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LLB Law with Quantitative Research allows you to add value to your degree by combining your studies in law with a rigorous grounding in quantitative research methods. Your Kent law degree is complemented by a series of analytical modules, giving you a strong skillset in data analysis and statistics, alongside all the normal benefits of a Kent law degree.
Overview
Statistics and data analysis are becoming more and more important in a huge range of fields, including policing and criminal justice, business and finance, and the media. A solid understanding of statistics and quantitative methods is therefore invaluable for legal professionals representing clients in these areas and more.
Quantitative methods are also important in the academic study of law, offering a toolkit to compare legal systems across time and space, analyse policy and explore the relationship between the law and wider society. Furthermore, they provide you with a set of transferable skills in high demand by employers across a variety of sectors outside of the legal profession.
Quantitative research minors at Kent are run by Kent’s Q-Step Centre. As part of a multi-million pound national campaign to improve quantitative skills amongst undergraduates, the Q-Step centre boasts a team of world-class quantitative researchers, and innovative technology-based teaching methods. Starting with no assumed statistical knowledge, you will graduate with an advanced package of practical quantitative skills.
All Q-Step degrees offer you the chance to complete a quantitative research placement in your third year. This is a fantastic opportunity to apply the quantitative skills you will have developed in your first and second years in a “real life” setting, honing your skills and gaining valuable workplace experience.
Your quantitative skills are gained while still enjoying all the benefits the internationally renowned, innovative, critical and socio-legal education offered by the Kent Law School. LLB Law with Quantitative Research leads, subject to module choice, to a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD), satisfying the first (or ‘Academic’) stage of training required to qualify as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales.
Independent rankings
Law at Kent was ranked 13th in The Times Good University Guide 2016 and 15th in The Guardian University Guide 2017. In the National Student Survey 2016, 91% of our Law students were satisfied with the overall quality of their course.
For graduate prospects, Law at Kent was ranked 5th in The Guardian University Guide 2017. Of Law students who graduated from Kent in 2015, 94% were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).
Course structure
The LLB Law with Quantitative Research methods is carefully designed to take you from a basic level, with no assumed prior knowledge of quantitative methods, to a complete package of practical quantitative skills, all while gaining a thorough grounding in law.
In Stage 1, you complete introductory quantitative modules, which teach you the methodological and technical foundations which you will build on in later years. You will also learn to think like a quantitative researcher, developing a critical eye for statistics and data analysis, both in academic research and the world around you.
In Stage 2, you move on to more advanced quantitative techniques, building on the foundations you have learnt in Stage 1, to develop an advanced skillset in quantitative methods that is extremely rare in graduates from non-mathematical disciplines.
In Stage 3, you apply what you have learnt in either a quantitative work placement or a quantitative research dissertation. Here, you hone your skills in a practical setting, gaining vital workplace or research experience, and demonstrating to employers that you can apply your skills to real life problems.
All of this is completed alongside a complete grounding in law, with scope to specialise with advanced optional law modules in Stages 2 and 3.
The course structure below gives examples of the kinds of modules you can expect to take during the programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
*Compulsory module
**Compulsory module to obtain a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD)
Stage 1
Quantitative Research Modules:
*SO410 – An Introduction to Quantitative Social Research
Law Modules:
**LW313 – Critical Introduction to Law
**LW315 – Introduction to Obligations
**LW316 – Foundations of Property Law
**LW327 – English Legal System and Skills
Converting to a Quantitative Research Minor after Stage 1
Students studying other undergraduate programmes in law may convert to LLB Law with Quantitative Research after Stage 1 (subject to completion of the compulsory first year law modules and consultation with the Director of Studies for Law or their nominee).
To catch up on the quantitative research skills learned in the first year of a quantitative research minor, converting students must attend and pass the Quant GROUP Summer School, in the summer after Stage 1, in order to be eligible to convert.
Stage 2
Quantitative Research Modules:
*SO744 – The Power and Limits of Causal Analysis
*SO746 – How to Win Arguments with Numbers
CB554 – Introduction to Big Data
Law Modules:
**LW593 – Law of the European Union
**LW597 – The Law of Obligations
In Stage 2 you will also choose specialist modules from an approved list, please see below for examples of possible optional modules.
Stage 3
Quantitative Research Modules
*SO748 Placement Module - The Practice of Quantitative Social Research
OR
*Advanced Quantitative Dissertation
Law Modules
**LW601 Advanced Level Criminal Law
In Stage 3 you will also take specialist modules from an approved list, please see below for examples of possible optional modules.
Optional Modules – Stages 2 and 3
Possible optional modules for Stages 2 and 3 include:
LW509 Human Rights and English Law
LW520 Company Law and Capitalism
LW572 Immigration, Asylum and Refugee Law
LW584 Forensic Science in Criminal Trials
LW589 Skills of Argument - How to Argue and Win
LW596 Gender, Sexuality and Law
LW629 Critical Law and Practice of International Business Transactions
LW616 Law and International Development
LW642 International Law: Principles and Sources
LW643 International Law and the Use of Force
Teaching and assessment
In addition to learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, project supervision, and statistics classes, this degree prides itself in its aim to let students carry out hands-on research in the ‘field’ through placements and field trips. Most modules are assessed by examination and coursework in equal measure.
Programme aims
This programme aims to:
- attract and meet the needs of both those contemplating a career in the legal professions and those motivated primarily by an intellectual interest in law and legal issues;
- provide a sound knowledge and systematic understanding of the principal institutions and procedures of the English legal system;
- provide a sound grounding in the major concepts and principles of English law, the law of the European Union, and the European Convention on Human Rights;
- develop a critical awareness of law in its historical, socio-economic and political contexts, and to introduce students to a range of different theoretical approaches to the study of law;
- offer a range of modules covering the foundations of legal knowledge, as defined by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board, which will enable students who successfully complete them to obtain a qualifying law degree;
- offer a range of options to enable students to study some selected areas of areas of law in depth;
- provide teaching which is informed by current research and scholarship and which requires students to engage with aspects of work at the frontiers of knowledge;
- offer the opportunity to acquire direct experience of legal practice and to critically reflect on it through participation in the University Law Clinic;
- enable students to manage their own learning and to carry out independent research, including research into areas of law they have not previously studied;
- develop general critical, analytical and problem-solving skills which can be applied in a wide range of different legal and non-legal settings;
- provide opportunities for the development of personal, communication, research and other key skills appropriate for graduate employment both in the legal professions and other fields;
- provide a pioneering educational opportunity within the UK context combined with student engagement in a range of disciplines, enabling students to progress into high-level careers and related postgraduate opportunities;
- provide students with the statistical and analytical tools to independently and successfully conduct advanced quantitative research;
- help students make persuasive arguments using quantitative research, and to critically assess the arguments made by others within legal and non-legal settings;
- help students link theoretical knowledge with empirical enquiry, so that they understand how to conduct and critique social research in the real world.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the principal features of the English legal system, including its institutions, procedures and sources of law;
- the concepts, principles and rules of a substantial range of English legal subjects, including an in-depth knowledge of some areas of law and, depending on options, an in-depth knowledge of the law of the European Union, International law and Comparative law;
- the relationship between law and the historical, socio-economic and political contexts in which it operates;
- a range of theoretical and critical perspectives which can be applied to the study of law;
- a cross-disciplinary approach to qualitative and particularly advanced quantitative reasoning and the application of these methods to the analysis of complex societal problems;
- the principal sources of social sciences’ information and data relevant to Law and Socio-Legal Studies
Intellectual skills
You develop the following intellectual skills:
- effectively apply knowledge to analyse complex issues;
- recognise and rank items and issues in terms of their relevance and importance;
- collect and synthesise information from a variety of sources;
- formulate and sustain a complex argument, supporting it with appropriate evidence;
- recognise potential alternative solutions to particular problems and make a reasoned choice between them;
- independently acquire knowledge and understanding in areas, both legal and non-legal, not previously studied;
- demonstrate an independence of mind and an ability to critically challenge received understandings and conclusions;
- reflect constructively on their learning processes;
- appropriately use quantitative analytical methods – including advanced methods – in handling, analysing and presenting statistical data across relevant disciplines.
Subject-specific skills
You gain the following subject-specific skills:
- recognise the legal issues arising in a complex factual situation;
- identify and apply the case and statute law relevant to it;
- provide an informed and reasoned opinion on the possible legal actions arising from it, and their likelihood of success;
- identify the legal and related issues which require to be researched;
- effectively locate and use primary and secondary legal and other relevant sources;
- conduct independent legal research using a range of resources, both paper and electronic;
- critically evaluate an area of law both doctrinally and in terms of its socio-economic and other consequences;
- handle and interpret quantitative evidence in differing intellectual contexts;
- construct arguments within Law and Socio-Legal Studies using quantitative empirical evidence.
Transferable skills
Graduates in this programme will be able to:
- Use the English Language, both orally and in writing in relation to legal matters and generally, with care, accuracy and effectiveness;
- engage constructively and effectively in arguments and discussions of complex matters;
- give a clear and coherent presentation on a topic using appropriate supporting materials;
- read complex legal and non-legal materials and summarise them accurately;
- employ correct legal terminology and correct methods of citation and referencing for legal and other academic materials;
- produce work in appropriate formats;
- work collaboratively in groups to achieve defined tasks, to respond to different points of view and to negotiate outcomes;
- present and evaluate information in a numerical or statistical form;
- word-process their work and use a range of electronic databases and other information sources;
- make appropriate use of analytical methods – including advanced methods – in handling, analysing and presenting statistical data in diverse real-world settings;
- use IT technology and software to word process, store, retrieve and analyse quantitative data and conduct various forms of computer based analysis.
Careers
Kent has an excellent employment record, with Law School graduates demanding some of the highest starting salaries in the UK. Law graduates can go into a variety of careers, including working as: solicitors or barristers in private practice; lawyers in companies, local authorities, central government and its agencies, or in the institutions of the European Union; non-legal careers, such as banking, finance and management.
The quantitative skills gained in the LLB Law with Quantitative Research programme help set you apart from the crowd as a multi-skilled graduate able to analyse, interpret and explain quantitative data. These attributes are invaluable in the field of law; with data becoming a more important part of all spheres of life, it is increasingly important for aspiring lawyers to have a sound understanding of the principles of statistics and data analysis in order to better represent their clients.
The rise in the availability and use of data means that quantitative skills are also increasingly in demand in a range of other fields, including business, finance, government, the civil service, journalism and the media.
Quantitative Work Placements
One of the strengths of Kent’s Quantitative Research programmes is the opportunity for students to complete a quantitative work placement as part of their degree. Workplace experience is highly valued by employers, and the placements offered through Kent see students completing meaningful, applied quantitative analysis for business and organisations across a range of sectors, giving you the opportunity to add concrete workplace achievements to your CV.
Professional recognition
This programme can lead to a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD). A QLD is recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board as satisfying the first (or ‘Academic’) stage of training required to qualify as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales.
Please be aware that the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board are conducting independent reviews of the legal training and education required to qualify as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales. These reviews cover the ‘Academic Stage’ of training and may impact upon the role of the law degree as part of the training process. Please see the website of each regulator for more information (the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board).
Entry requirements
The Law School welcomes and accepts a range of domestic and international qualifications for entry (including but not limited to BTEC qualifications and Access to Higher Education programmes). We welcome enquires about the required level in individual qualifications.
All applicants are also expected to meet the University’s general entry requirements: www.kent.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/apply/entry.html.
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | AAB/ABB |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The University will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF; OCR) on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | International Baccalaureate: 34 points overall and 17 points at Higher Level. |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.