The Law Department at SOAS is one of the most highly-regarded law departments in the UK for the quality of both its teaching and research. The Guardian University Guide (May 2001) placed SOAS as the top Law Department for undergraduate studies in the UK and the Department received a 5 rating in the 2001 government assessment of research in all British universities. The Department has an unrivalled concentration of specialists in the laws of Asian and African countries, with additional areas of expertise in the areas of comparative law, human rights, transnational commercial law, environmental law, international law and socio-legal method.

University Overview

Established in 1916, SOAS, University of London is a non-profit public higher-education institution located in the urban setting of the large metropolis of London (population range of over 5,000,000 inhabitants). Officially recognized/chartered by the Privy Council, SOAS, University of London (SOAS) is a small (uniRank enrollment range: 5,000-5,999 students) coeducational UK higher education institution. SOAS, University of London (SOAS) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment. SOAS also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, sports facilities, online courses and distance learning opportunities, as well as administrative services.

Overview and entry requirments

The SOAS Law degree programme aims to produce highly skilled, civic minded and critically engaged graduates, who can effectively contribute to their communities and societies through the knowledge and skills gained on this course.

In an increasingly interconnected world, law is no longer the preserve of single jurisdictions as legal issues are no respecters of national borders. A SOAS Law degree addresses this need by providing our students with an educational experience that equips you with a distinctive set of skills far beyond what is offered by most traditional Law Schools.

Why study Law at SOAS

• UK Top 20 and World Top 200 for Law (QS World University Rankings 2021)
• SOAS is unique as the only higher education institution in the UK specialising in the study of Asian, Middle East and North African (MENA) and Sub-Saharan African regions
• This programme will immerse you in the legal traditions and practices of a number of global regions, which will give you a critical understanding of the role of law in the world today
• we specialise in key topics including international and transnational law, human rights, transnational commercial law, environmental law, comparative law and socio-legal method
• in common with other law schools, the degree program will result in our students obtaining a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD), allowing you to pursue a career in legal practice should you wish to do so
• we are specialists in the delivery of more than forty African and Asian languages. Your command of a language will set you apart from graduates of other universities
• you will be able to flexibly structure your programme using our Open Options modules to take advantage of the expertise of our other departments, including the opportunity to learn a regional language

Year 2 entry to the LLB

We will consider applications for transfer direct to the second year of the SOAS LLB from students who are currently studying the first year of LLB programmes at other English or Welsh universities. These applications must be made through UCAS.

Applicants are generally required to meet our standard high school entrance requirements but those who have taken the LNAT test and performed well and/or are working towards at least 2.1 level in their current LLB studies may also be considered. Each case will be considered by the admissions team on an individual basis taking into account all aspects of the application including the personal statement and reference which must be from the current university. The personal stement should include the motivation for transferring.

Students on the University of London External Programme must pass all four papers of the Intermediate examination of the LLB degree. These papers must all be taken on one occasion, and candidates must obtain a total of at least 200 marks overall. Candidates who meet this criterion are not guaranteed admission to the School, as the School considers the whole UCAS application, not just examination results.

Structure

Students take 120 credits per year composed of core and optional modules, which allows for students to design their own intellectual journey while maintaining a strong grasp of the fundamentals.

Year 1

In Year 1 students are introduced to the core elements and principles of the English legal system, and provided with the key analytical skills necessary for undertaking a demanding law degree program. During this first-year students’ will also be introduced to elements of legal principles and practice from other countries.

Year 2 and 3

In the second and third years our students will be even more fully immersed in the distinctively SOAS program. Our students can choose from a wide array of optional courses that draw on the unique research expertise of our staff.

The emphasis we place on choice, and research-led teaching, will allow our students to pursue a number of distinct specialisms as their degree progresses, but whichever path they choose to focus on the courses they study will all be imbued with that distinctive SOAS dimension, that stresses critical engagement and understanding of the role of law in the world at large.

Year 1

Students must pass All modules in Year 1 to progress to Year 2

Compulsory Module

Year 2

Compulsory Module

AND

Guided Option

Choose a module(s) from List of Year 2 Options below to the value of 30 credits

OR

Open Options

Choose related Language or Non-Language open option modules to the value of 30 credits

• Language Open Option Modules
• Non-Language Open Option Modules

Year 3

Guided Options

Choose a module(s) from List of Year 3 Options below to the value of 30 credits

OR

Open Options

Choose related Language or Non-Language open option modules to the value of 30 credits

• Language Open Option Modules
• Non-Language Open Option Modules

AND

Choose modules from List of Year 3 Options below to the value of 30 credits

OR

Choose a module at another University of London (UoL) if not taught at SOAS to the value of 30 credits

AND

Choose remaining 60 credits from List of Year 3 Options below.

List of Modules (subject to availability)

List of Year 2 Optional Modules

List of Year 3 Optional Modules

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Senior Status LLB will be restricted to non-law graduates holding an undergraduate degree from a recognised institution. The standard requirements are UK upper second class honours degree or a US degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3. We also welcome applications from other countries whose degrees are equivalent to this level.

• APPLY ONLINE
• OPEN DAYS

FEATURED EVENTS

Fees 2021/22

Fees for 2021/22 entrants per academic yearUK FEES:£9,250OVERSEAS FEES:£19,560

Please note that fees go up each year.Further details see ‘Fees and funding’ (tab on this page) or the Registry’s undergraduate tuition fees page.