University of Chicago

What you'll study

The programme combines advanced legal theory, doctrinal analysis and empirical or normative approaches to questions of gender, human rights and comparative public and private international law. Early years focus on core coursework in legal theory, methods, and areas of comparative and international law, alongside specialised seminars in gender and sexuality, transnational feminist theory, international human rights, migration and refugee law, war and conflict, and comparative constitutionalism.

• Core components: seminars on research design and legal theory, methods courses (qualitative, quantitative or doctrinal methods), and comparative law approaches.
• Specialist modules: topics such as gender and human rights, international criminal law and sexual violence, reproductive rights in comparative perspective, law and sexuality, family law in comparative systems, and gendered governance and institutions.
• Research training: workshops on publishing, archival methods, fieldwork design, and professional development for academic careers.
• Examinations and milestones: qualifying examinations or equivalent preliminary assessments to confirm readiness for dissertation research, followed by proposal defence and doctoral dissertation supervised by faculty with expertise in gender, international and comparative law.
• Interdisciplinary opportunities: students frequently take courses and engage with faculty across departments and centres, including gender studies, political science, sociology, international relations and area studies, as well as clinical and policy units addressing human rights and global justice.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a first degree in law (JD, LLB) or a related graduate degree (LLM, MA) with strong academic performance. Exceptional candidates from other disciplines with substantial legal coursework or research experience may be considered, provided they demonstrate capacity for advanced legal research.

• Academic transcripts demonstrating strong performance at undergraduate and, where applicable, graduate levels.
• A clear statement of research interests explaining how the proposed project fits within gender, international and comparative law and how the University of Chicago’s faculty and resources will support it.
• A substantive writing sample (typically a law review article, dissertation chapter, LLM thesis, or other scholarly work) showing analytical and research ability.
• Three academic or professional references attesting to research potential and preparedness for doctoral study.
• Evidence of English language proficiency if your prior degree was not taught in English, in line with the university’s standard requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates go on to academic positions in law schools and departments of social sciences and humanities, where they teach and continue research in gender and international/comparative law. Many alumni also pursue roles in policy research, international organisations, human rights NGOs, government agencies and think tanks, where deep subject-matter expertise and research skills are valued.

• Tenure-track and teaching positions at universities and law schools.
• Research fellowships and policy roles at international organisations and NGOs focused on human rights, gender equality and humanitarian law.
• Senior policy analyst or adviser posts in governmental and intergovernmental bodies.
• Legal research and advocacy roles in strategic litigation, public interest law projects and clinical initiatives.

Why study at University of Chicago

The University of Chicago offers a rigorous, intellectually driven environment with strong theoretical and interdisciplinary traditions that suit advanced legal scholarship. Students benefit from close mentorship by faculty whose work spans feminist legal theory, international human rights, comparative constitutionalism and empirical legal studies.

• Interdisciplinary strengths: access to renowned departments and centres in gender studies, political science, sociology and area studies encourages cross-disciplinary research designs.
• Faculty expertise: supervisors with established records in international law, gender and comparative legal scholarship provide targeted guidance for dissertation development and publication.
• Research resources: extensive law and university libraries, specialised archives, and research funding and fellowship opportunities support fieldwork and archival projects.
• Professional development: regular workshops, writing groups, conferences and placement support prepare students for academic and non-academic careers.