vienna university phd law

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What is ARS Iuris Vienna?

ARS Iuris Vienna is a doctoral school.

We offer additional training and support to doctoral students that goes beyond regular doctoral studies.

Only fellows of ARS Iuris Vienna can benefit from these offers. Therefor, an application is essential (the admission to the regular doctoral studies does not automatically lead to an admission to the doctoral school).

Click here to read more about Ars Iuris.

Who can become a fellow?

Doctoral students of the law school

PhD students in Interdisciplinary Legal Studies

Postdoctoral researchers at the law school

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mission statement

Ars Iuris Vienna wants to provide a forum to excellent doctoral students for training, networking and interdisciplinary exchange.

The Ars Iuris Vienna aims at supporting the doctoral students in completing their doctoral studies succesfully and enhancing the quality and visibility of the research of young scientist.

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Doctoral Programme

Business, economics and law, brief description, programme outcomes, fields of activity, personal requirements.

• Contact and help

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The admission procedure at the University of Vienna

Detailed information on the first-time admission to bachelor, diploma and master programmes as well as further information on the admission.

You can find information on the admission procedure to doctoral/PhD programmes directly via the website of the Center for Doctoral Studies .

Bachelor/diploma

Teacher education, non-degree programme, about the admission.

• change of degree programmes
• additional degree programmes
• closing a degree programmes
• resumption of studies
• leave of absence
• co-registration
• additional exams
• "Nachmatura" (in German only)
• "Studienberechtigungsprüfung" (in German only)
• non-degree programmes
• proofs of German language proficiency
• legalisation
• students in the VWU

 Let's Talk: Ask questions in person

You have carefully read the info about the admission procedure on our website and have further questions? From April to June you can book an appointment at Let's Talk, the on-site information of the Admission Office . There you can ask your questions about the admission to bachelor/diploma and master programmes or the "Studienberechtigungsprüfung" (studying without secondary-school leaving certificate) in person. 

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Department of European, International and Comparative Law

The department of European, International and Comparative Law supervises the internationally oriented subjects European Law, International Law, Comparative Law, International Private Law, Uniform Law, International Relations and consists of three sections (Section for European Law, Section for International Law and International Relations and Section for Comparative Law, International Private Law and Uniform Law). The main research interests focus on European Commercial and Private Law, the Law of State Responsibility, International Investment Law, International Human Rights Law, International Family and Contract Law and Comparative Private Law.

Members of the department are represented in numerous domestic and foreign think tanks and act as editors and authors of the leading subject-specific Austrian and international journals, commentaries and textbooks.

In addition to teaching and examination activities in the compulsory modules of the diploma and doctoral studies, the department offers advanced education in the following elective fields of specialisation: European Law, International Law as well as International Private Commercial Law and Comparative Law. Members of the department coordinate ERASMUS programs with a total of 88 partner universities and supervise 180 incoming and outgoing students per year.

Many eminent and internationally renowned academics have emerged from the department and its sections, including Albert Ehrenzweig, Fritz Schwind, Alfred Verdross and Ignaz Seidl-Hohenveldern.  

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Doctoral / PhD Programs

We are available via e-mail , and via phone at the following times: Mo - Fr 9 am - 12 noon and Wed also 2 - 5 pm . 

WU's Doctoral and PhD programs are three year-programs and usually take at least 6 semesters to complete. In the course of your studies, you attend courses, pass examinations and write a dissertation. 

The PhD programs are mainly intended for the university's academic staff. The doctoral programs can also be studied by students who are not working at the university.

Information about admission to a doctoral/PhD program is available in the chapter Application and Admission .

We recommend that you submit your online application for the Doctoral/PhD programs by the end of June for the winter semester or by the end of October for the summer semester.

Preliminary confirmation of supervision

According to WU's statutes / degree program structures, you need to have found a supervisor at WU before you can enrol in a doctoral/PhD program (except PhD Finance and DIBT). The WU professor willing to supervise your dissertation signs the preliminary confirmation of supervision; you need this document for admission, as well as a short synopsis of your dissertation project. You have to find a supervisor yourself, the university cannot provide you with one. As many are interested to begin a doctoral/PhD program at WU, looking for a supervisor may be a difficult and time-consuming business.

Orientation for (future) doctoral students 04.03.2024

Social and Economic Sciences

Business law, international business taxation, economics and social sciences, is it possible to do the doctoral program if i have a fulltime job.

The doctoral/PhD programs are full time programs during which the students not only have to write a dissertation, but also attend courses. All the courses are classes with continuous assessment of students' performance and have to be attended on a regular basis. While it is not possible to do the program as a distant study course from abroad, it is possible (but at the same time very demanding) to study the program sideline; however it will then in all probability take you longer than 6 semesters to complete.

Can I study the doctoral program as a distant study course?

No. There are numerous courses with continuous assessment of students' performance which have to be attended on a regular basis.

How long does the doctoral program take to complete?

It is possible to graduate in 6 semesters, but if you are employed on a full time or part time basis, you will probably take longer than the minimum time. Currently, the average duration until completion is 7 to 8 semesters.

Will the doctoral programs soon be changed to PhD programs? What is the difference between Doctor and PhD?

The WU already offers PhD programs, which are mainly intended for academic staff. It is not planned to discontinue the doctoral programs.

The PhD programs in Finance and DIBT have an admission procedure with interviews. For the PhD program in Economic and Social Sciences, the prerequisite is a close association with/workplace at the institute of the main supervisor, as its flexible structure requires constant coordination with the supervisor. 

The PhD programs feature a greater number of courses than the doctoral programs, but also more flexibility in their choice. 

The degrees "Dr." and "PhD" are equivalent regarding the academic level; both are doctoral studies according to ISCED-Code 8. The "PhD" title is maybe more familiar internationally, the "Doctor" is the more traditional title in German speaking countries. There is no difference with regard to career options after completion of the programs.

How do I find a supervisor for my dissertation?

By contacting the professors. You have to find a supervisor yourself, the university cannot appoint a professor to act as supervisor.

Every university professor with a habilitation is entitled to act as supervisor. Information on research areas of individual professors and departments can be found on the homepages of the different institutes; the better your intended topic fits into the research areas of a department, the easier you will find a professor to supervise your thesis.

If you contact professors with your suggestion, please send along a short concept (1 - 3 pages) about the intended topic. Please bear in mind that the professors receive many requests and may not reply to e-mails in which students simply ask if they would act as supervisor, without any information on the dissertation project they have in mind.

Are there topics for which one can apply, or do I need to find my own topic?

Some institutes have a list of possible topics of dissertations on their hompage; in most cases however, students apply for supervision with a topic of their own.

When and where can I enrol in a doctoral program?

During admission times in the study service center (building LC, 2nd floor). If you have not been enrolled in a program at WU before, please enter your data online.

In order to be able to enrol in the doctoral program, your diploma or master studies have to be completed. If you have completed your studies at WU, you do not need to wait for your "Sponsionsbescheid" (Decision of Conferral of degree); however, all grades have to be on your Consolidated Grade Record before you can enrol in the doctoral program.

Where do I find the courses on offer? How do I register for them?

All courses are listed in the course catalog . Here you can also find information about when and where to register, course descriptions and prerequisites for classes.

Registration for courses is via LPIS .

Do I have to attend the classes?

Can i specialise in a main subject of my choice or is my choice limited, depending on the field i specialised in during my master studies.

The main subject is chosen from the list of subjects in the appendix of the degree program structures. The main subject is the subject you write your dissertation in and in which your supervisor did his habilitation. The specialisation/discipline you chose in your master studies does not limit your choice in the doctoral program, but of course it is easier to write the dissertation in a field you are already familiar with. Professors usually expect proof of previous knowledge in the field before they agree to act as supervisor of a dissertation.

Is a knowledge of German necessary?

Only the PhD programs in Finance and International Business Taxation are taught exclusively in English. The teaching language of the doctoral programs, however, is German. Applicants whose first language is not German have to submit proof of German proficiency before they are admitted to the doctoral program.

The doctoral program in Social and Economic Sciences can be studied in English if the supervisor confirms that Research Seminars are offered in English. In the subject "Philosophy of science and Research Methods" there is an "English Track", which enables students to do these courses in English.

The dissertation may be written in a foreign language, if the student and the supervisor are fluent in this language.

Doctoral Office

Building LC, 2nd floor Welthandelsplatz 1 1020 Vienna

Tel: +43-1-313-36-4025 or -4696 E-Mail: [email protected]  

Opening times

Monday: 3 - 5 pm Wednesday: 2 - 5 pm Thursday: 9 am -12 noon  Please make an appointment in advance via e-mail.

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University of Virginia School of Law

Following a Dream Once Deferred, Graduating Student To Join Marine Judge Advocates

Graduating student Lauren Leonard ’24 will attend Marine Officer Candidate School this summer to become a judge advocate. Photo by Julia Davis

When it comes to military service, some hear the clarion call, and answer. Lauren Leonard ’24 heard the clarinet call of the U.S. Marine Band.

The daughter of two clarinet players who met in the band, Leonard has spent the past two years getting physically and academically qualified to join the Marines as an officer. She will become a lawyer in the Marine Corps after she graduates from the University of Virginia School of Law on May 19.

“As musicians, my parents didn’t have to go through basic training — they entered as staff sergeants, were paid to play at functions and got to travel the world,” Leonard said. “I played the trombone and wanted to do it professionally, too, but my dad would always tell me, ‘Music is an extremely tough road, and unless you get a living-wage job, you’ll be struggling your whole life.’ I think he wanted me to follow my passion without the financial hardship.”

There is evidence suggesting that law was, in fact, her passion. As a child, she had to create a project illustrating her self-identity using the letters of the alphabet. For L, she listed “Lawyer.”

Lauren Leonard, Lawyer.

She deferred that dream after undergraduate school because she graduated from the University of Washington at the tail end of the Great Recession, and every lawyer she knew discouraged her from following their path at the time.

Instead, she worked as a paralegal for several years — including at the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C., and as a victim’s advocate in Washington state — and first approached the Marines about joining as an officer more than 10 years ago.

A woman she met during the process set her up with an enlisted Marine as his date to the Marine Corps Ball. She ended up marrying Sgt. Peter Leonard.

Once her husband’s enlistment was up, he left the Marines for civilian life. She and Peter were “comfortable” with their new life in Seattle, but “not entirely happy,” she said.

“We both didn’t want to continue on a life trajectory just because of a sunk-cost fallacy,” Leonard said. “I want to be happy, and I only get this one life.”

So she studied for the LSAT at night and crossed her fingers for an acceptance letter from the University of Virginia, which she had visited while working at the FTC. Her husband followed her to Charlottesville and attended Piedmont Virginia Community College to pursue an engineering degree.

Once she started her first year here, she realized she didn’t have to set aside either of her dreams.

“I’ve wanted to be a lawyer and a Marine at different times in my life, but I had never considered being both,” Leonard said. “The local recruiting office reached out to the Law School to see if any students were interested in becoming a Marine judge advocate, and I realized this is my chance to chase two dreams at once.”

She started working with an officer selection officer here, attending fitness events and CrossFit classes. The OSO helped her obtain an age waiver because she’s over 29.

However, she would still need to pass the physical fitness tests before being considered for Officer Candidates School, where candidates work for 10 weeks to earn the title of Marine. That would mean at least three pullups, running three miles in under 27 minutes and being able to hold a full-body plank for at least a minute.

“When I started, I couldn’t even do one pushup, let alone a pullup,” she said. “But that’s the thing: You shouldn’t let where you start dictate what you’re capable of.”

It took her about three months of practicing with reverse pullups and weightlifting to achieve her first true pullup.

Now she can do 10.

Leonard also runs the three-miler in about 26 minutes — a five-minute improvement from her start — and can hold a plank for three minutes and 45 seconds.

“Marine officers are badasses, leaders and mentors,” Leonard said. “I thought, ‘Why can’t that be me?’ Pursuing this path helped me see myself differently and believe that I am capable of more.”

A classmate and friend, Rose Genaris ’24, called Leonard’s journey “incredibly inspiring” to watch.

“I had not known a more resilient individual in my life until I met her. Lauren possesses a rare combination of intellect, empathy and integrity that sets her apart,” Genaris said. “And as she pursues her dream, I have full confidence that Lauren will not only change the world for the better but will also do so with kindness and compassion. She is truly someone that I am honored to call a friend.”

Even if the Marine Corps hadn’t worked out, Leonard was determined to continue working in the public interest. She is a fellow in the  Program in Law and Public Service , and she took Law and Public Service, and her Public Interest Law and Advocacy Skills with Professor Annie Kim ’99 .

“Lauren is going to be an excellent public service attorney in whatever field she chooses because of her integrity, tenacity and empathy for others,” Kim said. “As a Marine, Lauren will no doubt be an advocate for justice and a source of inspiration for women following in her footsteps.”

Leonard sought out opportunities to learn about both sides of criminal law, working as an intern at the Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and being part of the  Innocence Project Clinic .

“The criminal justice system can do a lot of harm to people — it can ruin lives — so for those of us who are interested in prosecution, exposure to the defense side is a valuable reminder that we are dealing with humans,” Leonard said. “Until there is an alternative model of the justice system, remembering the humanity in all people is part of the answer to preventing mistakes and bad prosecutions.”

Leonard is excited that the Marine Corps offers “opportunities and a lifestyle that not many lawyers get,” including exposure to different areas of the law, travel and even learning self-defense.

More important, she said, “I get to be a part of something bigger than myself and serve an organization that brought my parents together and helped me meet my husband.”

Because of her husband’s own history in the Marines, he tagged along to the fitness events and other weekend Marine functions. When the OSO noticed his athleticism, he asked the former enlisted Marine if he would be interested in rejoining the corps and attending officer training.

He’ll get to wear his officer dress blues, for the very first time, to her graduation.

Founded in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top law schools, Virginia is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity and community service.

Melissa Castro Wyatt Associate Director of Communications and Senior Writer Email

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Yale Commencement

Know before you go | commencement 2024.

More information regarding parking, transportation, and getting around campus can be found here!

Lost and Found Security will hold lost items on Old Campus at Phelps Gate until 4:00 p.m. each day. After 4:00 p.m., items will be moved to the security desk at the Law School, located at 127 Wall Street. Please call 203-785-5555 if you have lost an item.

Reunification If you are separated from your party, or if a member of your party is missing, please go to the High Street Gate near the Reunification sign. Yale Police will be available to assist you.

Yale Alerts Yale ALERT can reach students, faculty, staff, and members of the New Haven community with time-sensitive information during unforeseen events or emergencies using voice, email, and/or text messaging.

Parents are encouraged to provide their emergency contact information to receive these communications. To register or to update your information, please have your student add your contact information through Yale Hub.

You are welcome to contact us at university.events@yale.edu "> university.events@yale.edu with questions.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024! We cannot wait to celebrate with you.

Best Regards, Yale Commencement Office 

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Doctoral Programme in Law / PhD Programme Interdisciplinary Legal Studies | Responsibilities & Contact persons

Besides your supervisor, the directors of the doctoral studies programme, the members of the doctoral advisory boards and the staff members of the StudyServiceCenters are important contact persons who will support you in the course of the doctorate scientifically as well as in administrative matters.

Directors of the Doctoral Studies (DSPL)

The Directors and Vice-Directors of the Doctoral Studies Programme are important persons of contact regarding study affairs. They are in charge of the approval of the topic of the doctoral thesis and the approval of the doctoral thesis agreement.

• Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Franz Stefan Meissel
• ao. Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Elisabeth Holzleithner (Deputy)
• Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Helmut Ofner, LLM (Deputy)
• ao. Univ.-Prof. MMag. Dr. Michaela Windischgrätz (Deputy)

Doctoral Advisory Board

The doctoral advisory board is appointed in order to give advice to the administrative body responsible for study matters, to students and supervisors. The official steps towards the institution of the advisory boards are put down in the statutes §15 (7) governing university studies. The doctoral advisory board is of particular importance concerning students' presentations at the faculty. Its members are in charge of one or more fields of doctoral research or a larger part of a specific field of doctoral research within one curriculum.

• Members of the Doctoral Advisory Board for the Doctoral Programme in Law: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Benke Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Mazal Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Kopetzki
• Members of the Doctoral Advisory Board for the PhD Programme Interdisciplinary Legal Studies: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Benke Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Mazal Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Kopetzki Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Ursula Kriebaum Univ.-Prof. Dr. Alexander Somek

StudyServiceCenter

The StudyServiceCenters (SSC) are the contact point for all administrative processes during your doctorate from the public presentation of your research proposal to the organisation of the defense of your thesis.

• StudyServiceCenter Law Renngasse 6-8 (Top 103), 1010 Wien Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday: 10:00-12:00, Thurdsay: 14:00-16:00

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LLM Program in European and International Business Law

(English Only)

Online Info Event on May 7, 2024, 5pm; registration via e-mail to [email protected]; further information here .

The LLM Program in European and International Business Law is offered by the University of Vienna School of Law pursuant to § 56 of the Austrian University Act of 2002 (Universitätsgesetz 2002).

Educational Profile: European and international business lawyer

Target Groups: The LLM Program in European and International Business Law is of special interest for persons who are affiliated with or plan to work for internationally operating business law firms or enterprises, government agencies, business lobbies, the institutions of the European Union or any other European and international organizations, and who need a comprehensive and practically oriented education in European and international business law for their professional environment.

Admission Requirements: Admission requirements are a first law degree/diploma (LLB, JD etc) or another degree/diploma of a program with a substantial legal education. Non-native speakers must prove their good knowledge of English (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS).

Program Emphasis: The LLM Program in European and International Business Law focuses on the European and international legal framework for internationally operating enterprises and the relevant economic governance issues in a European and international context. A special emphasis is put on the enterprises' legal position, when doing business in the European Internal Market and internationally. With this background, the LLM program offers a broad legal education in European and international business law. A strong emphasis is on European Union Business Law. Another strong emphasis is on Intellectual Property and New Technologies in a European and international legal context. All LLM students must complete 24 units (60 ECTS Credits).

Academic Degree: Master of Laws (LL.M.) Language of Instruction: English Duration: Full-time regular: 2 semesters Full-time flexible: 2-4 semesters

Next Starts: October 2024 and March 2025 Application Deadline: August 31 (for the LLM program start in October) January 31 (for the LLM program start in March)

Applications are accepted throughout the year. Admissions are done on an on-going basis.  

Tuition: EUR 13,900,-

Website: eiblaw.univie.ac.at

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