Law LLB

This law degree allows you to learn about the law, both in the sense of ‘thinking like a lawyer’ and studying law as a social institution. As a law student you will gain expertise in analysis, research, logical argument and more as you develop an understanding of key topics within law and the legal sector.

In addition to areas such as contract law, international law and criminal law, you’ll examine the broader context of the law and its relationship with society. We offer a wide range of optional modules, enabling you to develop your interests in specialist legal areas such as company or employment law, human rights law, environmental law and family law. You could also explore topics in criminal justice and criminology, such as policing or youth crime.

Throughout the course, you’ll gain diverse skills that will be valuable to you as a citizen, as well as in your professional career – whether you choose to enter the legal profession or not. You also have the opportunity to spend a year studying abroad, subject to academic performance and available places, or alternatively you could spend a year on work placement.

Studying in the School of Law

Watching in China? View this video on YouKu

Year 1 provides you with a firm foundation in key legal areas such as contract, criminal and constitutional law. You’ll also complete our Foundations of Law module, which equips you with the skills to study law at undergraduate level and gives you the chance to practice mooting in Moot Court, the School’s dedicated courtroom.

In the following year you’ll build on your knowledge and skills with an in-depth understanding of European law as well as key facets of English law such as land law and torts. Additional core modules will help you to develop your research skills and understand how new insights into the law are developed, as well as examining the broader relationship between law, the legal system and wider society. Optional modules will allow you to focus on topics that suit your interests and career plans, such as financial services law, employment law and issues related to the victims of crime.

Your final year will give you the chance to apply the research skills you’ve gained in previous years to an independent dissertation on a topic of your choice, which you’ll work on with your supervisor. At the same time you’ll study equity and trusts. A final choice of optional modules will allow you to gain specialist knowledge in areas like war crimes, discrimination law or penology.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Discovery modules

Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.

This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

One of the key aims of this course is to teach you to “think like a lawyer”, but we also help you develop the transferable skills that allow you to use and apply the law in different situations.

You’ll learn through traditional methods such as lectures, tutorials and seminars, supported by materials and exercises provided through our secure online platform Minerva and the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). In your first year, the Foundations of Law module will prepare you for the study of law and allow you to gain practical skills such as group working and mooting.

This is a demanding course geared towards self-motivated and independent learners, so you’ll spend a lot of your time in independent study doing research and preparatory reading. We have excellent library resources with over 40,000 volumes in the Law collection, in addition to extensive electronic access to legal materials and journals.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

To help you develop the variety of skills you will need in your future career, we assess modules using a range of different methods. These include seen and unseen exams, coursework, group work, presentations, poster presentations and oral participation (for example, in discussion groups).

Entry requirements

A-level: A*AA excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking.

Two of your A-levels must be in traditional academic subjects. Please see our accepted subjects document to check your subjects.

If your choice of A-level subjects has been constrained by factors outside your control (such as if your school or college did not offer certain subjects), please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office to discuss your application.

Alternative offers will not be made for applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) alongside A-levels.

GCSE: We expect applicants to have a substantial number of GCSE passes at a high standard. Applicants from countries where English is not the first language will also need a grade 5/6 (B) in GCSE English language, or another appropriate English language qualification, see below.

• Access to HE Diploma

  Complete 60 credits with 45 level 3 credits at Distinction Grade.

• BTEC

  We can only accept BTEC alongside A levels.

  For example BTEC D* plus AA at A level or BTEC D plus A*A at A level.

• Cambridge Pre-U

  D3, D3, D3.

• International Baccalaureate

  36 overall (6,6,6 higher).

• Irish Leaving Certificate (higher Level)

  A1A1AAAA

• Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

  AAABB overall (AA at advanced level).

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and contextual admissions.

Typical Access to Leeds offer:

• AAB at A level. Applicants must also meet the University’s GCSE matriculation standard and pass the Access to Leeds module.

• For alternative qualification offers please contact the admissions team.

If you do not have the formal qualifications for immediate entry to one of our degrees, we offer a foundation year for UK students who meet specific widening participation criteria. Learn more about the BA Social Science (foundation year).

Pathways to Law

Pathways to Law provides opportunities for students from state schools in England who are interested in a career in law and who will be the first generation of their family to go to university. It offers support to students from under-represented backgrounds throughout years 12 and 13 and into university. Find out more about Pathways to Law.

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For specific detail on grades required for this course contact the School of Law Undergraduate Admissions Team.

• View the Canadian equivalents to GCSE and A-levels.
• View the Indian equivalents to GCSE and A-levels.

International foundation year

If you have the ability to study for a degree but don’t have the qualifications to enter directly to level one, you might consider studying a foundation year. We have formal links with the following foundation year programmes:

• University of Leeds International Foundation Year (IFY)
• Northern Consortium of UK Universities (NCUK)
• Study Group Leeds International Study Centre (LISC)

If you are applying from an alternative foundation year provider, please contact our admissions team to find out if your qualification is suitable for entry to our courses.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

How to apply

Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

We typically receive a high number of applications for this course. To ensure we treat all applications fairly, we may put your application on hold until after the UCAS deadline before making a final decision. All applications received before the UCAS deadline are guaranteed equal consideration. Please see our Admissions Guidance page for more details as well as advice on personal statements.

This course is not accepting applications for deferred entry.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

Fees

UK: See fees section below

International: £20,750 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. When the fee is available we will update individual course pages.

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26
Tuition fees for international students for 2024/25 are available on individual course pages. Fees for students starting in 2025/26 will be available from September 2024.

Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year
If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

As a graduate of this degree there are several professional and academic pathways available to you, whether you envisage becoming a lawyer or intend to specialise in a specific area of law at postgraduate level. In addition to going to the Bar, our graduates have secured diverse law careers in companies such as Pinsent Masons, Eversheds, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Irwin Mitchell and Addleshaw Goddard.

All our law courses satisfy the degree requirements set by the Bar Standards Board should you wish to qualify as a barrister, for more information visit Bar Standards Board website.

If you plan to be a solicitor you will need to complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), for more information visit Solicitors Regulation Authority website.

Law is also a highly transferable degree and many graduates choose to pursue careers in other areas.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.

Study abroad

On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. The University has partnerships with more than 300 universities worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America.

You may be able to study abroad at the end of year two, subject to academic performance and available places on the study abroad programme.

Read more about Study Year Abroad.

Work placements

Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas.

Find out more about work experience on the Careers website.