Law

Law with a Foundation Year - LLB (Hons)

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Study Law at Kent and become part of one of the top 20 law schools in the UK. Learn to take a critical view of the law, work on real cases in our Law Clinic and put theory into practice. A law degree from Kent opens doors, not only into the legal profession but to many other areas, such as politics, business, the civil service and the NGO sector.

Overview

Kent Law School is renowned for its world-leading research and an approach which enables you to think critically about law within the broader context of society, considering it's role and impact, and the potential it has to change the world we live in.

Our Law with a Foundation Year - LLB (Hons) degree programme

Law with a Foundation Year extends access to the degree to students from a wide variety of qualifications and educational backgrounds. It is the ideal programme if you have completed a university entry level qualification but have grades below the level required for entry to the degree directly.

During the Foundation Year you complete modules which prepare you for the study of Law, and which develop your academic skills to enable you to confidently progress to a university degree. Upon successful completion of the Foundation Year at the required level (see below), you move on to the first year of our Law LLB (Hons) programme.

Law is a stimulating degree that sharpens your thinking and your powers of persuasion while giving you extensive legal knowledge. You 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.

Teaching on the Law degree takes place 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:

  • the 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.

As a foundation year student, you are a full member of the University and can take part in all student activities.

Progression requirements from the Foundation Year to the LLB

To progress from the Foundation Year to the LLB in Law, students must pass all components of the Foundation year with a 60% overall average including 60% in Academic Skills Development and 60% in the Law module.

Accreditation

All of our undergraduate Law degrees contain the foundations of legal knowledge required by the Bar Standards Board to satisfy the academic component of professional training for intending barristers, and provide a strong foundation for students who wish to take the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE).

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
  • Lawlinks, our award-winning gateway to online legal resources
  • 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.

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Watch to find out why you should study at Kent.

You gain confidence from going to Kent. I specifically mean Kent, and not just any university.

James Buckley-Thorp - Law LLB

Entry requirements

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. All applications are assessed on an individual basis but some of our typical requirements are listed below. Students offering qualifications not listed are welcome to contact our Admissions Team for further advice. Please also see our general entry requirements.

  • medal-empty

    A level

    CCC

  • medal-empty Access to HE Diploma

    The University welcomes applications from Access to Higher Education Diploma candidates for consideration. A typical offer may require you to obtain a proportion of Level 3 credits in relevant subjects at merit grade or above.

  • medal-empty BTEC Nationals

    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. 

    A typical offer would be Merit, Merit, Merit.

  • medal-empty International Baccalaureate

    IB Diploma with a minimum of 24 points; we also welcome applications from IB Certificate students who have achieved 4s in all subjects

  • medal-empty International Foundation Programme

    N/A

  • medal-empty T level

    The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.

Law with an Foundation Year is designed to accommodate students who have completed a level 3 qualification (such as A levels) but have not met the requirements to entry the degree directly, including students with comparable international qualifications.  We consider applicants taking a wide variety of qualifications, and encourage you to contact us if you have any questions about whether the qualification you are taking, or the grades you have achieved, are acceptable for entry.

If you are an international student, you may also be interested in the University’s International Foundation Programmes. Please note that international fee-paying students who require a Student visa cannot undertake a part-time programme due to visa restrictions.

Please note that meeting the typical offer/minimum requirement does not guarantee that you will receive an offer.

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.

Entry requirements for Law LLB - FAQs

Find answers to many common queries about the application process on our website.

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Course structure

Duration: 4 years full-time

Foundation year

The Foundation Year aims to extend access to university education to students from a wide variety of educational backgrounds and age groups and prepares these students for our three or four-year degrees. On successful completion of your Foundation Year, you move on to the first year of our LLB (Hons) programme.

The course structure provides a sample of the modules available for this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

Compulsory modules include:

FOUN0036 - Academic Skills Development

Plus ONE of the following

FOUN0037 English for Academic StudyOR

FOUN0035 Foundation Project

Optional modules include:

FOUN0012 - Philosophy for University Study

FOUN0013 - Mathematics and Statistics for University Study

FOUN0019 - Law for University Study

FOUN0027 - Introductory History for University Study

FOUN0028 - Introduction to Literature for University Study

FOUN0029 - Introduction to Sociology for University

FOUN0030 - Introduction to Economics for University

FOUN0031 - An Introduction to Politics for University Study

FOUN0033 - Introductory European and International Business for University

FOUN0038 - Art & Design

FOUN0045 - Life Sciences for University Study

FOUN0050 - Introduction to Psychology for University Study

FOUN0051 - Programming for University Study

Upon successful completion of the Foundation Year, you progress onto the Law LLB (Hons). For module information, see the Law LLB (Hons) course structure.

Fees

The 2023/24 annual tuition fees for this course are:

  • Home full-time £9,250
  • EU full-time £14,500
  • International full-time £19,300
  • Home part-time £4,625
  • EU part-time £7,250
  • International part-time £9,650

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.

Additional costs

Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.

Funding

We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.

Search scholarships

Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details. 

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 A*AA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.

Teaching and assessment

How you'll study
As well as scheduled teaching hours, students in Kent Law School are expected to do an amount of independent study. For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme includes approximately 1200 learning hours. Our popular mooting programme develops your advocacy skills in a simulated courtroom setting before a bench comprising local judges, practising barristers, solicitors and lecturers.

Teaching and assessment
Kent Law School emphasises research-led teaching, which means that the modules taught are at the leading edge of new legal and policy developments. 

Most modules are assessed by end-of-year examinations and continuous assessment, the ratio varying from module to module, with Kent encouraging and supporting the development of research and written skills. Some modules include an optional research-based dissertation that counts for 45% or, in some cases, 100% of the final mark. 

Assessment can also incorporate assessment through oral presentation and argument, often in the style of legal practice (such as mooting), and client-based work and reflection through our Law Clinic. 

Contact hours

For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise approximately 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.

Programme aims

For programme aims and learning outcomes, including for Joint Honours programmes and for Law with a Foundation Year, please see the programme specification.

Independent rankings

Law at Kent was ranked 20th in The Times Good University Guide 2023.

Law at Kent was ranked 2nd for research quality and 12th for student satisfaction in The Complete University Guide 2023.

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. They also provide a strong foundation for students who wish to take the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE).

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.

Apply for Law with a Foundation Year - LLB (Hons)

Any applicant to Law (this includes all Law programmes, including all joint programmes) who is currently studying or has previously studied Law at university level, even if the qualification was only partly completed or is incomplete, must state this clearly in the qualifications section of the UCAS form, and provide transcripts detailing this study direct to the University where available.

Full-time applicants

If you are from the UK or Ireland, you must apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not from the UK or Ireland, you can choose to apply through UCAS or directly on our website.

Find out more about how to apply

All applicants

International applicants

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United Kingdom/EU enquiries

Enquire online for full-time study

T: +44 (0)1227 768896

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International student enquiries

Enquire online

T: +44 (0)1227 823254
E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk

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