Doctoral Study Program

Our Doctoral Study Programme offers a comprehensive education in all legal topics, while also providing a personalised approach tailored to each doctoral candidate, according to the language and research topic, through their individual study plan. Already at the pre-enrolment stage, candidates have the freedom to choose courses and seminars from an extensive list, and some of them can be replaced by courses from other institutions. Given that the Programme is research-oriented, candidates also develop a preliminary research topic for their doctoral thesis, plan a stay at a foreign research institution, and focus on publishing papers and participating in scientific conferences.

From the outset, doctoral candidates receive support from a selected mentor, which is especially important, as our alumni have rated their mentors very highly, with an average rating of 4.91 (on a scale from 1 to 5).

Establishing a direct relationship with each doctoral candidate and offering an individualized approach is our goal. Therefore, the number of doctoral candidates is limited to highly motivated and exceptional individuals, whether they come from the academic community or the public and private sectors. With them, we have built an integrated academic community characterised by high academic standards, diversity, dynamism, enthusiasm, and collaboration. According to surveys conducted among our alumni, the Programme significantly contributes to personal development and prepares doctoral candidates for the job market, professional practice, or further scientific work and research.

In addition to the fact that all our alumni wholeheartedly recommend us, the reaccreditation of the doctoral program has confirmed that the Doctoral Study Program at the Faculty of Law in Rijeka is the first choice for anyone wishing to pursue a doctoral degree in law in Croatia.

Contact:

Tel: +385 51 359 684
Email: ridoc@pravri.uniri.hr

Program Director:

Prof. Dr. Ivana Kunda
ivana.kunda@pravri.uniri.hr

Programme Secretary:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Danijela Vrbljanac
danijela.vrbljanac@pravri.uniri.hr

According to the Study Programme Description, individuals who have completed an integrated undergraduate and graduate law degree (mag. iur.) or an undergraduate law degree (dipl. iur.) may apply for the Programme. In exceptional cases, individuals with a different university degree may also apply, provided they complete additional law courses. Further admission requirements include a necessary grade point average from the completed degree or published works, the development of a personal study plan approved by a potential mentor, knowledge of foreign languages, references, and a positive assessment of the interview with the candidate.

Admissions are held twice a year, at the beginning of each semester.

The Programme duration is 3 years (6 semesters) for full-time students and 6 years (12 semesters) for part-time students. The tuition fee for the entire program is 9,000 EUR, with a proportional part of the fee paid at the start of each semester.

Information on admissions is included in the call for application. Additionally, the application form, guidelines for creating a personal study plan, and the list of potential mentors are available here. For any additional questions, please contact ridoc@uniri.hr.

• Call for Applications
• Application for admission to the doctoral program
• Guidelines for creating a personal study plan
• List of courses

Success in the doctoral program depends on various factors, among which are the approach to study obligations and communication between doctoral candidates and their mentors. To ensure both doctoral candidates and mentors are well-prepared for their roles, we have prepared two guides available for download in digital form.

• Guide for Doctoral Students
• Guide for Mentors

Following the enrolment, an orientation meeting is organized to inform doctoral students about their rights and obligations, database searches, ethical principles of scientific research, and building a personal scientific network. In addition to this institutional support, doctoral students can contact the coordinator for doctoral communication, Martina Tičić, at martina.ticic@pravri.uniri.hr for any further inquiries.

• Merlin
• Guidelines for the Preparation and Formatting of Doctoral Theses at the University of Rijeka
• Faculty logo for the cover

We are dedicated to the continuous education of doctoral students and mentors to ensure a culture of academic excellence and professional development. We offer group and individual educational activities, including workshops and courses, either organised by the Faculty or in collaboration with other institutions.

Doctoral workshops for mentors are designed to help mentors assess whether they are adequately prepared to successfully supervise doctoral students, and to further strengthen the necessary skills and competencies through practical tasks.

Some doctoral workshops are intended for doctoral students to acquire general competencies and the generic and transversal skills necessary for doctoral research, writing, and dissemination in publications and at conferences. Training for doctoral candidates is organised to enhance specific skills required for successfully completing their study obligations.

• Doctoral Colloquium Program “Modern Challenges of Legal Research” 2024

• Workshop Program “Who is Q? The Unique and Permanent Identifier for Researchers – ORCID” 2023
• Workshop Program “Science and Media” 2023
• Workshop Program “Formulating a Research Question” 2023
• Workshop Program “Writing a Monograph Review” 2023
• Workshop Program “Who is Q? Open Access to Scientific Information” 2022
• Workshop Program “Writing a Scientific Paper in English” 2019
• Workshop Program “Methodology and Plagiarism” 2018
• Program “Doctoral Workshops for Mentors” 2016 

• In accordance with Article 62(7) of the Higher Education and Scientific Activity Act (NN 119/22), the Faculty of Law makes publicly available the doctoral thesis of Karla Kotulovski titled “Non-standard Forms of Work in the Republic of Croatia: The Risk of Precariousness”. The doctoral thesis can be accessed by selecting this link.
• In accordance with Article 62(7) of the Higher Education and Scientific Activity Act (NN 119/22), the Faculty of Law makes publicly available the doctoral thesis of Matteo Cvenček titled “Perspectives of an Alternative Model for Resolving Tax Disputes in the Republic of Croatia”. The doctoral thesis can be accessed by selecting this link.
• In accordance with Article 62(7) of the Higher Education and Scientific Activity Act (NN 119/22), the Faculty of Law makes publicly available the doctoral thesis of Marina Dereta titled “Supervision over Associations in Croatian and Comparative Law”. The doctoral thesis can be accessed by selecting this link.
• In accordance with Article 62(7) of the Higher Education and Scientific Activity Act (NN 119/22), the Faculty of Law makes publicly available the doctoral thesis of Sara Madžarov Matijević titled “Theoretical Determinants and Perspectives of the Right to Information in Joint-Stock Companies”. The doctoral thesis can be accessed by selecting this link.
• In accordance with Article 62(7) of the Higher Education and Scientific Activity Act (NN 119/22), the Faculty of Law makes publicly available the doctoral thesis of Armand Demark titled “State Responsibility for Damage Caused by the Work of Courts in Croatian, European, and Comparative Law”. The doctoral thesis can be accessed by selecting this link.