page_title: Doctor of Law
section_title: South Africa
hierarchical_section_title: Doctor of Law / By country / South Africa
caption_attribution_description: Afrikaans: Regsgeleerdheidgebou op die Hatfieldkampus van die Universiteit van Pretoria English: University of Pretoria Faculty of Law Building, Hatfield Campus
context_page_description: Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country and includes degrees such as the Doctor of Juridical Science, Doctor juris, Doctor of Philosophy, Juris Doctor, and Legum Doctor.
context_section_description: In South Africa the doctorate in law is offered as a research doctorate of at least two years duration, in various specialised areas of law. In general, South African universities offer either the PhD or the LLD, with no significant difference between these. (At UCT, UKZN and Wits, the PhD is the research doctorate, while the LLD is the higher doctorate; SU and UWC offer the LLD to law graduates, and the PhD to other graduates researching a legal-related topic). In order to obtain the degree, the student will complete a thesis under the guidance of a supervisor, after completion of a module in research methodology, the submission of a research proposal and an oral examination.  The thesis will demonstrate evidence of in-depth independent research and understanding of the topic, and constitute an original scientific contribution. Admission is usually on the basis of an LLM, and in some cases an LLB.
caption: University of Pretoria Faculty of Law
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