LLB Law (part-time)
ApplyKey facts
- UCAS Code: M321
- Accreditation: Law Society of Scotland
Applications: direct to the University
Study with us
- gain practical court-room experience through the Mooting Society and enter competitions
- develop your legal skills as a member of Scotland’s largest student-run Law Clinic
- benefit from high-quality research-led teaching at one of Scotland’s leading providers of legal education
- classes delivered during the day with fortnightly tutorials at flexible times
Why this course?
Our part-time LLB Law degree is delivered during the day with fortnightly tutorials at flexible times.
The LLB course is open to you if you want to enter university for the first time after a period out of formal education (adult returners) and to those who already hold a degree in another discipline (graduate entrants).
Part-time study of the LLB normally takes five years (four for graduate entrants).
As a part-time law student at Strathclyde, you'll benefit from being taught by expert academic staff in a friendly and supportive environment. You'll also have access to the same excellent library and other university facilities as full-time students and can take advantage of extra-curricular opportunities, such as Strathclyde’s award-winning Law Clinic and our mooting programme.
What you'll study
At the end of the period of study, you'll graduate with a qualifying ordinary degree in Scots Law, recognised by the Law Society of Scotland as a necessary precondition for entry into the Scottish legal profession. Opportunities exist for further honours level study, and to progress to the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice.
Facilities
Law Clinic
Strathclyde’s Law Clinic is run by students for members of the public who cannot afford a lawyer and are not eligible for legal aid.
More than 200 of our students are now involved and regularly represent clients in Small Claims and Sheriff Courts.
Students receive basic training in legal skills, such as interviewing, negotiation and advocacy and (in the Clinical Legal Practice course) reflecting on experiences and on the ethics and justice of legal practice. Assessment in relevant courses such as Employment Law and Housing Law will be partly on the basis of students’ handling of cases.
Find out more about our Law Clinic.
How to become a lawyer
There are different routes to a career in law. The choices you make now can affect the steps you would need to take to achieve your desired career in law. Here we explore the process of becoming a lawyer in Scotland and look at the different roles available within the law profession.
How to become a lawyer
Course content
In order to graduate from the part-time LLB, you must obtain passes in classes worth 360 credits.
Each class is worth 20 credits and part-time students take four classes per year, with the exception of the final year of study when you're required to take 40 credits and have the option of taking an additional two elective classes.
Adult returners normally complete the degree in five years. Graduate entrants are awarded 80 credits on entry in recognition of their prior study on entry, and so normally complete the degree in four years.
Subject to satisfactory progress, both adult returners and graduate entrants have the option of applying to accelerate their studies by one year.
Legal Processes & Systems
The aim of this module is to provide students with an introduction to the concepts, structures and processes that make up a legal system. It is designed to equip all students studying law with the knowledge and understanding that they will utilise in all other law modules: the “tools of the trade”.
Criminal Law & Evidence
This module is intended to familiarise students with, and elicit an understanding of, the basic elements of Scots criminal law and evidence, including the development of the system, fundamental concepts and their operation in relation to certain specific crimes. The module will teach the application of fact handling, rhetoric and proof by lawyers and the contexts in which the rules of evidence operate, all integrated practically with the criminal law.
Constitutional Law
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the institutions, actors, processes and concepts that make up the UK constitution including its particular application to Scotland. It is designed to introduce students to methods of critical engagement with constitutional law in both theory and practice.
Law & Society
This class engages with some challenging problems faced by law within contemporary society. It introduces students to some aspects of the social, political, and ethical conditions in which law operates. It deals with the interaction of law with justice, politics, morals and equality. The course will examine the role and challenges of law in times of social change. The course is structured around three key themes:
- legal reasoning
- law & politics
- law & social change
Law of Persons
The aim is to teach students the rules governing, and the definition of, legal and natural persons, their status and capacity. The module is also designed to introduce students at the very start of their legal studies to the idea that legal concepts can be both natural (the child) and non-natural (the limited liability company) – both are “persons” in law.
Law of Obligations 1
The aim is to introduce students to the concept of obligations that can be enforced by legal process. Students will also have the opportunity to develop their problem-solving skills and ability to construct appropriate legal questions and answers.
Administrative Law & Fundamental Rights
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the institutions, actors, processes and concepts that make up administrative and human rights law including their particular application to Scotland. It is designed to introduce students to critical engagement with administrative law, both in theory and in practice.
Commercial Law
Commercial law is a second year compulsory subject on the LLB (and LML) degree. The class provides you with an understanding of commercial law in a Scottish context. It partially meets the commercial law subject requirements and related skills outcomes of the Law Society of Scotland and the Faculty of Advocates (albeit that some of the commercial professional topics, eg sale of goods and insurance law, are dealt with by other courses).
Building on the knowledge you acquire in first year, the general academic objective of the course is to examine the basic principles and rules concerning core aspects of commercial law, including the main principles of agency, partnership and company law, the law relating to various methods of payment (including consumer credit and bills of exchange) the rules governing the ways in which creditors can ‘secure’ repayment of a debt (eg through taking personal guarantees from third parties for repayment of the debt, or by establishing rights in security over debtor property); the basic principles of diligence; the consequences of both corporate and individual debtor inability to repay debts (corporate insolvency and personal bankruptcy respectively).
While the focus of the class is on ‘a black letter’ analysis of relevant statutory and common law in the broad commercial area, in order to aid understanding of relevant principles, the class also examines the policy rationales underlying the current law and recent and projected reforms in this area
Law of Property
The aim is to teach students the classification of property in the Scottish legal system, how ownership is distinguished from possession, how property is acquired, the rights it carries, and how property can be transferred. The module is also designed to introduce students to some of the conceptual issues of property, including how “property” itself is defined either as an item or as a relationship; and how property can be corporeal (a thing) or incorporeal (an idea or right, such as copyright).
Law of Obligations 2
The aim is to teach students the rules governing claims for personal injury, economic loss and hurts to personality rights. The design of the class will help to develop problem solving and advice-giving skills in relation to the law of delictual liability generally.
EU Law
The EU law class focuses on the constitutional and institutional order of the EU as well as one the internal market. To this end, the class looks at the European integration process, the EU institutions, EU competences, the decision-making process within the EU, the principles underpinning the EU legal order and the principles governing the internal market.
Elective module
To be announced.
Reflective Project
The aim is to enhance students’ ability to undertake independent learning, and to ensure that they take a reflective approach to their work while at the same time developing a consciousness of the ethical dimensions of professional legal practice.
Elective modules
In addition, students will be required to do three elective modules. Optional modules change year on year, so please check with the Law Course Support Team at the start of the semester to confirm which classes are available.
Elective modules
In addition, students will be required to do two elective modules. Optional modules change year on year, so please check with the Law Course Support Team at the start of the semester to confirm which classes are available.
Assessment
Exams and other assessments take place at the end of each semester. You're expected to be available throughout each semester and exam period, and should not book holidays or make other commitments during those times.
Learning & teaching
The academic year is split into two twelve-week semesters. Part-time LLB students take two classes each semester. The academic year normally runs from the end of September until June. Exact semester dates and university holidays are specified in the university calendar.
Entry requirements
Adult returners
Adult returners are people who have had time out of formal education before applying to university. To be considered an adult returner:
- there must be a gap of at least three years between you completing secondary education and applying to university
- you must be at least 21 years old on the date the course starts
- you must show evidence of academic attainment within the past five years
| Highers | Four Highers at BBBB, preferably including English and other essay-based humanities subjects, taken in one sitting. In exceptional circumstances, Highers taken over two sittings may be accepted, but the entry requirement may be higher. If Highers were taken over several years, applicants must demonstrate that they have the capacity to cope with two Highers in one year, and to cope with taking Highers in several disciplines. Preferred subjects
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| A Levels | BB |
| HNC/HND | HND in Legal Studies Award with AABB in the Integrative Assessments; or 11 Merit passes; or AAB in the Graded Units. Other HND courses may be considered. A detailed syllabus should be sent when applying. |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | Two H2 passes and three H3 passes including English |
| Open University | Two full Open University units amounting to no fewer than 60 credit points in a relevant discipline (comprising one Foundation unit and another unit in Humanities or Social Science) |
| Strathclyde Pre Entry Certificate Course | Award of Strathclyde Pre-entry Certificate with a final mark of 70% overall from three modules including Law, English and one other. Law and English final mark of at least 60% in each. We also welcome applications from applicants who have undertaken a similar Pre-entry Certificate at another university. These will be looked at on an individual basis. |
| Other Qualifications | The Strathclyde Law School may also admit applicants whose qualifications do not conform to the above requirements but who present other evidence that indicates to the academic selector that they have the capacity and commitment to pursue the course of study e.g. Police Sergeant Exams, relevant Paralegal course, other professional qualifications obtained in employment. |
| Graduate entrants (part-time LLB route only) | Successful applicants must have an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Normally, applicants should have a First or second-class Honours degree or an Ordinary degree which demonstrates strong academic achievement. Students who do not meet these requirements may be considered at the discretion of the academic selector and may be asked to sit the Mature Entry Test (see above). All applicants must be at least 21 years old on start date of the course. |
| Mature entry test | If your qualifications are more than five years old, you may be invited to sit the Mature Entry Test (MET). Exceptional candidates who do not otherwise meet the entry requirements may also be invited to sit the MET. In general the more mature the candidate, the more likely it is that the Pre-Entry Certificate course rather than the MET would be the appropriate route for entry. Applicants invited to sit the MET will take the test at Strathclyde University at a mutually convenient time to be arranged. Candidates will be required to write three short essays on a range of topical legal issues under examination conditions. No prior legal knowledge is required. The test is designed to assess your writing and reasoning skills, and your ability to present coherent arguments. A candidate who, in the opinion of the course selector, passes the MET will normally be made an offer. |
Further information
If you wish to discuss our entry requirements further, please telephone +44 (0)141 548 3738 or email hass-courses-law@strath.ac.uk.
Widening access
We want to increase opportunities for people from every background. Strathclyde selects our students based on merit, potential and the ability to benefit from the education we offer. We look for more than just your grades. We consider the circumstances of your education and will make lower offers to certain applicants as a result.
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
Visit our international students' section
Fees & funding
All fees quoted are per academic year unless stated otherwise.
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Annual revision of fees
Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that tuition fees are revised annually and may increase in subsequent years of study. Annual increases will generally reflect UK inflation rates and increases to programme delivery costs.
| Part-time adult returner | £3,045 Part-time adult returner accelerated stream:
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| Graduate entrant | £5,075 Graduate entrant accelerated stream:
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| Additional costs | No additional costs for law modules and all compulsory material is in the library. International students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information. |
| Available scholarships | Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities. |
Additional information
Please note:
- fees are payable for each year of study. Fees may be subject to an annual increase
- students can opt to pay their fees in three instalments, due at registration, in December and in March
- the stated fees apply to students from Scotland, the rest of the UK, and the European Union. International students will not normally be granted a visa for part-time study
- students who opt to accelerate their studies will be liable to pay a higher fee
Funding
Adult returners may be eligible for a part-time fee grant from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
Graduate entrants are not normally eligible for funding via SAAS and may wish to consider Employer Sponsorship or Graduate Development Loans.
Additional advice on funding may be obtained from:
How can I fund my studies?
Students from Scotland
If you're a Scottish student, you may be able to apply to the Student Award Agency Scotland (SAAS) for a Part-Time Fee Grant (PTFG) help towards your tuition fees.
For more information on funding your studies have a look at our University Funding page.
Students from England
If you’re a student from England, you may be able to apply to Student Finance England for a tuition fee loan and depending on your circumstances a living cost loan.
Visit the Student Room for more information on Part-Time Funding from Student Finance England.
Students from Wales
If you’re a student from Wales, you may be able to apply to Student Finance Wales for a tuition fee loan and depending on your circumstances a living cost loan.
Visit the Student Finance Wales website for more information on Part-Time Funding from Student Finance Wales.
Students from Northern Ireland
If you’re a student from Northern Ireland, you may be able to apply to Student Finance NI for a tuition fee loan and/or grant, and depending on your circumstances a living cost grant.
Visit the Student Finance NI website for more information on Part-Time Funding from Student Finance NI.
International Students
We have a number of scholarships available to international students. Take a look at our scholarship search to find out more.
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city
Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.
Life in Glasgow
Careers
The LLB has an obvious appeal to anyone wishing to develop a career in the legal profession. A law degree is also seen as an equally attractive option for a variety of individuals and employers in areas as diverse as teaching, public sectors, housing, administration, social and welfare services as well as commerce and industry generally.
The LLB degree is both an academic discipline worthy of study in its own right and a qualification paving the way for entry to the Scottish legal profession.
The educational route to enter the legal profession
After completion of an LLB, it is necessary to complete the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice. Places on the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice are limited and are awarded by reference to academic performance.
After completion of the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, intending solicitors need to undertake a two-year traineeship in a law firm. Applications are made directly to law firms and there is increasing competition for traineeship places each year.
Graduates wishing to join the Scottish Bar, as an advocate, have to do a one year Bar traineeship in a solicitors firm. This is followed by nine months ‘devilling’ (training) with an existing advocate.
Further information
For further information about careers as a solicitor or an advocate, please visit the following websites:
Please also note that gaining an LLB does not guarantee a career as a solicitor or advocate. The LLB is a well-respected degree and considered to be a solid foundation for a number of different career paths.
Dean's International Excellence Award
This scholarship is for new international students who will begin a full-time undergraduate course in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in September 2024. The award is a £5,000 scholarship per year for the duration of their degree (total of £20,000 for a four year course). All offer-holders are eligible for this scholarship.
Dean's International Excellence Award
Apply
We'd prefer at least one academic reference. If this is not possible, references from your current employer or someone who can vouch for the information on your application form will be required. Please note we cannot accept references from friends or family members.
Applicants are also required to submit copies of all qualifications (transcripts and award certificates).
Start date: Sep 2024
(1 year entry)
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