University of Oxford

Philosophy, Law & Politics

An interdisciplinary programme bringing together the Faculty of Philosophy, the Faculty of Law, and the Department of Politics and International Relations, through a graduate course, a distinguished colloquium, a graduate forum, a dissertation prize, visiting fellowships, and an annual lecture.

The Colloquium · 2026–27

See the full 2026–27 programme

The Programme

Some of the most important questions of our time sit between philosophy, law, and politics: questions about justice, authority, equality, rights, democracy, and, more recently, the governance of artificial intelligence. The Programme in Philosophy, Law & Politics (PLP) brings Oxford’s scholars and students in these three disciplines together to pursue such questions in common.

The Programme draws Oxford’s existing PLP activity (teaching, visiting scholarship, recognition of outstanding research, and a long-running colloquium) under a single roof, and adds a graduate course and a graduate forum that connect research students across institutions. It also aims to be a central point of reference for PLP-relevant events across the wider University. The Programme is convened by Professors Ruth Chang and David Enoch.

Its work spans several strands:

Graduate students and faculty in discussion around a seminar table

Teaching

PLP Graduate Course

A new interdisciplinary graduate course running across the year, open to research students in philosophy, law, and politics and taught by faculty from all three disciplines.

Speaker series

PLP Colloquium

A long-running interdisciplinary series bringing distinguished visiting scholars to Oxford to discuss work at the intersection of philosophy, law, and politics.

Graduate network

PLP Graduate Forum

A network of doctoral candidates, early-career researchers, and established academics across seven institutions in Southern England, giving graduate students a platform to present work in progress.

Dr Natasha Holcroft-Emmess, winner of the 2026 Oxford Nicolas Berggruen Prize

Dissertation Prize

Oxford Nicolas Berggruen Prize in PLP

An annual prize, funded by the Berggruen Institute, for the best doctoral dissertation in philosophy, law, and politics across the three Oxford faculties.

H.L.A. Hart (left) and Lord Mance (right), after whom the Hart–Mance Visiting Fellowship is named

Visiting scholars

Hart–Mance Visiting Fellowship in PLP

Visiting fellowships at University College that bring distinguished philosophers, lawyers, and political theorists to Oxford for a term of research, following in H.L.A. Hart’s footsteps.

Professor Danielle Allen, who delivered the 2026 H.L.A. Hart Memorial Lecture

Annual lecture

The H.L.A. Hart Memorial Lecture

A distinguished annual lecture honouring H.L.A. Hart, delivered by leading figures in legal, moral, and political philosophy.

Around Oxford

Beyond its own activities, the Programme serves as a central clearing house for PLP-relevant seminars, lectures, and events across the collegiate University. Browse what’s on around Oxford