The doctoral programme covers four years and leads to either a doctoral degree in law or philosophy. Postgraduate studies can also lead to a licentiate degree in law or philosophy after two years.

The programme for the doctoral degree includes courses of 30 higher education credits and thesis work. The licentiate degree includes courses of 15 higher education credits. The department has a seminar-based graduate school in Business law and legal research.

Parts of the thesis must be presented and discussed at a number of mandatory seminars during the doctoral programme.

Research orientations

Business law research at the department is largely conducted using legal methods. Not infrequently, the emphasis is on the so-called legal dogmatic method which is anchored in the traditional doctrine of legal sources and focus on the content of current law.

However, Business law research can also have a broader social science focus. Such research may involve greater or lesser elements of qualitative or quantitative empirical approaches or of normative social science theory foundation.

The direction of the research project and the doctoral student's choice of method are decisive for whether a doctorate in law or philosophy is to be completed.

Admission and funding

The department decides on admission to the postgraduate programme. Applications are prepared by the Research Committee at the Department of Business Law.

The application to the doctoral program must contain:

• CV with certified copies.
• Project plan (approx. 15 pages) where the dissertation's aims, theoretical framework, overall structure and relationship to previous research are included.
• Summary of the project (maximum 200 words).
• Estimated timetable.
• Previously published writings, reports as well as essays demonstrating independent work within undergraduate education.

The selection of applicants is made with regard to the applicant’s expected ability to complete the postgraduate programme.

The department can employ a limited number of postgraduate students as doctoral students. Competition may arise regarding such employment. Potential applicant must therefore be prepared for the fact that external funding, often in form of scholarships funding, may be needed in order to be able to conduct postgraduate studies.

How to apply

All doctoral positions are announced on the Lund University job portal.

Vacant doctoral positions at Lund University – lunduniversity.lu.se

Application period

The Department of Business Law advertises doctoral positions when there is financial possibilities. Admission is announced at least six weeks before the application deadline.