This is an archived page and for reference purposes only
The Certificate route within the LLB in Law offers a more supportive introduction to the study of law to students who do not meet Kent Law School’s normal entry requirements, but who meet specified contextual indicators.
Overview
At Kent, we have one of the top law schools in the UK. Kent Law School is renowned for its world-leading research and its distinctive ‘critical approach’ that places law within the wider context of society. This creates an exciting environment in which to gain your degree.
Our programme
Students on the Certificate route follow the same curriculum as all other LLB students, with modules in the first year slightly amended to incorporate additional support. An additional module, 'Performing Effectively in Law' is also taken in the first year, to aid the development of essential academic skills.
As a student of Kent Law School, you will study the detail of the law, as well as its history. You analyse judgments and legal developments while taking into account the political, ethical and social dimensions of the law. This ‘critical approach’ enhances what is already a fascinating subject. It helps you to fully understand the law and there are many chances to discuss and debate its role in society.
Teaching is via lectures, small group seminars and case studies. Our popular mooting programme, hosted in a dedicated space within the £5m Wigoder Law Building, gives you the chance to develop advocacy skills in a simulated courtroom setting before a bench comprised of local judges, practising barristers, solicitors and lecturers.
Kent Law School has a supportive environment and your lecturers have office hours where they provide guidance on a one-to-one basis. We also provide:
- a Skills Hub offering tailored guidance, five days a week in term time
- a law librarian to guide you in the use of online and printed resources.
Student view
Kent student Dominique talks about studying the Certificate in Law.
Study resources
Kent Law Clinic is based within our new, purpose-built building. It is ideal for developing your practical skills and has a replica courtroom for mooting.
Our academic resources are extensive. You have access to a wide range of materials, including:
- collections of legislation and case law in UK, European and international law
- major legal databases that are used on a daily basis in the legal profession
- audio recordings of your lectures.
Extra activities
There are plenty of activities related to your studies, including:
- Kent Student Law Society for aspiring solicitors
- Kent Temple Law Society for those intending to go to the Bar
- Kent Critical Law Society
- Kent Canadian Law Society
- European Law Students’ Association (ELSA) Kent
Kent Student Law Society and Kent Temple Law Society arrange events that are attended by members of the legal profession, many of them Kent alumni. They include QCs, judges, barristers, solicitors and members of the Bar Council and Law Society.
In previous years, events have included the:
- Kent Law Fair
- Kent Law Ball
- Temple Dinner.
Kent Critical Law Society has also put on events where students, academics and practitioners can debate topical – and often controversial – legal issues.
Professional network
We have approximately 100 legal professionals registered on our Professional Mentoring Scheme, and leading law firms visit the campus to attend the annual Kent Law Fair, offer mock interviews, or run workshops.
We regularly hold careers talks given by practising lawyers (many of whom are Kent alumni) and host guest lectures given by some of the leading legal figures of our time.
Independent rankings
In The Guardian University Guide 2019, over 93% of final-year Law students were satisfied with the overall quality of their course.
In the National Student Survey 2018, over 93% of final-year Law students who completed the survey, were satisfied with the overall quality of their course.
For graduate prospects, Law at Kent scored 86% in The Guardian University Guide 2019.
Of Law students who graduated from Kent in 2017 and completed a national survey, over 98% were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).
Teaching Excellence Framework
All University of Kent courses are regulated by the Office for Students.
Based on the evidence available, the TEF Panel judged that the University of Kent delivers consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students. It is of the highest quality found in the UK.
Please see the University of Kent's Statement of Findings for more information.
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘elective’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.
Teaching and assessment
The Certificate route develops your ability to manage your own learning and carry out independent research, as well as developing critical, analytical and problem-solving skills that can be applied in a wide range of legal and non-legal contexts.
Assessment is through a combination of coursework and end-of-year exams, with study skills and exam preparation an integral part of teaching on the Certificate.
Kent Law School emphasises research-led teaching which means that the modules taught are at the leading edge of new legal and policy developments.
Contact Hours
For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours. The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- to attract and meet the needs of those contemplating a career in the legal profession and those motivated primarily by an intellectual interest in law and legal issues
- to contribute to widening participation in higher education by offering a wide variety of entry routes
- to provide a sound knowledge and systematic understanding of the principal institutions and procedures of the English legal system
- to provide a grounding in the major concepts and principles of English law, the law of the European Union, and the European Convention on Human Rights
- to 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
- to offer a range of modules covering the foundations of legal knowledge
- to offer a range of options to enable students to study some selected areas of law in depth
- to 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
- to offer the opportunity to acquire direct experience of legal practice and to critically reflect on it through participation in the University Law Clinic
- to enable students to manage their own learning and to carry out independent research, including research into areas of law they have not previously studied
- to develop general critical, analytical and problem-solving skills which can be applied in a wide range of different legal and non-legal settings
- to 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.
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.
Intellectual skills
You gain the intellectual abilities to:
- 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 your own learning processes.
Subject-specific skills
Application and problem solving
On successful completion of the programme, students will be able to:
- recognise the legal issues arising in a 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.
Sources, research and evaluation
On successful completion of the programme, students will be able to:
- identify the legal and related issues that require to be researched
- effectively locate and use primary and secondary legal and other relevant sources
- conduct independent legal research using paper and electronic resources
- critically evaluate an area of law both doctrinally and in terms of its socio-economic and other consequences
function in both the English and the broader milieu of International law
Transferable skills
Communication and literacy
On successful completion of the programme, students 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.
Teamwork, numeracy and IT
On successful completion of the programme, students should be able to:
- work collaboratively in groups to achieve defined tasks, to respond to different points of view and to negotiate outcomes
- word process their work and use a range of electronic databases and other information sources
Careers
Graduate destinations
The University has an excellent employment record, with Kent Law School graduates commanding some of the highest starting salaries in the UK. Law graduates can go into a variety of careers, including:
- solicitor or barrister in a private practice
- company lawyer
- legal work within government
- legal work within the charity and NGO sector
- non-legal careers, such as banking, finance and management.
Help finding a job
Kent Law School has an active careers programme – leading law firms and prominent members of the legal profession visit the University to meet our students. We also work with employers to create work placement opportunities for our students.
The Law School's dedicated Employability and Careers Development Officer can give you advice on how to:
- apply for jobs
- write a good CV
- perform well in interviews.
You also have access to the University's friendly Careers and Employability Service.
Work experience
Our award-winning Kent Law Clinic gives local people access to free legal advice and representation. As a student, this gives you the chance to work on real cases under the guidance of qualified lawyers. You take on clients and sometimes have the chance to act as the client’s advocate in court or at a legal tribunal.
Career-enhancing skills
Our approach to law helps you to develop:
- a detailed knowledge of the law
- sophisticated legal research and writing skills
- practical skills in mediation, negotiation and interviewing clients.
You gain intellectual, analytical and practical skills that are vital to lawyers but also useful in many other professions. These include the ability to:
- think critically
- communicate your ideas and opinions
- manage your time effectively
- work independently or as part of a team.
You can also gain extra skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.
Professional recognition
Our degree programmes contain the foundations of legal knowledge required by the Bar Standards Board to satisfy the academic component of professional training for intending barristers. For entrants in 2019 and 2020 who wish to qualify as a solicitor, our programmes can lead to the award of a Qualifying Law Degree, validated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. They also provide a strong foundation for students who may wish to take the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE) in the future.
Our critical approach to law and legal practice enables students to develop creative intellectual and transferable skills which prepare them for contemporary legal practice – in the UK and worldwide, and for successful careers in many fields.
Entry requirements
The entry requirements for the Certificate route within the LLB are as follows:
BBC at A level or published equivalents. To be considered for entry to this route applicants must meet the same contextual requirements stated by the University of Kent to assess eligibility to receive a contextual offer, and must not be expected to meet the Law School’s standard published requirements for entry to the LLB in Law.
In addition to meeting the academic requirements for entry, applicants to the Law (Certificate) LLB must meet contextual indicators to be eligible for consideration for entry to the programme. These indicators are based upon contextual data and information, which help us understand an applicant’s attainment within the context of their educational history and their geodemographic circumstances, and allow us to take into consideration individual contextual factors which may have impacted their full-time education.
Why is Kent Law School using contextual data?
The Certificate route aims to recruit students who do not expect to meet the standard published entry requirements for entry to the LLB in Law at Kent, but who have the potential to succeed within the supportive environment of the programme. We believe that the use of contextual data provides an evidence-based, transparent and objective mechanism for identifying and recognising potential.
How is contextual data identified and used?
To be considered for entry to the LLB (Certificate) applicants must meet the same contextual requirements stated by the University of Kent to assess eligibility to receive a contextual offe.
Does this mean that all applicants who meet the stated contextual indicators can only apply for the Certificate route?
Applicants are welcome and encouraged to apply for the many other undergraduate degree programmes offered by the Law School, and we have many students with contextual characteristics on these other programmes. Applicants who meet the contextual requirements for entry should only consider applying for the LLB (Certificate) if the grades they are predicted or have achieved are below those usually required for entry to Law at Kent.
Principles that inform our use of contextual data
We are committed to ensuring that our use of contextual data to inform admission to the Certificate in Law conforms to HE sector best practice and SPA guidelines.
We are committed to using data that is evidence-based, valid and reliable, and transparent. We are also committed to making clear to applicants and their advisors what contextual data is used, how it is used, and how this helps us meet the aims of the admission criteria for the programme.
We are also committed to evaluating the impact of the use of contextual data for entry to programme, to understand and assess the extent to which it enables us to identify academic potential. We are committed to maintaining and updating information and underlying data informing contextual requirements, and to ensuring that staff involved in the admission and decision-making process for the Certificate in Law are sufficiently trained to understand, interpret and use the data effectively.
Additional information
As the Certificate route aims to provide a supportive introduction to Higher Education, applicants will not be eligible for entry if they have undertaken any further study at NQF level 4 or above [following the completion of A levels (or equivalent)].
I have further questions, who do I contact?
If you have any questions you are encouraged to contact the Law School directly
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Typical requirements are listed below. 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 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.
However, please note that international fee-paying students cannot undertake a part-time programme due to visa restrictions.
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 advice 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 2019/20 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ||
| Part-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
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.*
Your fee status
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.
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.