How a PhD in Sydney can take researchers to Harvard Law School

Ravi Prakash Vyas, a PhD researcher at Sydney Law School, will be heading to Harvard for six months in August to complete his studies.

This unique opportunity stems from his pursuit of a PhD at Sydney Law School, which not only opens many different career pathways but also allows him to participate in the prestigious partnership with Harvard Law School.

Ravi's journey began with his decision to pursue his PhD at Sydney Law School.

“I chose Sydney Law School to pursue my PhD in International Law as it is one of the top-ranked law schools with leading academics in the world," he says.

“With Professor Ben Saul, Jeanne Huang, and Emily Crawford as my supervisory team, I could not have found a better place to pursue my research.”

When asked about the benefits of completing a PhD program at Sydney Law School, Yane Svetiev, the Associate Dean (Research Education), says,

“The PhD at Sydney Law School is a long-standing advanced research degree, which opens up many different career pathways. We have trained not only many academics in Australia and internationally but also practitioners working in legal practice and in national and international institutions, as well as judges. It has the added advantage of a rich network of alumni around the world.”

The HDR partnership allows one Sydney Law School PhD candidate per year to spend a semester at Harvard Law School during their doctoral degree.

This opportunity enables candidates to discuss and expose their research, test ideas before finalising their thesis, audit classes, attend seminars, and learn from other researchers. This structured exchange provides invaluable immersion in another institution, enhancing the doctoral experience.

Ravi explains that the application process involves two stages.

“First, HDR students must submit a statement of purpose detailing their research project, reasons for applying, the planned activities at Harvard Law, and how this experience will benefit their research and support timely degree completion,” he said.

“Additionally, they need a support letter from their supervisors endorsing the application. If selected by Sydney Law School, the student then applies to Harvard Law School, which is very competitive and accepts only one candidate per year from Sydney Law School.”

Ravi's research focuses on the convergence and divergence in China’s and India’s approaches to governing international peace and security and their impact on the future of international law, and therefore he is very excited about the opportunity to study at Harvard.

“An exchange at Harvard is an excellent opportunity for me, as it will provide me with new insights and fresh perspectives in my research area, exposing me to leading scholars and contemporary debates. It will also enable me to utilise one of the best libraries in the world for my research,” Ravi shares.

He plans to write his final chapters at Harvard, focusing on regional security and benefiting from Harvard's academic environment.

Ravi strongly encourages future and current research scholars at Sydney Law School to take up this unique opportunity to undertake the HDR program at Harvard Law School.

“Discuss your plans with your supervisors early to decide the optimal timing for the exchange. Ensure your applications clearly demonstrate how your research aligns with Harvard's strengths and how you can both contribute to and benefit from the exchange,” he advises.

Additionally, he recommends applying for the Walter Reid Scholarship, which offers substantial support for research overseas, significantly facilitating the exchange experience.

“The support from the Walter Reid Scholarship at Sydney Law School has been instrumental. My time away will give me a break from my teaching and administrative commitments, which will be highly beneficial for my PhD progress and timely completion” he shares.

While the structured Harvard HDR exchange is unique, Sydney Law School encourages PhD candidates to seek opportunities to spend time at other institutions, either in Australia or internationally.

The Sydney Law School provides scholarships and funding to enable these experiences for researchers. Yane Svetiev expresses that the law school is actively seeking to join the University’s joint PhD programs with other international universities, such as Glasgow and Copenhagen, to further enhance exchange opportunities for their PhD candidates.

Ravi's journey from Sydney Law School to Harvard Law School is just one example of the opportunities available to researchers who choose to complete their PhDs at the Sydney Law School.