The Doctoral Programme in Law may be pursued in one of the following formats:

• 4 years (8 semesters) – for full-time attendance, comprising a doctoral course lasting two semesters (60 ECTS) and a thesis preparation phase lasting six semesters (180 ECTS);
• 6 years (12 semesters) – for part-time attendance, comprising a doctoral course lasting two semesters (60 ECTS) and a thesis preparation phase lasting ten semesters (180 ECTS).

The taught component includes participation in seminars addressing cross-cutting themes across the various branches of Law. It serves a dual purpose: firstly, to help students explore new perspectives and research approaches within legal studies; and secondly, to propose potential research areas. At the same time, students are expected to attend methodology-oriented courses. Each academic year, students will attend and be assessed in several modules offered by the Faculty of Law.

After completing the first semester of the doctoral course, each student must choose a thesis topic and propose a supervisor to the Scientific Council.
Once the topic has been approved, the student will have six months to prepare the thesis project, which will then be evaluated by a panel composed of the supervisor and two or three members appointed by the Plenary Scientific Council of the Faculty of Law of UCP.
Approval of this project is a prerequisite for admission to the thesis preparation phase.