Research Institute of Environmental Law

The Research Institute of Environmental Law (RIEL) of Wuhan University, co-founded by the former National Environmental Protection and Wuhan University in 1981, is the premier institution in China and in Asia-Pacific region dedicated to the study of environmental and natural resources law and policy. In 1999 RIEL was designated as a National Key Research Institute of the Humanities and Social Sciences by the Ministry of Education. Since 2001, the environmental law program of RIEL was designated as the sole National Key Discipline by the Ministry of Education, China.

The Chinese Society of Environment and Resources law and its secretariat are based in RIEL. In addition, in 2011, IUCN Academy of Environmental Law set up its first Advanced Training Centre for Environmental Law Teaching and Research in RIEL. In 2013, RIEL was first included in the national “2011 program” as the one of the supporting organizations of the Collaborative Innovation Centre of Judicial Civilization. In 2015, RIEL was identified as the Research Foundation on Environmental-related Judicial Theory of the Supreme People’s Court, China.

In 1982, RIEL initiated the first program for awarding masters degrees for environmental law in China under an accreditation by the former Commission of Education of PRC. In 1998, RIEL was accredited for awarding doctoral degrees in environmental law.

Presently, RIEL has 12 full-time researchers who are engaged in the teaching and research of environmental law, among whom there are 7 professors, 4 associate professors, and 1 lecturer.

RIEL possesses a library and information center with the largest number and the most complete set of documents concerning environmental law in China, including more than 10,000 books in Chinese, more than 2,000 books in foreign languages, and more than 200 journals in Chinese and foreign languages. In addition, RIEL has the first Chinese website of environmental law, namely, the Web of China Environmental Law (www.riel.whu.edu.cn).

PhD Program in Environment and Resources Protection Law

The PhD program in Environment and Resources Protection Law includes the following specializations:

• Chinese Environmental Law & Policy

• International Environmental Law & Policy

• Comparative Environmental Law & Policy

• Pollution Control Law

• Climate and Energy Law

• Biodiversity and Natural Conservation Law

• Water Law and Law of the Sea

Objectives and Qualification Profile

The study serves as a preparation to scientific work in the area of Environmental Law & Policy. It provides a scientific education at international level and empowers graduates to provide international standard standalone research services in the relevant area.

Study Year

The academic year of Wuhan University is divided into two terms. The first term runs from September to January, the second term runs from February to July. The vacation period starts after the second term in July and lasts for two months. The PhD program starts with the first term. Every term corresponds to one semester. The program generally lasts for 6 semesters (three years), but is not to exceed five years.

Credits

To obtain a PhD degree, the students are required to earn 8 credits in the Wuhan University Credit System (of which at least 4 are for degree courses and 4 are for optional courses). There is no fixed amount of credits required each semester. One credit in the Wuhan University Credit System corresponds to 18 hours of classes.

Publication Requirement

The basic publication requirement for a PhD degree is two refereed papers, with one in a journal indexed by SCI/SSCI (or specified journals).

PhD Thesis and Defense

• A written thesis must be submitted and be defended in a colloquium.

• The PhD Thesis will be supervised by a qualified PhD supervisor of Wuhan University.

• A thesis proposal must be submitted at least one year before the defense. A committee will review this proposal to determine if the subject is appropriate and whether the topic is relevant to the field of study. If the committee does not see any value in the chosen topic, the thesis topic will not be approved.

• The PhD Thesis will be reviewed by assigned reviewers. After a positive review the thesis must be defended in a doctoral colloquium at Wuhan University.

Curriculum

*The above information is for reference only.