Bachelor of Law in the UK
Law has always been a pivotal aspect of society creating a norm of conduct and making the citizens of the country the priority. In alignment, pursuing law is usually considered a matter of prestige with several countries offering world-class programmes in the field, both at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. However, the bachelor’s in law programmes offered by the esteemed universities in the United Kingdom stands out. The meticulously designed law programmes in these universities attract several thousand students from across the globe every year, actively contributing to maintaining the diversity in the student community in the country. Given this, the following article will aim to unravel the various benefits of pursuing law in the UK at an undergraduate level.
Why Choose the UK for Bachelor of Law
While the UK is overall applauded for its high standards of education in the country, many Law Schools here have managed to secure their places among the top 100 universities globally. As per a report by Statista, the legal services sector in the UK saw a turnover of over 40 Billion British Pounds in the year 2023. Another report from The Law Society maintained that the country is home to more than 200 foreign law firms from around 40 jurisdictions employing more than 10,000 people in the country. Therefore, the courses here are laden with several interesting facilities and amenities in order to prepare the students for a career in fields such as Lawyer, Civil Servant, Financial Analyst, Tax advisor, Paralegal, Management Consultant and others. Besides, given the high industry relevance, the universities here ensure international standards while devising their curriculums, thereby, promoting competence and expertise through its programmes.
Top Bachelor of Law Colleges and Universities in the UK
There are several universities in the UK with excellent Bachelor of Law programmes. The following table can be referenced for key highlights of a few of these programmes:
King’s College London
Programme: Law LLB
Eligibility : 95% in Class XII
Tuition Fee (per annum) : £27,450
LNAT : Required
QS Ranking 2024 (Law) : 15th
Queen Mary University of London
Programme: LLB (Hons.) Law
Eligibility : 90% & above in Class-XII
Tuition Fee (per annum) : £27,450
LNAT : Not required
QS Ranking 2024 (Law) : 32nd
Durham University
Programme: Law LLB
Eligibility : 90% & above in Class-XII
Tuition Fee (per annum) : £25,750
LNAT : Required
QS Ranking 2024 (Law) : 46th
University of Glasgow
Programme: LLB Common Law
Eligibility : 85% & above
Tuition Fee (per annum) : £25,290
LNAT : Required
QS Ranking 2024 (Law) : 56th
University of Manchester
Programme: LLB Law
Eligibility : 90% & above
Tuition Fee (per annum) : £26,000
LNAT : Not Required
QS Ranking 2024 (Law) : 57th
A lot of UK universities offering law courses on the undergraduate level inculcate practical learning components in their curriculums such as having mooting competitions, legal clinics, and offering internship opportunities with legal firms. Another interesting thing about studying law in the UK is the access to Legal Clinics which are set up to provide high-quality legal advice to underprivileged people equipping law students with the opportunity to work on real-life cases. Further, the abundance of resources coupled with exceptional faculty truly paves the way for a strong foundation in Law for young aspirators. For instance,
- KCL is widely recognised for its impressive Maughan Library providing excellent legal research resources along with exceptional faculty members.
- QMUL is a Russell Group university and is acknowledged for hosting events and guest lectures from leading law firms and companies including Baker Mckenzie, Herbert Smith Freehills LL, The BIHR, Clifford Chance and Dentons. The university is also famous for its industry connections and for providing support with applications for a year-long practice LLB with Reed Smith.
- Durham’s Law School offers various intriguing facilities such as a Moot Court, dedicated workroom, academic offices, and a Pro Bono Room, as well as a Harvard-Style lecture theatre and many seminar and tutorial rooms familiarising students with real-life instances in the field.
- Dedicated moot courtroom, a vast collection of legal materials, and organised lecture series from highly reputed judges and lawyers make the highlights of the University of Glasgow.
- The University of Manchester has a specialised Justice Hub where students are furnished with the values, ethics, and civic engagements by being a part of the following:
- the Legal Advice Centre
- the Dementia Law Clinic
- the Manchester Innocence Project
- Manchester Free Legal Help
Several universities in the UK including the above-mentioned provide specialisations even at UG levels such as Commercial Law, Criminal Law, International Law, Human Rights Law, Law with Politics or Business along with several pathways including a year abroad or student exchange programmes further enriching one’s academic journey with international exposure and cultural as well as linguistic diversity.
Admission Process, Duration, and Requirements for Law University in UK
In order to be admitted to Bachelor of Law programmes in a university in the UK, one has to apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Services), a charity and private limited company responsible for admissions in the country at an undergraduate level. UCAS typically has three deadlines: 30th June, 16th October and 31st January. They allow students to apply to a maximum of two choices at one university or five choices at five different universities. However, one needs to be eligible to apply as per the criteria ruled out by various universities (See the above table for reference). Further, a few universities such as Durham University, University of Bristol, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Glasgow, King’s College London, London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London and SOAS University of London require one to attempt LNAT. LNAT is a two-hour fifteen-minute test divided into two sections containing both MCQs and Essay type Questions. One can easily book the exam by setting up an account on LNAT and paying a 120-Pound fee (if appearing from a centre outside the UK or EU). However, it is to be noted that the rest of the universities in the country, i.e., the majority has no such requirement to appear for LNAT. The duration of these courses is typically three years.
Scholarships
Aiming to promote a healthy higher education system in the country, the universities in the UK offer several scholarships providing financial aid to the students. A few of these scholarships are mentioned below:
- University of Aberdeen – Undergraduate / PGDE South Asia Scholarship
The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer the Undergraduate / PGDE South Asia Scholarship to South Asian students starting in September 2024 providing a discount of £5,000 in the tuition fee.
- University of Sussex – Chancellor’s International Scholarships (2024)
The university is offering a discount of £5,000 per year of full-time study if they have received an offer to study at Sussex.
- Newcastle University – Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarship
Eligible candidates will automatically be considered for this Scholarship as part of their academic course application offering an award value of 4,000 Pounds.
- University of York – International Regional Scholarship
All undergraduate and postgraduate taught students holding an offer at York will be automatically considered for a discount of £2,500 – £9,000 (first year of study only).
- University of Kent- Kent Future Student Scholarship for Indian Students
The university offers an automatic scholarship of up to £5,000 from the student’s first-year tuition fee depending upon the date of submission of their tuition fee.
FAQ
Maybe, a few universities, a total of nine universities to be precise, i.e., Durham University, University of Bristol, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Glasgow, King’s College London, London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London and SOAS University of London require one to attempt LNAT to be eligible.
