights standards and policies.
3. Acquire the competence necessary to analyze and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of public policies carried out by intergovernmental, state and sub-state entities, including the EU institutions and organs, as well as the role of non-state actors, including corporate organizations, civil society organizations, communities, human rights activists’ networks.
4. Possess the competences and skills required for academic careers, as well as to advise and assist public and private institutions active in the legal and socio-political fields, in education, communication and cultural mediation in implementing human rights programmes.
5. Comprehend basic principles of research design, including an understanding of how to conceptualize legal research, formulate researchable problems, and construct and test hypotheses by applying a range of research methods and tools.
6. Be able to manage successfully all the stages of a research project, including designing, conducting and disseminating research in a way that is consistent with both professional practice and the standard principles of research ethics.
7. Understand and appreciate the significance of alternative epistemological positions that provide the context for theory construction, research design and the selection of appropriate analysis techniques.
8. Understand and apply the concepts of generalizability, validity, reliability and replicability and identify potential biases in the interpretation of research findings.
9. Develop a sound understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of a range of research methodologies and data collection methods.
10. Be in a position to illustrate and critically evaluate research methods used in legal enquiry and demonstrate aptitude in the preparation, execution and management of an independent research study.
11. Develop skills in the dissemination of findings to the wider academic community, initially through writing-up their Thesis and then through publishing their work in academic journals and/or giving presentations in academic conferences and seminars.

Section: A – Courses