About PhD Program,
Vanderbilt Law School’s Ph.D. Program in Law and Economics is unlike any other. Dual-degree students pursue a J.D. and a Ph.D. concurrently in a fully integrated curriculum that combines economic theory and methodology with the study of law. The program is designed so that students complete both degrees in just 6 years. Admitted students receive a full funding package, including tuition for both degrees and a competitive annual stipend, for all 6 years of study.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Applicants must complete separate applications to Vanderbilt Graduate School and Vanderbilt Law School. Each applicant’s Law School and Graduate School applications will be considered together in a collaborative admissions process.
Program students pursue policy-relevant research within four primary research fields developed for the J.D./Ph.D. Program in Law and Economics: behavioral law and economics, labor markets and human resources, law and economics, and risk and environmental regulation.
Applicants to the J.D./Ph.D. Program in Law and Economics may be eligible to apply to the Law School with their GRE scores only in lieu of an LSAT score. Individuals must not have taken the LSAT in the last five years and must not take the LSAT in the current admission cycle in order to apply through the GRE-Only pathway. Other academic and score criteria must be met to be eligible to apply GRE-Only. Please read the Application Process instructions carefully for details.
PhD Funding Coverage,
All students admitted to the Ph.D. Program in Law and Economics receive 100% tuition support and a stipend for living expenses for study within the program.
Continuation of the award beyond the first year is contingent on satisfactory performance in the program.
Fellowship recipients will have research assistant responsibilities after completion of the first year of Ph.D. study and the first year of law study.
Application Requirement,
- Complete the Graduate School Application
- Statement of Purpose
- Letters of Recommendation
- Transcripts
- Standardized Test Scores
Application Deadline,
Jan 15, 2025
Application Fee,
The Graduate School application fee is $95.00.
