Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD)

Introduction

The Doctor of Juridical Science (法學博士) (JSD) programme includes both taught and research components. It provides an opportunity for students who wish to pursue higher studies in law in Hong Kong. The successful completion of the programme will lead to the degree of Doctor of Juridical Science. JSD graduates may use the abbreviation “Dr” before their names. The degree is well-recognised in the United States and some other common law jurisdictions.

Programme Aims and Intended Learning Outcome

The programme aims:

to provide an integrated curriculum of theory, practice and research methodology;
to develop an advanced knowledge and understanding of law in the particular areas of research chosen by the JSD student;
to promote scholarship in the areas of law that are relevant to contemporary society with a view to understanding their current content and proposing required changes; and
to provide a sound framework for pursuing postgraduate legal research in an intellectually stimulating environment with a view to making a significant contribution to the particular field of research.

Upon successful completion of this Programme, students should be able to:

demonstrate a critical understanding of the knowledge base in their selected research areas;
analyse critically information and practice in those areas;
comprehend and evaluate the main theories, principles and concepts in those areas;
demonstrate creativity in contributing to the knowledge base by the formulation of research questions and the selection, development and implementation of appropriate research strategies;
create, deploy and defend an argument in writing and orally.

Programme Structure (applicable to intake in 2012)

The JSD programme consists of two components, coursework and thesis. The first component of JSD programme will require JSD students to complete 24 credit units of both core and elective courses. The second component requires a student to write a substantial thesis (22 credit units), which will make a significant contribution to legal scholarship and be publishable.

Taught Component (24 credit units)

The taught component is designed to ensure that a JSD student attains a very high level of academic skills through the study of taught courses. He/she will then possess the appropriate academic foundation to progress to the thesis stage. Through the taught component a student is expected to learn not only advanced legal research methodology but also substantive law in his/her chosen area of study.

Core Courses - 6 credit units

Elective courses - 18 credit units

LLM taught courses (LLM Dissertation courses are excluded)
JD courses (up to a maximum of 6 credit units; JD Independent Research course is excluded)

JSD students who have previously completed LLM course(s) at CityU are not allowed to take the same or similar course(s) under the LLM programme.

If a JSD student requests to take a CityU JD course and he/she has previously completed a similar course in a common law jurisdiction, he/she will not be allowed to take the course.

JSD students who have not taken Basic Law or constitutional law course are encouraged to take LW6520C/E Basic Law of Hong Kong, which is a course under the LLM programme.

Thesis Component (22 credit units)

Doctoral Thesis offers students a challenging and enriching opportunity to propose, formulate and carry out an independent research project and develop research methodology to be applied in their own research. The thesis will help the students to develop innovative thinking in tackling legal issues to meet the needs of the local as well as international communities.

Programme Duration

The normal study period of the programme is three years. The maximum period of study is six years. Any periods of leave of absence and academic suspension are counted towards the maximum period of study.

Credit Transfer

Credit transfer is permitted only from relevant, formal studies at postgraduate level and may count only against the taught course requirement.

Transfer credits will not be counted in the calculation of a student’s GPA, except where special arrangements have been made.

Students should not take the courses for which transfer credits have been granted.

The maximum number of credits that can be transferred is 12 credit units of taught courses.

A student applying for credit transfer in respect of CityU courses will have to attain a course grade of B or above in the completed course for which credit transfer is requested, except for courses graded on a pass-fail basis.

No credit transfer will be granted for the following CityU research-based courses and non-taught courses:-

LLM courses

LW6537C&E Dissertation
LW6548C and LW6551E Independent Research

LLMArbDR courses

LW6404 Research Project
LW6409A Dissertation

JD courses

LW5551 Independent Research

Applications for credit transfer for Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) courses will not be considered.

Applications for credit transfer for non-CityU courses will normally not be considered if those courses do not have equivalent LLM courses taught at CityU.

Students who have obtained CityU MA/LLMArbDR degree with CGPA of at least 3.0 will be approved a general credit transfer (i.e., not course-by-course basis) of up to 6 credit units of taught courses.

Doctor of Juridical Science (Chinese Judges) Programme

Since 2011, the School offers a Chinese Judges JSD programme in collaboration with the Supreme People’s Court of the PRC and the National Judges College. The taught component of this degree is conducted both at CityU and the National Judges College in Beijing. The programme will enable Chinese judges to gain a deeper understanding of the law, its practice and current legal thought, which will assist them in carrying out their tasks as judges. It will also provide an opportunity for our other JSD students to engage in substantive exchanges with the Chinese judiciary.

Entrance and English Proficiency Requirements

Minimum Entrance Requirement
Applicants should hold one of the following qualifications:

an LLM degree from a recognized university (admission will be restricted to those whose performance in the LLM indicates a level of attainment sufficient to justify admission to a doctoral programme); or
an LLB degree, JD degree or equivalent from a recognized university with first class honours or equivalent; or
an LLB degree, JD degree or equivalent from a recognized university with upper second class honours or equivalent plus 3 years relevant professional experience; or
any relevant professional qualifications or scholarly achievements recognized by the University.

English Proficiency Requirement
Applicants whose entrance qualification is obtained from an institution where the language of instruction is not English should fulfil the following minimum English proficiency requirement:

a TOEFL score of 595 (paper-based) or 97 (internet-based); or
an overall band score of 7 in IELTS; or
a score of 500 in the Chinese mainland’s College English Test Band 6; or
other equivalent qualifications.

(The School has stipulated a validity period of three years for results of the above tests. Applicants are required to provide their English test results obtained within the three years preceding the commencement of the University’s application period.)

Programme-related Fees

The following are the major fees that need to be paid by JSD students:

Component	Type of Fee
Taught Component	Fee for taught courses (24 credit units)*
Doctoral Thesis	Registration fee Fee for thesis (22 credit units) Oral examination fee

In 2012–13, the fee per credit unit for 2012 intake is HK$4,880 (will be increased in subsequent years for the same cohort), the registration fee is HK$20,600 per semester, and the oral examination fee is HK$10,000. Please note that fees are subject to review from time to time without prior notification.

Students are required to pay the registration fee until their theses (or the revised theses if revision is required) are supported for acceptance by Dean of the School of Law (SLW). If the Dean (SLW)'s acceptance is granted before the end of Week 5, the student will not be required to pay the registration fee for that semester. If the acceptance is granted in Week 6 or afterwards, the student will be required to pay the registration fee for that semester.

For tuition fee enquiries, please contact the School of Law General Office by email at slwjsd@cityu.edu.hk or by phone at 3442 7470.

School of Law Admission Scholarship for the JSD Programme

The School of Law Admission Scholarship for the JSD programme will reward outstanding students admitted to the School of Law’s Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD) programme. A maximum of two scholarships will be awarded each year. The value of each scholarship shall be HK$20,000. For further details, please visit http://www6.cityu.edu.hk/slw/pros_students/JSD_scholarship.html

Accommodation

Students should be prepared to arrange their own accommodation, as on-campus accommodation is usually not available due to limited space. For assistance in locating information on off-campus accommodation, see “Off-campus Accommodation” http://www.cityu.edu.hk/sro/htm/e_off-campus1.htm

Applications and Enquiries

Apply online at http://www.sgs.cityu.edu.hk/prospective/apply/procedures

Each applicant is required to submit a research proposal. Please refer to the "Guideline for Preparing a Research Proposal for JSD Studies in the School of Law"

Admissions Enquiry:
Telephone: (852) 3442 4767
Fax: (852) 3442 0190
Email: sg@cityu.edu.hk
Website:http://www.cityu.edu.hk/sgs

Further information about the programme is obtainable from:

Dr GUAN Wenwei Assistant Professor JSD Programme Leader School of Law City University of Hong Kong 83 Tat Chee Avenue Kowloon Hong Kong Tel: (852) 3442 6101 Fax: (852) 3442 0190 E-mail: w.guan@cityu.edu.hk	General Office, School of Law City University of Hong Kong 83 Tat Chee Avenue Kowloon Hong Kong Tel: (852) 3442 8008 Fax: (852) 3442 0190 E-mail: slwjsd@cityu.edu.hk Website: http://www.cityu.edu.hk/slw