Hosting Institution

Vilnius University – a joint study programme of the Faculty of Communication, the Faculty of Law, and the Vilnius University Business School.

Programme Overview

The Innovation Governance, Law & Communication doctoral programme addresses one of the defining challenges of the 21st century – how to govern technological and societal transformation in a trustworthy, ethical, and strategic manner.
It integrates insights from law, strategic communication, and innovation management, providing a cross-disciplinary framework for research on how institutions, technologies, and discourses co-evolve.
The programme is designed for highly motivated candidates with a strong academic background and research interest in the intersections of regulation, communication, and innovation ecosystems. It encourages empirical and theoretical inquiry using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methodologies, under the supervision of interdisciplinary teams.

Why This Programme

Contemporary governance challenges – from AI regulation to ESG compliance and digital transformation – require expertise that bridges normative, communicative, and managerial domains. This programme unites three academic traditions:

• Law as an enabler of innovation through adaptive and anticipatory regulation.
• Communication as the foundation of legitimacy, transparency, and stakeholder trust.
• Innovation Management as the architecture for systemic change and policy learning.

Graduates develop strong conceptual, analytical, and practical skills enabling them to conduct interdisciplinary research, design legal and policy solutions, manage communication and information processes, and lead innovation governance in academic, public, and private organisations.

Thematic Priorities

Doctoral research should focus on, but is not limited to, the following areas: 

• Legal Design for Innovation Acceleration. Smart regulation, public–private governance mechanisms, and innovation-friendly legal environments.
• Strategic Communication and Regulatory Narratives. Legitimacy-building, narrative analysis, and communication of complex policy frameworks.
• Innovation Ecosystem Resilience. Systemic approaches to policy coherence, trust, and adaptive governance under uncertainty.
• Data Governance and Ethical Communication. Interactions between data law, algorithmic transparency, and public trust.
• Comparative Innovation Law and Policy. Cross-jurisdictional studies of how legal traditions shape technological diffusion.
• Organizational and Legal Foresight. Scenario-based regulatory design, anticipatory governance, and futures literacy.

Programme Structure

Type: Doctoral Studies (ISCED 8), full-time/part-time
Duration: full-time studies 4 years; part-time studies 6 years
Credits: 30 ECTS (doctoral-level courses and research training)
Language of Instruction: English
Qualification Awarded: Doctoral Degree (interdisciplinary science fields: Law, Management, Communication and Information).

Doctoral students pursue independent research within Vilnius University’s interdisciplinary environment, participate in doctoral seminars and international projects, and may engage in research and development internships abroad under institutional collaboration agreements.

Support & Opportunities for Doctoral Students

At Vilnius University, your doctoral journey comes with more than academic guidance — you receive financial stability, career opportunities, and national-level research support.

Earn and Build Experience. VU doctoral students can be employed at the university through teaching or research work, gaining both income and professional experience.

Annual PhD Fund. Each year, VU allocates additional resources through a dedicated Doctoral Fund, providing €1.5K–€2.5K to support research-related expenses such as conference participation, materials, specialised training, and international mobility.

Awards for Academic Excellence. Top-performing doctoral students may receive achievement scholarships or annual bonuses based on academic results.

National Support from the Research Council of Lithuania. Doctoral students can apply for competitive funding from the Research Council, including scholarships for active research, travel grants for conferences and research visits, support for international mobility, funding for collaborative research projects and academic development.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the programme are prepared for:

• Academic positions in interdisciplinary research and higher education 
• Legal, policy and advisory roles in EU, national, and international institutions 
• Strategic positions in legal-tech, innovation management, ESG governance, and data ethics 
• Communication and leadership roles in regulation-sensitive industries 
• Science management and policy coordination in think tanks, NGOs, and civil society organisations.

Admission Requirements

Entry Qualification 

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Law, Communication and Information, Management or related fields.
• Demonstrated academic excellence, research motivation, and interdisciplinary alignment with the programme themes.

Language Requirements 

• English proficiency level: C1 
• Accepted certificates: IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge FCE, or equivalent. 
• Native English speakers or applicants with an English-medium Master’s degree may be exempted.

Required Application Documents 

1. Completed online application form through DreamApply
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
3. A copy of the passport or any other valid identification card
4. Motivation Letter*
5. Research Proposal aligned with programme themes**
6. Two academic references*
7. Proof of English proficiency (if applicable)
8. Copy of Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas with transcripts/diploma supplements
9. A list of research works and their copies, conference presentations, works awarded at academic competitions (if there is any)

 

* Motivation letter has to be written in application form through DreamApply
** The form for the academic references is available on DreamApply during the registration
*** The Research Proposal must be submitted using this form: Research proposal project

Application and Evaluation Process

Application Period: From November 1, 2025 until July 1, 2026
Evaluation Windows: Applications are reviewed quarterly
Final decision: with decisions issued within 2–4 weeks after each evaluation window closes.
Studies commence: From October 1st each year.
International applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early to allow time for securing the temporary residence permit.
Application Fee: 100 EUR (non-refundable)
Annual Tuition Fee: Full-time studies (4 years) - 6764 EUR per year, part-time studies (6 years) - 4509 EUR per year

Components of the Competition score

• Grade point average of study results in Master’s Studies (or last four semesters in case of Integrated Studies) (maximum score – 10 points);
• Assessment of the research project and interview (maximum score – 10 points);
• Assessment of scientific qualifications, the significance of scientific output, and the relevance of prior research experience to the proposed topic (maximum score – 10 points).