LLB Law and Social Policy

In this joint LLB programme, you will study Scots law alongside social policy.

In Years 1 and 2, you will study foundation 'Ordinary' courses.

In Years 3 and 4, you will study at the 'Honours' level. You will choose from up to 40 specialist courses covering a range of theoretical, practical and historical fields of study.

If you wish to retain the option of practising as a lawyer in Scotland, it may sometimes (but not always) be possible to complete the additional courses required.

Where this is an option, it will typically require extra study throughout the programme. You must consider the possible impact of this on qualifying as a solicitor.

We highly encourage all students on joint degree honours programmes to discuss their intended pathway with the Law School.

Year 1

You will be introduced to general legal principles and legal techniques and will study compulsory courses, including:

• Scottish Legal System
• Critical Legal Thinking
• Contract Law
• Family Law
• Public Law of the UK and Scotland
• European Union Law

You will also study the compulsory social policy courses:

• Politics of the Welfare State
• Social Policy and Society

Year 2

Law

Your courses may include:

• Property Law
• Jurisprudence
• Public Law and Individual Rights
• Delict
• Criminal Law
• Revenue Law
• International Private Law
• Business Entities
• Commercial Law
• Evidence
• Succession and Trust Law

Social Policy

You will take Comparative Social Policy: Global Perspectives. This course compares different approaches to social policy in European and non-European countries.

In addition, you will take two social policy courses, which are likely to focus on research skills and the use of evidence in politics and the economy. Further details are subject to our current review of our pre-honours curriculum for Year 2 students.

Year 3

Compulsory courses

You will study the compulsory courses:

• Advanced Legal Writing
• Analytical Perspectives in Social Policy

Law

You will receive advanced legal skills training during your honours study and will have the opportunity to specialise in further law subjects.

You will choose from a wide range of law courses, including:

• Commercial Law
• International Law
• Property Law
• Family Law
• Criminology

Social policy

You will also select courses that cover a wide array of policy fields, including:

• family policy
• labour market policies
• social inequalities
• criminal justice
• health policy
• education policy

Year 4

You will choose further courses to expand your specialist knowledge.

You will also write a dissertation. This will help you develop your legal research and writing skills.

You will also study further courses in social policy.

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

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2024/25)

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 new features 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

You will have the opportunity to study abroad in Year 3 through the University's international exchange programme.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

Large group lectures provide the teaching framework for law in Years 1 and 2. These are complemented by small group tutorial sessions.

Year 1 students will usually have two or three lectures per week for each course. You will also have a regular tutorial for each course.

Years 3 and 4 consist of two-hour seminars rather than lectures and tutorials. You will discuss and explore topics in greater depth during these seminars.

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

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed by a combination of coursework and exams.

After graduating, you can progress to the legal profession in Scotland by completing the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, followed by a traineeship with a legal firm to qualify as a solicitor.

However, this is only possible following a joint degree programme if you have been able to complete all additional courses required for the Diploma.

You can then opt to go to the Bar to qualify as an advocate. This requires a period of 'devilling' under the supervision and direction of a practising advocate.

Careers outside Scotland

Graduates who qualify to practice may also go on to qualify and practise law in other jurisdictions. In particular, there are rules which enable a Scots-qualified solicitor or advocate relatively quickly to re-qualify as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales.

Graduates may also go on to qualify and practise in Europe and elsewhere. To do this, you must comply with the local conversion requirements and complete any further study non-Scottish jurisdictions require.

Non-legal careers

Graduates who do not choose a legal career often use their skills and experience for employment in:

• finance
• management
• journalism

Our 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

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.

International Foundation Programme

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.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for LLB Law and Social Policy

Additional costs

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

If you choose to study abroad in Year 3, you will have additional costs. 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

• Have a query about undergraduate study?
• Send an enquiry