LLB Law and Spanish

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

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

Law courses

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

Spanish courses

You will study either Spanish 1A or 1B, depending on your language skills. Typically, students in Spanish 1B come to the University with substantially more experience studying Spanish than students in Spanish 1A.

As well as developing your language skills, both the 1A and 1B courses will introduce you to a diverse selection of cultural texts and films from across the Spanish-speaking world.

Year 2

Law courses

Your law 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

Spanish courses

You will continue to develop your spoken and written language skills in Spanish and to study Spanish and Latin American cultures.

Students of 1A and 1B will come together in our Spanish Language 2 course. This course will help you communicate your ideas in Spanish using more nuanced grammatical structures, vocabulary and syntax. In both your spoken and written work, you will gain confidence in expressing yourself in Spanish, ready to study or work abroad in Year 3.

You will also take a further course on the literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. You will be introduced to different genres and artistic currents which demonstrate how culture has reflected, shaped and contested reality from the sixteenth century to the present day.

You might like to expand your knowledge of Iberian languages and cultures by taking optional courses in Basque, Catalan or Portuguese.

Year 3

During Year 3, you will spend at least 30 weeks on an approved study placement in a Spanish-speaking country, studying agreed courses in law and Spanish.

Our graduates have told us how much the year abroad has benefited their broader life experience and skills, as well as their linguistic and intercultural competencies in Spanish.

All students who spend Year 3 abroad must also take the compulsory course Advanced Legal Writing (Online).

Year 4

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 courses, including:

• Commercial Law
• Property Law
• Family Law
• Criminology

You will consolidate your core language skills in Spanish and take an honours-level course in an aspect of Spanish-language literature or culture.

You have the option of completing a dissertation in law.

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

Law

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.

Spanish

Teaching in Spanish takes place in and around the University of Edinburgh's Central Area.

This is where you will also find the Main University Library which holds around 27,000 books and 5,000 journals in Spanish.

Spanish and Latin American treasures in its collections include:

• a 1629 edition of Cervantes
• paintings by Murillo and Picasso
• the renowned musicologist Jan Fairley’s rich collection of Latin American music recordings and interviews

EUSA

The Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) supports more than 300 student-led societies and clubs, including the Spanish Society, and promotes opportunities with local charities through its volunteering centre.

From acting to dancing, making friends in language cafes to campaigning on global issues, these student-led groups offer lots of ways to explore your subjects, interests and talents socially.

Babble

If you love to write, our online creative writing magazine Babble is the place to publish your:

• prose
• poetry
• drama
• non-fiction

Babble goes out twice a year and includes work written in Spanish, Portuguese and seven other European languages. You can get involved in the editorial committee, and launch nights typically include readings and performances.

Centre for Contemporary Latin American Studies

Students interested in Latin America might also want to get involved with the University's Centre for Contemporary Latin American Studies, which brings together staff and students from across the university with an interest in the region.

Since 2023, we have hosted the first extension of the Cervantes Institute in Scotland. Established in 1991, the Cervantes Institute is a non-profit organisation that promotes, supports, and celebrates Spanish-language literature, film, art, and cultures through a range of events and activities for students and the public.

City of Edinburgh

Within the city, you will have access to specialist collections, including the National Library of Scotland and the National Museum of Scotland.

Spain has a consulate here, and there is a sizeable Spanish-speaking community.

The city's world cinema scene is particularly strong, and we are proud to contribute to its success through collaborations with festivals such as IberoDocs.

Study abroad

You will spend Year 3 abroad (a minimum of 30 weeks) in a Spanish-speaking country.

Turning classroom learning into a lived experience, your year abroad will allow you to deepen your knowledge of Spanish by speaking it daily and immersing yourself in Spanish culture.

Whether studying or working, this is a chance for you to evolve and grow beyond Edinburgh. Our graduates have told us how much the year abroad has benefited their broader life experience and skills.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

Law

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 in 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.

Spanish

For Spanish, your classes will typically fall into three categories:

• lectures
• tutorials
• seminars

Language tutorials give you the opportunity to develop your linguistic skills in a range of real-world tasks under the supervision of an experienced language teacher.

These tutorials typically cover skills such as reading, writing, listening and speaking – all of which involve learning and applying grammar.

In addition to classes, and to get the most out of your courses, you will need to read widely.

We make extensive use of our audio and visual resources, and you will also be encouraged to use online materials.

The Students’ Association facilitates a peer support scheme for Spanish, bringing together students across year groups to help each other with specific study skills, topics or themes.

How will I be assessed?

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

Coursework in Spanish may take a range of forms to give you the opportunity to practise different skills. For example, you may be asked to:

• write an essay, review, blog post, opinion piece or learning journal
• respond to a piece of writing, film, or other media, including through close reading
• give a short talk or presentation
• record a podcast or video
• design a poster or presentation

Exams for Spanish will include oral exams to test your spoken language skills.

Law

After graduating, you can progress on 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 practise 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 re-qualify in Spain as an 'abogado'. Graduates may also qualify and practise elsewhere in Europe and beyond. 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.

Spanish

One of the five most widely spoken languages in the world, Spanish is your gateway to a great many countries and cultures. This includes a large number of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and a growing community of speakers in the United States.

In addition to having over 400 million native speakers, it is spoken as a second language by around nine million people globally. Wherever you are based in the world, the ability to understand and communicate in Spanish will make you stand out.

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, and a language other than English at B.
• A Levels: English Literature, English Language or combined English at B, and a language other than 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 and a language other than English at 5.

Additional requirements

Language requirement

For degrees that have a subject requirement of a language other than English, students may not use their own native language to meet this requirement. In these instances, English or an alternative language other than native will be acceptable.

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 Spanish

Additional costs

On some courses, you will be encouraged to buy additional learning materials for learning and 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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