SJD Doctor of Juridical Science at Harvard University

Programme overview

Harvard Law School’s most advanced law degree, designed for aspiring legal academics who wish to pursue sustained independent study, research and writing; about 60 candidates from 25-30 countries are in the programme, most of whom go on to teaching positions.

Faculty: Harvard Law School | Study mode: full-time | Intake: Fall | Location: Cambridge, MA, United States

What you will study

Five stages: a study plan including course work; an oral examination; two presentations at the S.J.D. Colloquium; submission and acceptance of a doctoral dissertation; and an oral defence of the dissertation. The study plan and oral examination are normally completed in the first one to two years, and the remaining requirements in the three years after the oral examination.

Career pathways

Most candidates secure law teaching positions in their home countries, the U.S. or third countries.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants ordinarily must first complete the Harvard Law School LL.M. program (including the 50-page LL.M. Paper) with a distinguished record and have obtained previous law degrees with distinction; about 10 to 12 applicants are admitted each year. The Committee on Graduate Studies also considers legal scholarship to date, academic experience, recommendations and a dissertation proposal. The 2027 application closes April 1, 2027.

Intake: Fall

Apply through the official page: https://hls.harvard.edu/graduate-program/graduate-program-admissions-and-financial-aid/apply-to-the-graduate-program/

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