LLB Global Law

In the LLB programme, you will study global law and have the opportunity for interdisciplinary study.

In Years 1 and 2, you will study courses that will provide a solid foundation in core legal skills, methods and concepts from a global perspective.

In Year 3, you will have a compulsory exchange year with one of our selected partner schools, which span six continents. You will gain exposure to a different legal tradition and benefit from broader cultural benefits, global networks, and a range of legal skills.

In Year 4, courses are studied at the 'Honours' level, where you will choose from specialist courses covering a range of theoretical, practical and historical fields of study.

The Honours programme in Year 4 places a strong emphasis on developing your analytical ability, with importance placed on written and oral skills.

During Years 1, 2 and 4, you will also take a selection of optional courses from the Law School and the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

There are also opportunities to perfect your oral skills through participation in legal 'moots' which reproduce a courtroom environment. Mooting is just one of the ways in which the Law School encourages you to develop legal skills through a range of innovative learning methods.

Year 1

You will be introduced to the general principles and techniques of global law. You will study compulsory courses, including:

• Global Law
• International Law

You will have the opportunity to choose from the following courses:

• EU Law
• Introduction to Law and Digital Technology
• Global Jurisprudence

You will also take a selection of optional courses from the Law School and the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Year 2

During your second year of study, you will continue to develop your understanding of global law through a range of courses, including:

• Global Public and Private Law
• Global Legal Systems
• Jurisprudence or Global Jurisprudence

You will have the opportunity to choose from the following courses:

• EU Law
• International Private Law
• Introduction to Law and Digital Technology

You will also take a selection of optional courses from the Law School and the wider college.

Year 3

You will spend your third year studying abroad at one of our partner universities.

You will be expected to take courses that contribute to the equivalent of 120 credits. This includes the 10-credit compulsory course Advanced Legal Writing (Online).

Year 4

This is the final year of the LLB Global Law (Hons) programme.

Your courses will include:

• Global Law (Honours)

You will choose further optional advanced courses to expand your specialist knowledge and write a dissertation. This will help you develop your legal research and writing skills.

Our facilities

The Law School has been housed in the Old College since the late 1800s. Our traditional and historic home underwent a full refurbishment and was completed in 2019. This transformed the building into a 21st century home for the school while celebrating and preserving the heritage and history of Old College.

As a student at Edinburgh Law School, you will benefit from excellent teaching, study, and research facilities.

Designed for the way you study, the Law School’s facilities include:

• a law library
• spacious seminar rooms
• dedicated student social spaces, including a café

Our library is one of the largest law libraries in the UK.

The Law School is ideally placed for those studying and working in the law. It is within easy walking distance of the highest courts in Scotland and the Scottish Parliament.

Study abroad

During Year 3, you will spend the academic year studying law abroad at one of our programme-specific partner law schools, spanning six continents.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

Group lectures provide the teaching framework in Years 1 and 2. These are complemented by small group sessions comprising other members of your Global Law cohort.

Year 1 and 2 students will usually have two or three lectures per course per week, plus a regular tutorial.

All Year 1 students have access to Edinburgh's Law Peer-Assisted Learning Scheme (LawPALS). The Mooting Society provides you with opportunities to learn and practise courtroom skills.

Year 4 consists of two-hour seminars, rather than lectures and tutorials, in which students are expected to discuss and explore topics in more depth.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through a combination of presentations, coursework and exams.

The Global Law LLB will provide you with legal and non-legal skills to work in a global professional environment and tackle global legal challenges.

Graduates may also go on to qualify and practise law in other jurisdictions, in Europe and elsewhere, in accordance with the relevant local conversion requirements and any further study required in the non-Scottish destination jurisdiction.

It is also an excellent grounding for a wide range of careers in areas such as:

• international organisations
• financial services
• politics
• journalism
• public policy
• civil society and advocacy work
• government work

Edinburgh Law School graduates have also worked with international organisations such as the United Nations and the European Union.

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAAA (achievement by end of S5 preferred). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S5.
• A Levels: A*AA.
• IB: 39 points with 666 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S5.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Highers: English at B, at first attempt.
• A Levels: English Literature, English Language or combined English at B. English Language and English Literature GCSE, both at A or 7, are accepted in place of A Level English.
• IB: HL: English at 5.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 at C
• GCSE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate at C
• IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 162 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 54 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 5 in each component.*

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT, or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.

English language requirements

(*Revised 24 May 2024 to change PTE Academic requirement from total 62 with at least 54 in each component, and to clarify that we do not accept PTE Academic online. Revised 29 August 2024 to add Oxford ELLT requirements.)

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.

Additional costs

In some courses, you will be encouraged to buy additional learning materials for assessments.

There will be additional costs for your mandatory study abroad in Year 3. Costs will vary depending on the country and partner university.

Additional costs while studying abroad may include:

• insurance
• visa requirements
• accommodation
• internet access
• travel

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

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