Common Law (graduate entry) LLB

This is an accelerated undergraduate degree, which is available to graduates of any discipline, including Law.

The two-year degree provides graduates with a pathway towards professional qualification.

The programme is a foundational training in law and satisfies the Bar Standard Board requirements for the academic stage of legal training. It is not an approved pathway to legal practice in Scotland.
The programme is particularly suitable for students coming from Common law countries such as Canada, and it is a recognised degree in Northern Ireland.
This flexible degree offers courses that put an emphasis on developing the key skills required by employers.
The programme also provides you with a sound general foundation for a range of careers beyond law, such as the civil service, local government, journalism, industry and commerce, international institutions, administration, banking, insurance, social work and the police service.
On successful completion of the LLB you will be able to apply to one of our specialised or general LLM (Master of Laws) degrees.

September start
Session dates
Common Law (accelerated: graduates only) LLB: M900 2 year degree

Glasgow: Gilmorehill campus

Register your interest for more information

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Apply via UCAS

Programme structure

The degree requires two years of full-time study and provides a pathway towards professional qualification.

Year 1

Common law system and method for graduates
Constitutional law
Criminal law of England and Wales
Law of contract
Law of tort.

Year 2

Law and Government
Land law
Equity and trusts
European Union Law
Jurisprudence.

You can also take optional modules in Years 1 and 2 covering topics such as:

International law
Roman law of Property and Obligations
Commercial law
Business Organisations
Foundations of Evidence Law.

Course details

Year 1

Year 2

Students can also take optional modules in Year 2 covering topics such as:

Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.

Entry requirements

for entry in 2025

Minimum requirements: 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent.

We do, however, welcome applicants with a wide range of experience and qualifications and are happy to discuss your individual qualifications prior to an application. Please contact Law Admissions law-ugadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk.

Admissions guidance

Find out more about entry requirements and alternative qualifications

English language

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

English language requirements

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

6.5 with no subtests under 6.0
IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

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Common equivalent English language qualifications for entry to this programme

TOEFL (ibt, mybest or athome)

90 overall with Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements, this includes TOEFL mybest.

Pearsons PTE Academic

59 with minimum 59 in all subtests
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

176 overall, no subtest less than 169
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Oxford English Test

7 overall with no subtest less than 6
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

LanguageCert Academic SELT

70 overall with no subtest less than 60
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Password Skills Plus

6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Trinity College Tests

Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Distinction with Distinction in all sub-tests
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

School Qualifications

IGCSE English First Language, grade C
IGCSE English Second Language, grade A
A Level English, grade C
International Baccalaureate English A SL5 or HL5
International Baccalaureate English B SL6 or HL5
SQA National 5 English or ESOL, grade B
SQA Higher English or ESOL, grade C

International School Qualifications

Brunei: O-Level English Language 1120 grade B and above
Denmark: Studentereksamen English at 7
European Baccalaureate: English as Language 1 pass, if taken as Language 2 grade 7, if taken as Language 3 grade 7.5
Finland: Ylioppilastutkinto / studentexamen English grade C or 4
France: International Option Baccalaureate (OIB) / Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) grade 12
Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone: West African Examination Council (WAEC) / Senior Secondary School Certificate English grade C6
Germany: German Abitur English Grade 11
Hong Kong: Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education, English Language grade 4
India: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) / All India School Certificate (ISC) English at 80%
Kenya: Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) English grade B
Netherlands: Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO) grade 7
Norway: Vitnemal English grade 4 or above
Singapore: Cambridge International O Level English Language (1128 Singapore only) at Grace C; Singapore Integrated Programme Secondary 4 English Language at grade B
South Africa: National Senior Certificate (NSC) / Independent Exam Board (IEB) Grade 4 (English as Home Language) OR Grade 4 (English as First Additional Language)
Sweden: Avgangsbetyg / Fullständigt Slutbetyg fran Gymnasieskolan English grade VG
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education at English at Ordinary Level grade C

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Alternatives to English Language qualification

Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
Undergraduate 2+2 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

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Pre-sessional courses

We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:

direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS)
essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University
flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.

For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:

School of Modern Languages & Cultures: English for Academic Stud: Pre-sessional courses

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

Heriot Watt
Kingston Upon Thames
Middlesex University
Manchester University
Reading University
Edinburgh University
St Andrews University
UCL
Durham

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FAQs

What do I do if...

my language qualifications are below the requirements?

The University's School of Modern Languages and Cultures offers a range of Pre-sessional courses to bring you up to entry level. The course is accredited by BALEAP, the UK professional association for academic English teaching.

my language qualifications are not listed here?

Please contact External Relations

If you require a Tier 4 student visa, your qualification must be one of the secure English language tests accepted by UK Border Agency:

Visa requirements and proof of English language level

It is a visa requirement to provide information on your level of English based on an internationally recognised and secure English language test. All test reports must be no more than 2 years old. A list of these can be found on the UK Border Agency website. If you have never taken one of these tests before, you can get an initial idea of your level by using the Common European Framework self-assessment grid which gives you a level for each skill (e.g. listening B1/writing B2 etc.) However, please note that this is not a secure English language test and it is not sufficient evidence of your level of English for visa requirements.

Further information about English language: School of Modern Languages & Cultures: English for Academic Study

Career prospects

The flexibility of the LLB (Common Law) at Glasgow, together with the emphasis on developing the key skills required by employers and the opportunities available to study abroad and to take part in placement opportunities, means that the degree provides a sound general foundation for a range of careers. These include the Civil Service, local government, journalism, industry and commerce, international institutions, administration, banking, insurance, social work and the police service.

All Glasgow law students benefit from a dedicated employability programme featuring tailored events focusing on various aspects of legal practice. These events feature a range of legal professionals from solicitors and barristers through to judges (many of whom are Glasgow graduates themselves). Law students at Glasgow may also gain real world legal experience and an opportunity to develop their skillset through legal clinical projects run via the GO Justice Initiative.

For those seeking to work as a lawyer in England and Wales, Ireland or Northern Ireland, the LLB (Common law) will provide an invaluable foundation in the academic study of law.

If you intend to become a barrister in England and Wales, the LLB (Common Law) satisfies the Bar Standards Board requirements regarding the academic component of training based on a law degree. After completing our degree, you would then undertake the ‘vocational stage’ of training, which requires completion of a postgraduate Bar course. The final step in qualifying as a barrister involves a period of full-time training for one year (‘pupillage’).

If you intend to become a solicitor, the LLB (Common law) is currently recognised for the purposes of qualifying as a solicitor in Northern Ireland (the Solicitor course at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Belfast).

If you intend to become a solicitor in England and Wales, the Solicitors Regulation Authority administers an independent, centralised assessment called the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). This includes:

A degree in any subject or a qualification or experience that is equivalent to a degree, such as a solicitor apprenticeship.
Passing the SQE 1 and SQE2 assessments
Two years’ full time (or equivalent) qualifying work experience.
Passing character and suitability requirements.

The LLB (Common Law) is also a recognised degree in Northern Ireland and is foundational for those seeking entry to the legal profession in a range of other jurisdictions such as Canada.
To qualify for legal practice, you must pass additional examinations in the appropriate legal system before proceeding to professional training and qualification. These requirements will vary according to the intended jurisdiction for professional practice.

Degrees and UCAS codes

When applying you will need to know the UCAS code for the subject or subject-combination that you wish to apply to:

LLB

Common Law (accelerated: graduates only): M900 (2 years)

Apply to M900

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

How and when you pay tuition fees depends on where you’re from: see Tuition fees for details.

Scholarships

The University is committed to supporting students and rewarding academic excellence. That's why we've invested more than £1m in additional scholarship funding in recent years.

World Changers Global Excellence Scholarship

The University of Glasgow has a number of World Changers Global Excellence Scholarships available to new International and EU students for 2025 entry. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount of £7,000 per year of study and is subject to satisfactory progress for consecutive years of study.

World Changers Global Excellence Scholarship

World Changers Glasgow Scholarship UG (EU)

The University of Glasgow continues to be committed to ensuring a strong relationship with our existing and future EU students, and supporting EU talent to make their home at the University of Glasgow.

We appreciate the challenging financial implications that have arisen for our European applicants, and are therefore delighted to offer the World Changers Glasgow Scholarship UG (EU) to new incoming EU students starting an undergraduate programme for Academic Session 2025-26. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount of £5,000 for every year of study and is subject to satisfactory progress for consecutive years of study. This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.

Applicants that completed a Study Abroad year, Exchange programme or International Summer School at the University of Glasgow and therefore eligible for the Alumni discount could be granted the EU Welcome Award as well.

World Changers Glasgow Scholarship UG (EU)

Beaconhouse Schools

The University of Glasgow offer a 15% discount on the first year of tuition fee to students from Beaconhouse Schools and who enrol on an undergraduate programme at the University of Glasgow. The discount does not apply to Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Dentistry programmes.

Beaconhouse Schools

Sanctuary Scholarships

The University of Glasgow is offering up to 30 Sanctuary Scholarships for applicants to the University, who have been forced to travel to the UK for humanitarian reasons and are facing challenges in progressing onto Higher Education. The scholarship is open to prospective undergraduate and postgraduate taught students at the University of Glasgow applying for entry in September 2025/26. Please note that you must have applied to the University before submitting an application for this scholarship.

The scholarship will meet the cost of tuition fees for the duration of your programme, for applicants who are unable to access mainstream funding through Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) or Student Finance. The Sanctuary Scholarship also provides a £5,000 per year stipend, to assist with study costs. In addition, if the eligibility criteria for university accommodation is met, this will also be provided for the duration of your degree, if required. For more information on the accommodation criteria, please see the Accommodation Services section on the website.

Undergraduate students with refugee status (or equivalent) and access to funding, are eligible to apply for the scholarship and would receive the £5,000 stipend towards study costs only, if successful.

Postgraduate Taught Masters students with refugee status (or equivalent) and access to funding, are eligible to apply for the scholarship and would receive the £5,000 stipend towards study costs and a partial tuition fee waiver, to cover any shortfall not met by your Postgraduate Masters tuition fee loan.

Sanctuary Scholarships

The Dima Alhaj Scholarship

The Dima Alhaj Scholarship was set up in 2024 in memory of a University of Glasgow alumna. After graduating, Dima worked in Gaza with the World Health Organization as a patient administrator at the limb reconstruction centre, as part of the trauma and emergency team and was tragically killed in Gaza in November 2023. The Scholarship is open to a Palestinian National who is living in or has been forced to leave the State of Palestine due to humanitarian reasons. The chosen applicant may be domiciled in any country but must be a Palestinian National. The scholarship is open to prospective undergraduate and postgraduate taught applicants to the University of Glasgow applying for entry in September 2025/26.

The Dima Alhaj Scholarship

The Clan Gregor Society Prize

The Clan Gregor Society is offering an award to new entrants to the University of Glasgow who descend from Clan Gregor. Prospective students will be asked to submit an application highlighting areas of consideration such as academic excellence and financial need. The award is open to both Undergraduate and Postgraduate applicants for 2024 entry.

The Clan Gregor Society Prize

The scholarships above are specific to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database

How to apply

Application deadline

The deadlines for applications to the LLB (graduate entry) is 31 January.

We do not usually accept any applications after this deadline.

It's your responsibility to ensure the accuracy of your application before submission. Requests to correct application content, change degree programme or change college of entry, will not be accepted after these deadlines. This policy is in place to ensure fairness and consistency to all applicants, and no exceptions will be made.