Key information
Duration
Start dates & application deadlines
- Starting January 2027
- Apply before Nov 2026, International
- Starting August 2027
- Apply before Jul 2027, International
Language
English
Delivered
On Campus
Campus Location
Washington, D.C., United States
Disciplines
European Law, Civil & Private Law, Public Law
Overview
The Canon Law doctoral program at Catholic University of America consists of two distinct stages. First, for admission to the doctoral program, the student must have successfully received the licentiate degree (J.C.L.) and demonstrated superior academic ability as demonstrated by achievement of an overall A- average in the various components of the licentiate program (i.e., coursework, thesis, comprehensive examination) taken in the aggregate.
Features
- However, within this overall average, the grade for the thesis must be at least A-.
Programme Structure
Curriculum:
- All students considering the doctoral program must write a formal application letter to the Dean, explaining their reasons for advanced canonical study.
- Admission to the second stage, doctoral candidacy, follows upon the successful development and submission of the dissertation proposal and requires a separate faculty vote of approval.
- Prior to such submission, a candidate must demonstrate a fluency in canonical Latin and pass proficiency examinations in two modern languages (Italian, Spanish, German, French) administered by the School of Canon Law.
Admission requirements
Academic requirements
We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.
English requirements
- Duolingo English Test: 105
- TOEFL iBT: 80
- PTE Academic: 58
- IELTS: 6.5
General requirements
- Arrange to have your secondary school, high school, or college send the required educational documents directly to The Catholic University of America.
- The University requires official records of educational study leading to the earned degree(s) or certificate(s).
- Transcripts of previous academic training should show courses taken, grades obtained, and proof of graduation.
Tuition Fees
- International: 57,429 AUD / year (≈ 40,400 USD / year)
- Out-of-State: 57,429 AUD / year (≈ 40,400 USD / year)
- Domestic In-State: 57,429 AUD / year (≈ 40,400 USD / year)
Living costs
Washington, D.C., United States — 2,424-4,229 AUD / month. The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.