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LOCATION
University Square Stratford
Location Fees and Funding
Here's the fees and funding information for each year of this course
Overview
Add an international dimension on your legal studies with this challenging and interesting combination. As a qualifying law degree, you will still be exempt from the academic stage of qualifying as a barrister.
The law doesn't operate in isolation, and in this course you'll gain valuable insights into the global political context as well as the social and cultural aspects of how the legal system functions.
A large part of the course focuses on law; so you will learn how law is made and administered, gain an understanding of the English legal system and study key aspects of civil and criminal law.
For the international relations part of the course, you will be given an introduction to the subject in your first year. You'll then take one international relations module in each of your second and third years. As this is a joint degree, and you have core courses; there will not be any options.
The Level 3 ( foundation year) course prepares students for a successful transition to a wide range of honours degree courses in the complementary subject areas in the Law and Criminology department within the Royal Docks School of Business and Law, including:
- LLB (Hons) Law
- LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology
- LLB (Hons) Law with International Relations
- LLB (Hons) Business Law
- BA (Hons) Criminology and Law
What makes this course different
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
This course will give you a comprehensive understanding of the law and its place in society. In the first two years, you will be studying the fundamentals of the law, taking modules such as the English Legal System, and Public Law, Criminal Law, Tort Law and Land Law .
For International Relations, you'll begin with Mental Wealth: Knowledge, Skills, Practice and the Self, with and International Relations . In your second year, you will be studying Global Governance and Great Power Politics. For the final year, you'll take the Gender, Power and Politics and African Politics and Development.
As well as learning about your subjects, you will also gain other key skills such as research, oral and written communication skills and thinking analytically – qualities much in demand by potential employers whatever career path you choose.
DOWNLOAD COURSE SPECIFICATIONS
Foundation Year in Law and Criminology course specification
pdf, 144.34 KB
MODULES
- Core Modules
Mental Wealth: Introduction to Legal Method CloseMental Wealth: Introduction to Legal Method
The module aims to introduce you to learning and studying in Higher Education, and to develop the skills needed for the successful study of law.
Introduction to Key Legal Concepts CloseIntroduction to Key Legal Concepts
The main aim of this module is to explain to you the key legal concepts and principles within the area of law.
Legal Communications CloseLegal Communications
To provide you with the ability to effectively analyse legal materials and to construct legal arguments. To allow you to develop legal analysis and techniques necessary for the successful study of law.
Crime, Justice and Surveillance CloseCrime, Justice and Surveillance
This module introduces you to crime and surveillance from sociological and criminological perspectives and offers you theoretical and practical skills and experiences that prepare you for your journey as a criminologist. It considers how surveillance overlaps with many fields, including crime detection and prevention and the management of dangerous spaces and people. It also offers an introduction to Cybercrime and you will be asked to produce a public information leaflet that outlines the dangers of the internet. It includes a field trip to see a court in action as part of the teaching for coursework two.
Introduction to Digital Sociology CloseIntroduction to Digital Sociology
This module introduces you to Digital Sociology by exploring what it means to be a sociologist in the rapidly developing technological world. It will also introduce you to digital social research methods, asking what issues there are for social researchers in a digital society; what new material is available to social researchers; how social scientists can harness the new tools available to them and how they can navigate through this space in a secure, mindful and ethical way?
Globalisation and Society CloseGlobalisation and Society
This module introduces you to key issues and debates about globalisation and society. Knowledge of the complexities of globalisation is introduced through [a] topical readings [b] a guided tour of Parliament [c] a visit to the British Museum that you will prepare for and reflect on, using the key concepts of political economy. As well as the two core visits, the topics are presented and examined through lectures, seminars, workshops and film.
- Core Modules
Mental Wealth 1: Knowledge, Skills, Practice and the Self CloseMental Wealth 1: Knowledge, Skills, Practice and the Self
The module aims to ground and complement other shared or common level 4 programme modules by providing an introduction to the key Vision 2028 ‘UEL Graduate Attributes’, such as the psychological and physical determinants of human performance that are difficult or impossible to be replicated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The module takes a psychosocial approach to exploring ‘the self’ in both personal and professional contemporary contexts. The module aspires to provide an intellectually integrative and socially cohesive workshop experience.
The module will provide an opportunity for students to review their own personal development to date self-reflexively.
With these ends in mind, the module introduces students to theories of individual and social inequalities and how the latter can inform one’s approach to ‘community businesses ‘that is, all kinds of activities and enterprises run by local people for local people’ https://www.powertochange.org.uk/get-inspired). In the context of understanding the concept of, designing and exploring a community business, students will identify their employment and career aspirations and their personal, professionally relevant skills and potential abilities. Students will learn to develop skills with a psychosocial approach to research by gathering and presenting data in relation to their proposed community project.
English Legal System CloseEnglish Legal System
There are two main aims of this module: one is to gain an understanding of the institutions and processes of the English legal system. The second is to provide you with the ability to effectively analyse legal materials and to allow the development of your legal analysis skills and techniques.
Legal Skills CloseLegal Skills
The main aims of this module are twofold: to gain an understanding of the institutions and processes of the English legal system. Also, to provide you with the ability to effectively analyse legal materials and to allow the development of legal analysis skills and techniques.
Public Law ClosePublic Law
You will examine the core constitutional arrangements in the United Kingdom. You will explore the principles of constitutionalism and the role of the law in the regulation of government through an investigation of the structures of Government, the rule of law, the impact of Europe, the role of judicial review and human rights. You will also consider the relationship between citizens and the State with particular attention to constitutional reform.
Contract Law CloseContract Law
Contract Law governs the legal relationship between buyers and sellers of goods and services. You will acquire an understanding of the general principles of the substantive English law of contract through an appreciation of extensive case law and modern legislation. A practical approach is adopted throughout so you will develop the knowledge and skills required to advise a client in a typical contract dispute.
International Relations CloseInternational Relations
The module introduces students to the study of international relations through the study of a range of international issues.
- Core Modules
Equity and Trusts CloseEquity and Trusts
This module aims to introduce you to the basic principles and remedies of Equity and the law of trusts. It aims to consolidate skills of legal reasoning, in particular, to offer supervised practice in case analysis and problem solving. It encourages you to reflect upon the continued evolution of the law of Equity and trusts.
Tort Law CloseTort Law
This module aims to facilitate your acquisition of the common law principles and statutory provisions (as well as policy considerations) forming the Law of Tort. It also aims to develop your critical perspective on the areas of Tort Law forming the syllabus, together with your critical understanding of the role of policy in the Law of Tort.
Introduction to Land Law CloseIntroduction to Land Law
This module is designed to introduce you to key principles in English land law. You will examine the legal relationship between individuals and land by looking at concepts of possession, ownership, enjoyment, use and control. You will have the opportunity to develop your analytical skills and the ability to think critically about problems related to land.
Public Law II: Human Rights Proceedings ClosePublic Law II: Human Rights Proceedings
This module aims to provide a substantial introduction to the concepts of human rights and equality and their relevance to domestic law. It will explore the theory of rights and an understanding of human rights following the incorporation of certain Articles of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) by the Human Rights Act 1998. You will undertake a detailed examination of the provisions of the 1998 Act and attendant case law of both the domestic courts and the European Court of Human Rights.
Global Governance CloseGlobal Governance
The module provides an overview of the theory and practice of global governance, with a particular focus on the structure, functioning and competences of the United Nations. By exploring a whole range of policy dilemmas, alternatives and outcomes, the module will help students to develop a critical understanding of the dominant concerns and possible solutions (at national, regional and global levels). In addition, the module addresses the nature of cooperation and major policy initiatives between the UN and other international organizations. In conclusion, the module will revisit the main problems that global governance has encountered along with proposals for solutions.
In this module, each session comprises a lecture plus a seminar. The aims of the seminars are to stimulate debate, to provide an opportunity for all students to swap ideas, to explore different theories and policy preferences, to link with the lectures in order to aid understanding of the key topics of the course. The module benefits from a variety of approaches (debates, presentations and group discussions) to explore the issues in global governance.
Great Power Politics CloseGreat Power Politics
The module examines the emergence, success and possible decline of global powers, such as the United States, Russia, China and emerging powers such as India, Brazil and South Africa.
- Optional Modules
Optional placement CloseOptional placement
This course offers the opportunity of year-long placement between years two and three. If you choose to take this option, you’ll spend your third year on a placement with a relevant company or organisation, adding valuable practical experience to your growing academic knowledge.
The extra placement year means it will take four years to complete your studies, instead of three. - Core Modules
African Politics and Development CloseAfrican Politics and Development
This module will provide you with a thorough introduction to African politics and the place of the continent in global affairs today. African political and economic systems are introduced and critiqued, supported by evidence from across the continent. This module will consider the relevance of important political concepts within African contexts and aligns these with relevant social theories from African and non-African theorists alike.
You will learn through different case studies each week, focusing on one or more African country in order to bring the political theories and concepts to life and to compare and contrast their relevance within different national contexts across the African continent. The development implications of political and economic realities will be discussed, in order to ensure that you understand the importance of this notion in African contexts and how difficult it has been to achieve.
During the course you will write and publish a blog focusing on a political issue facing one or more African countries and you will also act as a reviewer to the blog that another student has written, prior to submission. These blogs will then be uploaded onto the module website for consumption by the public. You will also complete one section of a country report as part of a student group and collectively you will produce a detailed report about a given African country, considering the political, economic, security, humanitarian and development situation. Sections will be written separately but then co-edited to create a coherent overall piece. On completing this module, you will have both a blog and a country report which will be available online and can be shared with potential employers in future. The skills that you develop, coupled with the in-depth regional knowledge, will prove to be priceless.
Criminal Law CloseCriminal Law
This module introduces you to the general principles of criminal law and the essential elements of criminal liability in England & Wales. You will learn how to work with criminal rules through the study of some key offence and defence definitions. You will also acquire the practical skills necessary to apply the criminal law and to evaluate its scope. You will be required to take criminal law as core at level 6 if you are taking a two subject law degree e.g. LLB Law with Criminology.
European Union Law CloseEuropean Union Law
You will acquire an in-depth understanding of how European Union law has developed through the unique procedures of the key institutions and the role of the European Court of Justice. You will also explore the substantive law of the EU through an analysis of the free movement of goods.
Gender, Power and Politics CloseGender, Power and Politics
In this module you will explore gendered power relations within the political realm of society. You will be engaged in critical examination of the differential inclusion of men and women in the political realm. This will enable you to understand different forms of their political action in their historical and contemporary contexts.
Each session of this module comprises a lecture and a seminar. Lectures are based on interactive teaching methods and aim to inform, provide evidence and stimulate informed critical debate on a range of key issues relevant for gender equality in the contemporary world. Seminars are designed to further critical debates relevant for this module by providing students with opportunity to swap ideas, explore concepts, policies, and modes of thinking about gender, gender power systems and identities in the modern world.
Law Project CloseLaw Project
The purpose of the Project option is to offer you a space in which you may initiate and follow an in-depth academic inquiry, without a structured programme. If you enjoy thinking and working on your own and writing/rewriting essays this is suitable for you. You will have the opportunity to develop organisational and research skills by undertaking a piece of work of your own choice, which must be organised, researched and completed as a written project. You also need to be able to work well with a supervisor (a member of the Law School staff).
Human Rights & Equality CloseHuman Rights & Equality
This module aims to further examine the law in the area of equality and human rights. You will explore the debates and complexities around the concepts of equality and human rights through an analysis of legal frameworks and comparative materials.
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
Teaching methods vary throughout the course, but include lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops and individual supervision, supported by digital materials, and module guides.
There will be practical assignments and you will be expected to prepare and give presentations in front of your fellow students. For some of the law modules you'll have the chance to learn through coursework and presentations. There are also opportunities to engage in debates and mooting in our state-of-the-art Courtroom.
Studying at university is more demanding than school or college. Outside formal teaching times you'll need to undertake a lot of independent study. We organise guest lectures, conferences and other events, giving you the chance to enhance your learning and build a professional network. If you take advantage of these activities and play an active role in student societies, you'll find that the more you put in, the more you get out.
You'll be encouraged to volunteer or gain work experience to give you new experiences and enhance your studies. Many law students volunteer at our Legal Advice Centre, working alongside Practicing solicitors to give advice to local residents on real legal problems and providing a need to those who otherwise would be able to obtain legal advice.
HOW YOU'LL BE ASSESSED
We'll assess you with a mix of coursework and exams. Coursework can include essays, a reflective diary, oral presentations, practical exercises and answering hypothetical problem questions.
Assessment is designed to enable us to see how you manage in a variety of situations that reflect the real world of work rather than simply focusing on traditional unseen exams. Throughout the course, you'll be given plenty of feedback to support you in your studies.
CAMPUS and FACILITIES

University Square Stratford, University Square Stratford
WHO TEACHES THIS COURSE
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
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It's been a great course. I’ve really enjoyed learning about different aspects of law and the teachers are wonderful. Working in the law clinic has taught me a huge amount. It's improved my understanding of how to apply some of the ideas we learn about in class and it's been a way of getting involved in the local community."
Irene Nambi, LLB (Hons) Law
YOUR FUTURE CAREER
Graduates in Law with International Relations gain skills and knowledge that are high demand from employers across a range of different fields.
Many of our students go on to enjoy successful careers as solicitors after completing their legal studies through the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and obtaining a training contract with a law firm.
Some become barristers, going on to take the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) and then obtaining Pupillage in barristers' chambers. This can lead to a tenancy as a self-employed barrister, or you can practise as an employed barrister.
Other students use their legal knowledge and the other skills and qualities they develop at UEL to pursue different careers. Communication skills, such as writing, speaking and presenting, and the ability to analyse and evaluate information are in demand by employers.
Other career options include:
- General management roles in the private or voluntary sectors, e.g. in finance, insurance, media or education
- Teaching or journalism
- Public administration, e.g. in local government housing, planning or legal departments
- Paralegal or legal executive work in a variety of sectors.
Some students go on to postgraduate study or work in the voluntary/charity sector.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.