This 4-year programme gives you the opportunity to gain a rigorous legal education and study law in another European country, broadening your horizons and boosting your employability. Designed to challenge and inspire future legal professionals, this course is formally accepted by the Law Society of England and Wales and the Bar Council of England and Wales.
Having mastered the qualifying law degree subjects in your first 2 years, you'll spend your third year studying at one of our partner institutions in a European country. Most destinations offer modules taught in English. For others you can spend Year 2 studying the language before you go. We currently have partners in:
As well as gaining valuable insights into a different legal system, you'll develop the confidence and independence that comes from living in another country.
You’ll return to Southampton for your final year, during which you'll take a number of optional modules and complete your dissertation.
As part of your degree you can:
During your degree you can enhance your skills and forge even stronger links within our friendly community by joining a student-run society. These include our Law Society, Inns of Court Society, Mooting Society, Lawyers without Borders and the Canadian Law Society.
Law at Southampton is ranked in the top 10 UK universities by The Guardian University Guide 2026.
We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.
Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).
This course is based at Highfield.
This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.
AAA. We require at least two A-level subjects that are typically assessed through written coursework and/or examinations. Only one subject with a primarily practical or performance-based focus will be considered as part of the standard offer.
Excluded subjects are; General Studies and Critical Thinking.
The below subjects are considered as primarily having a practical or performance-based focus. This means that we can accept one subject from the following list if combined with other academic subjects:
Dance, Drama and Theatre, Art and Design, Fine Art, Photography, Graphic Communication/Graphic Design, Film Studies, Design and Technology, Product Design, Fashion and Textiles, 3 D Design, Sculpture, Ceramics and Art, Craft and Design, Music and Music Technology.
If you have any queries about the subjects you are studying, please contact the Admissions Team before you make your application.
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: AAB and grade A in the EPQ
We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme as follows: ABB
Pass, with 36 points overall with 18 points at Higher Level including one accepted essay-based subject
As per our A level requirements, we can only accept one subject with a primarily practical or performance-based focus.
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus AA from two accepted A levels
DD in a BTEC National Diploma plus A from one accepted A-level
DDD in the Law or Applied Law BTEC National Extended Diploma
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
For the BTEC Extended/National Extended Diploma we can accept Law or Applied Law.
Other BTEC qualifications in the following subjects will be considered alongside accepted A levels or other academic qualification: Law, Criminology, Legal Services, Public Services, Business, Health and Social Care, Psychology, Sociology, Social Sciences, Politics and Media/Journalism.
Please contact us to check if your qualification or subject is accepted.
D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus AA from two accepted A levels
DD in a BTEC National Diploma plus A from one accepted A-level
DDD in the Law or Applied Law BTEC National Extended Diploma
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, all of which must be at Distinction
We welcome applications from returners to learning who are over 21 years of age at the start of your proposed degree programme. You may be required to undertake a test and interview to determine your academic suitability to pursue the programme.
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 H2
As per our A level requirements, we can only accept one subject with a primarily practical or performance-based focus.
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.
Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
D3 D3 D3 in three Principal subject
Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A Levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer but care must be taken with subjects when combining qualifications. As per our A level requirements, we can only accept one subject with a primarily practical or performance-based focus.
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
AAA from 3 A levels or AA from two A levels and A from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales
As per our A level requirements, we can only accept one subject with a primarily practical or performance-based - please check the subjects listed under the A level section which also applies to all qualifications.
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
There are no T levels accepted for this programme.
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)
Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.
If English is not your first language, you must show that you can use English to the level we require. Visit our English language pages to find out which qualifications we accept and how you can meet our requirements.
If you are taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), you must get at least the following scores:
If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before your course starts.
You might meet our criteria in other ways if you do not have the qualifications we need. Find out more about:
Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
A foundation programme will give you the language skills and subject knowledge you need if you're not qualified for direct entry to your chosen undergraduate course.
You'll progress to your chosen course after successfully completing the foundation programme.
Find out more about undergraduate foundation programmes for international students.
We welcome applications from learners of all ages. Students who are aged 21 and over at the start of their undergraduate course are defined as mature by the University of Southampton. We take a holistic assessment of the application looking for academic ability and commitment to study. Typical entry requirements, which may vary from discipline to discipline, includes for example, evidence of recent formal academic qualifications (taken in the last 3 years) or professional qualifications, relevant work experience or volunteering. You may also be invited to attend an interview with an Admissions Tutor. For some degree programmes, there may also be a Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirement. We accept many different academic qualifications. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.
LNAT is not required for our programmes.
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
Your specialist law degree will include core and optional modules, allowing you to focus your learning. Your core modules are required to earn a qualifying law degree and for progressing onto further professional training.
Our flexible programmes make it easy to study non-law subjects alongside your degree. Whether you have an interest in another subject or would simply like to extend your skills by learning a language, there are a wide range of options available.
You'll study the following core modules:
You'll also choose 1 of these optional modules:
These modules are designed to give you a deeper understanding of the contested nature of law and legal principle, develop your critical thinking skills, and help you to construct and communicate a persuasive argument.
Your 5 core modules are:
You'll choose 2 modules from this broad list of options:
You'll spend this full academic year at a partner university in Europe through the Erasmus+ exchange programme. You'll study aspects of the legal system and the substantive law of that country, taking 4 modules (or equivalent) in each semester.
In your final core module, you'll use the research and writing skills you've developed to produce a 10,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choosing.
You'll select the rest of your modules from a list that includes possible career specialisms you might like to explore, including:
You can also choose to study a module from outside of law, including Global Health, Business Skills for Employability, or a language.
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Find out why, when and how we might make changes.
You must study the following modules in year 1:
You must study the following modules in year 2:
You must also choose from the following modules in year 2:
You must study the following module in year 4:
You must also choose from the following modules in year 4:
The learning activities for this course include the following:
How you'll spend your course time:
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:
Year 1:
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 2:
Year 2:
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 3:
Year 3:
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 4:
Year 4:
You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.
Marc Johnson is the course leader.
This degree will allow you to develop and evidence subject-specific and targeted employability skills. This includes the required skill set for a range of future careers, further study, or starting your own business.
The skills you can expect to focus on and gain from this course include:
The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the Southampton skills model. When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.
Download skills overview
Graduates commonly work in a range of organisations or sectors including:
Armed Forces legal services,
Administration,
Accounting,
Banking,
Business,
Civil service,
Community and voluntary,
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS),
Education,
Finance,
High street solicitors' practices,
Health and safety,
HM Courts and Tribunal Service,
HMRC,
International law firm,
Large organisations with in-house legal teams,
local and national government,
Ministry of Justice,
Politics,
Probation service and social services,
Self-employment.
*Example graduate job titles and job prospect statistics taken from The Graduate Outcomes Survey, which gathers information about the activities and perspectives of graduates 15 months after finishing their course.
Choosing to do work experience is a great way to enhance your employability, build valuable networks, and evidence your potential. Learn about the different work and industry experience options at Southampton.
We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:
We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.
Your career ideas and graduate job opportunities may change while you're at university. So it is important to take time to regularly reflect on your goals, speak to people in industry and seek advice and up-to-date information from Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise professionals at the University.
Fees for a year's study:
Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.
Find out how to:
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.
Explore:
If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £36,200 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.
If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.
Get in touch for advice about student money matters.
You may be able to get a scholarship or grant to help fund your studies.
We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented backgrounds.
The Student Hub offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.
Find out about funding you could get as an international student.
We will assess your application on the strength of your:
We'll aim to process your application within 2 to 6 weeks, but this will depend on when it is submitted. Applications submitted in January, particularly near to the UCAS equal consideration deadline, might take substantially longer to be processed due to the high volume received at that time.
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
European Legal Studies (LLB) is a course in the Law subject area. Here are some other courses within this subject area:
