Admission Requirements

Admission with a Master of Law or licentiate degree from the Faculty of Law, University of Zurich

Candidates who have obtained a Master of Law degree or a licentiate degree in law from the University of Zurich with the distinction summa cum laude or magna cum laude are entitled to admission. Candidates who have not achieved the distinction will be admitted to the doctorate if a member of the professorial staff has indicated willingness to assume supervision.

Admission with a Master of Law or degree of equal value from a foreign faculty of law

Persons who have obtained a Master of Law degree or a degree that is recognized as being of equal value in accordance with § 41 lit. b of the Ordinance on admission to studies at the University of Zurich from a foreign faculty of law are admitted if a member of the professorial staff has indicated willingness to assume supervision. Admission may be linked to conditions or restrictions. The admissions committee decides on admission.

Admission with a Master’s degree or degree of equal value in another field of study

Admission is possible with a Master's degree in another field of study recognized by the University of Zurich, or a university educational background that is recognized as being of equal value, in individual cases. There is no legal entitlement to be admitted to a program. Admission may be linked to conditions or restrictions. The admissions committee decides on admission.

Continuing education degrees

Continuing education qualifications from the Master of Advanced Studies level and courses of equal value do not entitle candidates to admission to the doctorate. However, they may be taken into account in the decision on admission.

Selection procedure

Anybody who has successfully completed the selection process at the Faculty of Law will be admitted to the Faculty of Law’s Doctoral program. Please consult the relevant website for admission to other Doctoral programs:

Biomedical Ethics and Law PhD program

Asia and Europe PhD program