University of Michigan

What you'll study

The programme is research-led and centrally concerned with original, dissertation-based scholarship. Students pursue an in-depth doctoral thesis that critically engages questions such as gendered dimensions of international human rights, comparative approaches to family and reproductive law, gender and transitional justice, migration and refugee law, and the law and governance of sexual and gender minorities. Coursework is tailored to support the dissertation and typically includes advanced seminars in feminist legal theory, comparative constitutional law, international human rights law, research methods for legal scholarship, and specialised topics in gender and sexuality.

Students work closely with supervisors to develop a coherent programme of study that may combine doctrinal analysis, comparative legal history, qualitative fieldwork, empirical methods, and interdisciplinary theory. Opportunities exist to take elective courses across the university—for example in gender and sexuality studies, sociology, political science, public policy and anthropology—to situate legal analysis within broader social, political and cultural contexts. Regular participation in faculty-led seminars, working groups and law school colloquia complements independent research and helps prepare students for conference presentation and publication.

Entry requirements

• Academic credentials: A strong academic record in law or a related discipline, typically demonstrated by a first degree in law (JD, LLB) and often a postgraduate law degree (LLM or equivalent). Exceptional candidates with a different academic background but relevant research experience may also be considered.
• Research proposal: A clear and feasible research proposal that identifies original questions in gender, international or comparative law and demonstrates awareness of relevant literatures and methodologies.
• Supervisory fit: Evidence of potential supervisory fit with faculty members working in gender, international or comparative law. Applicants should review faculty research interests and indicate potential supervisors in their application.
• Supporting materials: Academic writing samples (such as a prior thesis or published article), letters of recommendation that speak to research potential, and a curriculum vitae outlining relevant education and professional experience.
• Language and other requirements: Proficiency in English is required. Additional language skills may be advantageous for comparative or field-based research. Professional experience in international organisations, NGOs, government or clinics is valued but not mandatory.

Career prospects

Graduates of a PhD in Law focused on Gender, International & Comparative Law typically pursue careers in academia as law professors and researchers, producing scholarship and teaching in law schools and interdisciplinary departments. Other common career paths include senior research roles in international organisations, human rights and gender-focused non-governmental organisations, policy advisory positions in government bodies and intergovernmental agencies, and leadership roles in legal advocacy and strategic litigation.

Additional opportunities arise in think tanks, public policy institutes, and consultancy firms where expertise in gender and international law informs programme design, monitoring and evaluation, and human rights-based advocacy. The strong research training also prepares graduates for editorial positions in academic publishing, fellowship and visiting researcher roles, and legal reform work in national and comparative contexts.

Why study at University of Michigan

The University of Michigan offers an intellectually vibrant environment with access to a broad range of interdisciplinary resources. The Law School has faculty working on cutting-edge issues in international and comparative law and in gender and sexuality scholarship, and the wider university supports related inquiry through programmes and departments in gender studies, political science, sociology, public policy and area studies. Students benefit from Rackham Graduate School’s doctoral training, workshops and professional development resources.

Research resources include extensive law and humanities libraries, specialised collections, and regular seminar series and conferences that attract leading scholars and practitioners. The university’s strong networks with policy institutions, NGOs and international organisations provide students with opportunities for engagement beyond the academy, including collaborative research projects, clinic placements and public-facing scholarship.

Together these elements make the University of Michigan a strong setting for doctoral work that seeks to influence scholarship, policy and practice at the intersection of gender, international and comparative law.