Doctoral Study Program

🎓 The Doctoral Programme in Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Rijeka, offers top-level academic education across all areas of legal science. This research-oriented doctoral programme stands out for its flexibility and personalised approach to each candidate.

🔍 Individualised Approach and Flexible Curriculum

From the very beginning, PhD candidates have the opportunity to design their individual study plan, selecting courses and seminars from a broad and diverse list. Courses from other national and international institutions may also be included. Even before enrolment, candidates define a preliminary research topic, ensuring the programme is closely aligned with their academic interests.

🌍 International Research and Mobility Opportunities

A strong emphasis is placed on the international dimension of the programme – including research stays at foreign institutions, participation in international conferences, and the publication of academic papers. The Faculty offers robust support through well-developed research infrastructure and participation in international projects.

👥 Mentorship and Academic Excellence

Each PhD candidate receives continuous support from a dedicated mentor. According to alumni evaluations, mentors are highly rated, with an average score of 4.91 out of 5 – a testament to their quality and commitment. The programme is limited to a small number of highly motivated candidates, allowing for close academic interaction and individualised guidance.

🌱 Career Development and Employability

Alumni surveys indicate that the PhD programme significantly contributes to both personal and professional growth, as well as competitiveness on the job market. Graduates pursue successful careers in academia, the judiciary, public administration, and the legal profession.

✅ Why Choose the University of Rijeka Faculty of Law?

• The leading choice in Croatia for PhD studies in law
• Quality confirmed through national reaccreditation processes
• Endorsed by all alumni
• High academic standards and a dynamic research community
• Strong international mobility and scientific dissemination opportunities

Join a vibrant academic community of legal scholars and start your PhD journey at the Faculty of Law in Rijeka.
👉 Learn more and apply today!

Contact:

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

Program Director:

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

Programme Secretary:

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

Candidates holding an integrated undergraduate and graduate law degree (mag. iur.) or an undergraduate law degree (dipl. iur.) may apply for the Programme. In exceptional cases, candidates with a university degree other than law may also apply, provided they complete and pass 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 further questions, please contact ridoc@pravri.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 enrollment, 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 “Cross-Section Study of Dynamics in Dispute Resolution” 2025

• Doctoral Colloquium “Methods of Constitutional Interpretation” 2025

• Doctoral Colloquium “Modern Challenges of Legal Research” 2024

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

• Workshop “Methodology and Plagiarism” 2018
• “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.