PhD
The University of Regensburg, through its Faculty of Law, awards the academic degree of Doctor of Laws (Dr. jur.). The doctoral degree serves as proof of the ability to undertake in-depth academic research and is based on an independent academic thesis (dissertation) and an oral examination.
The information set out below is not exhaustive.
Entry requirements
Admission to a doctoral programme generally requires the successful completion, by means of an examination, of a law degree within a university degree programme as defined in Article 57(2), first sentence, No. 3, and second sentence, No. 1, of the Bavarian Higher Education Act (BayHSchG), or within a Master’s degree programme in law at a university of applied sciences.
These examinations may take the form of:
- a Second State Law Examination with a mark of at least ‘very satisfactory’,
- a First Law Examination with a mark of at least ‘fully satisfactory’ in both the first state law examination (Section 34 JAPO) and the university examination (Section 40 JAPO),
- a First State Examination in Law within the meaning of Sections 5 and 5a of the German Judges Act (Deutsches Richtergesetz) in the version applicable up to 30 June 2003 or an earlier version, with a mark of at least ‘highly satisfactory’,
- the final examination of a domestic or foreign Master’s degree programme in law with a result equivalent to that specified in No. 2,
- or by means of any other foreign legal examination which is equivalent in nature and result to one of the examinations referred to in No. 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Research Proposal
The PhD student is required to submit an exposé of their research project to their supervisor within six months of being accepted onto the programme. The supervisor determines the content and scope of the exposé.
PhD Student Seminar
From the time of their admission as a doctoral candidate until the submission of their thesis, doctoral candidates are required to attend a public doctoral seminar organised by the faculty once a year; this seminar must be organised by at least one faculty member authorised to supervise doctoral candidates. At at least one such seminar, the doctoral candidate must report on the progress of their research project in the form of a presentation followed by a discussion. Confirmation of attendance, including delivery of a presentation, must be submitted upon submission of the dissertation.
Oral examination
Once the dissertation has been accepted, the Dean shall set a date for the oral examination. The oral examination serves to demonstrate the candidate’s ability to conduct an academic discussion on their research project and to defend their research findings against objections.
International PhD programmes
Dual PhD agreement with the University of Verona
The Department of Legal Studies at the Faculty of Law of the University of Verona and the Faculty of Law at the University of Regensburg run a joint doctoral programme with
mutual recognition of the degree and with the general topic: ‘European Private Law relating to Property Relations’.
As part of this three-year doctoral programme, in addition to writing a doctoral thesis on the general topic, students are required to spend a period at the partner university attending courses for doctoral students. Knowledge of Italian is required but is also encouraged.
Further information is available from Prof. Dr Martin Löhnig.
Supporting young talent
Documents relating to the doctoral procedure
- Current PhD Regulations
- Registration as a PhD student on the University of Regensburg’s campus portal (external link, opens in a new window)
- Checklist: Documents required for the doctoral programme (national) (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible)
- Checklist: Documents required for the PhD process (international) (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible)
- Application for enrolment (PhD) including data protection information (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible)
- Application for Enrolment (PhD) including Data Protection Notice (English version) (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible)
- Declaration on Honour II (Section 10) (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible)
- Declaration on Honour II (Section 10) (English version) (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible)
- Declaration pursuant to Section 10 (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible)
- Statement pursuant to Section 10 (English version) (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible)
- Confirmation of supervision (in accordance with Section 7(2)(4) of the PromO) (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible)
- Confirmation of supervision (in accordance with Section 7(2)(4) of the PromO) (foreign language) (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible)
- Privacy Policy (opens in a new window)
PhD seminar
Dates:
Friday, 2 October 2026
Prof. Dr Katrin Gierhake will be hosting a seminar on criminal law and legal philosophy
seminar for PhD students.
Please register by emailing lehrstuhl.gierhake@ur.de.
Further information can be found here (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible).
Tuesday, 21 July 2026
Prof. Dr Jürgen Kühling is organising a doctoral seminar on public-law regulation in the economic and information order.
The seminar will take place in room VG 2.35 (BIB) on the second floor of the Vielberth Building from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm.
Please register as an observer for the seminar by 17 July 2026 at the latest by emailing Silvia.Kadzioch@ur.de.
Friday, 10 July 2026
Prof. Dr Tabea Bauermeister and PD Dr Anna Bernzen are organising a PhD seminar on the topic :‘Law enforcement in the digital sphere’.
Start time: 1.00 pm
Venue: via Zoom
Wrocław, 1–4 October 2026
The law faculties of the Universities of Regensburg, Prague and Wrocław are organising a doctoral seminar. Further information can be found here. (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible)
FRIDAY, 27 February 2026
Prof. Dr Henning Ernst Müller is organising a doctoral colloquium.
THURSDAY, 30 October 2025
From 10.00 am, Dr Manuchehr Kudratov and Prof. Dr Alexander Graser will be hosting a doctoral colloquium in room 2.32 of the old tax office (ALFI).
FRIDAY, 17 OCTOBER 2025
Prof. Dr Katrin Gierhake will be hosting a doctoral seminar on criminal law and the philosophy of law.
FRIDAY 10 and SATURDAY 11 OCTOBER 2025
Prof. Dr Gerrit Manssen will be hosting a doctoral seminar on the topic ‘Current legal developments in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic in 2025’.
WEDNESDAY, 23 JULY 2025
Prof. Dr Wolfgang Servatius will be hosting a doctoral seminar.
FRIDAY, 20 JUNE 2025
Prof. Dr Jörg Fritzsche will host a PhD seminar on media and competition law at the University of Jena (FSU).
WEDNESDAY, 11 JUNE 2025
Prof. Dr Claudia Mayer and Prof. Dr Alexander Tischbirek are organising a PhD seminar.
FRIDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2025
Prof. Dr Katrin Gierhake will be hosting a PhD seminar.
!!! Please note: The seminar has been cancelled due to illness !!!
TUESDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 2024
Prof. Dr Hartmann is organising a full-day PhD seminar. It will take place on the premises of the University of Osnabrück. Participation is possible both in person and online.
FRIDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2024
Prof. Dr Christoph Althammer is organising a PhD seminar on the topic of ‘The Digitalisation of Civil Procedure Law’.
FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER TO SATURDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2024
Prof. Dr Manssen is organising a doctoral seminar on the topic ‘Current legal developments in the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany’.
WEDNESDAY, 17 JULY 2024
Prof. Dr Jürgen Kühling will host a doctoral seminar.
MONDAY, 8 JULY 2024
Prof. Dr Bernzen is organising a PhD colloquium.
THURSDAY, 6 JUNE 2024
Manuchehr Kudratov and Alexander Graser will be hosting a PhD seminar featuring presentations on comparative law studies relating to Uzbek, Afghan and Iranian law, starting at 2.00 pm in Bajuwarenstraße, Room BA 607.
MONDAY, 4 DECEMBER 2023
Prof. Dr Maschmann organised a PhD seminar in collaboration with wkklaw Wess Kux Kispert & Eckert Rechtsanwalts GmbH.
THURSDAY 7 and FRIDAY 8 DECEMBER 2023
Prof. Dr Hartmann organised a doctoral colloquium.