Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)

The Doctor of Juridical Science is a structured programme that incorporates coursework and independent research. Individually tailored, it’ll help you achieve a PhD degree with maximum support.If you have an established professional or academic record, this degree may suit you. You'll achieve mastery of content, acquire skills and develop attributes appropriate to senior positions in academia, law and related professions.The Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) is structured to ensure that you have optimal supervision to contribute to these outcomes. The University of Waikato has developed strong relationships and networks with national and international communities of researchers to ensure that this doctoral programme is relevant and responsive to your needs as well as to the needs of the profession.

To qualify to enrol in the Doctor of Juridical Science degree, you’ll be required to:Hold a bachelor's degree with honours or a master's degree, and must have achieved first or second class honours (first division) or distinction, orHold a Master of Philosophy, orHave passed qualifying papers at a satisfactory level.In exceptional circumstances, if you have produced other evidence signifying that you hold adequate skills and knowledge to proceed with the proposed research to the satisfaction of the Postgraduate Research Committee you may be permitted to enrol in the DJS programme.To be eligible for PhD or Higher Degree study you must have completed a Bachelor with Honours or a Masters degree, which has a significant research component. A research component must be a thesis, dissertation, or research project which makes up at least 25% of one year’s study of your entry qualification. Research methods papers are not counted as a research component.