Doctor of Philosophy in Law

  • Total # of Credit hours
    57

Welcome Message

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Doctor of Philosophy in Law program.
I wish our esteemed students continued success, progress, and academic excellence, and I thank you for choosing to join Ajman University.

The College of Law at Ajman University launched the Doctor of Philosophy in Law program in the second semester of the academic year 2017–2018, following its accreditation by the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates.

The program brings together a distinguished group of faculty members with high academic and professional competence, enabling them to provide exceptional legal education across various specializations. Through this program, the College seeks to achieve a three-dimensional framework encompassing knowledge, skills, and innovation, ensuring that graduates meet the needs of the local, regional, and international labor markets.

The program also aims to equip graduates with the ability to keep pace with scientific and technological advancements and to develop innovative solutions to legal disputes within their areas of specialization. We aspire to prepare a distinguished group of legal scholars qualified to assume teaching positions at universities and to hold key positions within and beyond the UAE.

We are always ready to provide the necessary support and academic guidance to all.
Welcome to the program.

Coordinator of the PhD in Law Program
Dr. Najla flayyih

Program Overview

Introduction:

The College of Law at Ajman University was established to be one of the leading institutions of legal education at both the local and regional levels, fulfilling its role among UAE universities in preparing generations of competent legal professionals.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Law program was accredited in the academic year 2017–2018,and has been converted into a Hybrid Program starting from the academic year 2025–2026, to enhance flexibility and meet students’ needs.

 Program Objectives:
  1. Deepen the student's knowledge of legal specializations and their connection to societal issues.
  2. Provide the community with qualified graduates capable of assuming teaching and planning responsibilities and developing their institutions.
  3. Enable the student to conduct specialized comparative legal research and studies that enrich legal knowledge.
  4. Instill a spirit of creativity and continuous knowledge development in the field of law in the student.
  5. Empower students to achieve high professional goals and hold leadership roles in the UAE society.
  6. Prepare students to address legal issues and challenges.
  7. Enable students to develop critical thinking skills.
  8. Contribute to the development of the UAE community and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) communities.
  9. Qualify Emirati citizens to the highest degree in all legal specializations needed by the job market, contributing to the ongoing community development.
  10. Encouraging scientific competencies to promote creativity and innovation, as well as directing and advancing scientific research to address the issues of the Emirati society and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) communities.
 Admission Requirements and Procedures:

To be admitted into the program, the student must meet the following conditions:

  • Hold a Master's degree in Public Law or Private Law, or equivalent, from a recognized university by the Ministry of Education - Higher Education Affairs in the UAE, with a GPA not less than Very Good (3 out of 4) or its equivalent.

In special cases, and with the college council's approval, the student may be conditionally admitted to the Ph.D. program if their GPA in the Master's degree is less than Very Good (3 out of 4). The admission becomes final only after the student successfully completes the first three courses with a grade not less than 80% (B).

  • Passing the TOEFL test with a minimum score of 500 (ITP) or 61 (iBT), or the Academic IELTS with a minimum score of 5, or an equivalent score in another approved standardized test such as IESOL with a B1 level, provided that the test certificate is valid at the time of submission. Or by enrolling in the remedial English course (ENG 500 - Pre-Essential English), which is offered over one academic semester, with two contact hours per week, provided that the student passes the course with a minimum score of 80%. (Note: This course is non-credit and serves as an alternative to an English proficiency certificate).

  • Submit two recommendation letters from professors who have taught the student at the Master's level.
Program Duration:

The minimum duration to obtain a Ph.D. degree is not less than three academic years and does not exceed five, calculated from the student's enrollment in the program until the date of the supervisor's submission of the thesis for defense. The summer semesters are not included in this duration, and approved periods of enrollment suspension are excluded. In exceptional cases, the college council may consider individual situations.

Program Learning Outcomes

PhD Program Learning Outcomes in Alignment with the UAE Qualifications Framework:

(1) Cognitive Skills:

  • In terms of breadth: compares legislative, jurisprudential, and judicial approaches.

  • In terms of type: links legal specializations with societal issues.

(2) Intellectual (Mental or Analytical) Skills:

  • In terms of scope: conducts comparative legal research characterized by originality.

  • In terms of selection: drafts legal memoranda, judgments, and legal texts.

(3) Aspects of Competence:

  • In terms of autonomy and responsibility: provides professional opinions in solving legal problems.

  • In terms of self-development: applies self-learning to contribute to professional advancement.

  • In terms of ethical commitment: adheres to professional ethics in legal and judicial practice.

  • In terms of contextual role: leads a team to accomplish professional legal tasks.

Study Plan

Study Plan