Law LLB

Practically minded and future focused, our close links with Aston Business School and a strong network of employer links will help you put theory into practice.

Successful lawyers need more than legal knowledge. Our law degree at Aston University’s Law School has been designed with modern legal practice in mind, including real-world examples and practical opportunities, as we focus on the business of law, the future of law and the law of business.

What you'll learn

You will study the key foundations of law and choose a pathway tailored to reflect your interests and career aspirations. You’ll also have the opportunity to complete an internship with a major law firm, choose to spend your third year on an integrated placement and we also offer extracurricular experiences such as working in our community law clinics and mooting – in 2022 our mooting final was held at the Supreme Court in London, judged by the Right Honourable Lord Justice Davis. 

As well the diverse backgrounds of our teaching academics, we also invite external experts to contribute to the course through our team of Visiting Professional Fellows who bring real-world experiences into the teaching of our modules. 

By doing this degree you will gain more than legal knowledge, you will also develop critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills, together with essential professional and interpersonal skills. This will enhance your employability and prepare you for a wide range of careers, including as a solicitor or barrister, one of the emerging careers in the law sector, in management or as an entrepreneur.

This course also offers an optional placement year. Aston’s professional work placements can greatly improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence, opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability, and our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

Professional accreditation 

Subject to completion of the requisite optional modules in your final year, the course meets the requirements of the Bar Standards Board (BSB) for the academic component of training for barristers. As an Aston LLB graduate you can therefore proceed directly to the Bar Training Course should you wish to do so. You will also be well positioned for the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination with our range of option modules.

International students

Information for international applicants

International students

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students. Students from over 120 different countries chose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability. Our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

For more information on applying as an international student, visit our webpage: www.aston.ac.uk/international/students-applying

 

Post-study work visa

Graduate Immigration Route

Aston University welcomed the creation of a new Graduate Immigration Route which enables international students to remain in the UK for two years after you complete your studies to find work. This new post-study work visa applies to international students completing full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Find out more information about the Graduate Immigration Route.

 

Foundation programme

For International Students intending to do a foundation year, visit ONCAMPUS

Modules

Year 1

The first year of Aston’s law programme is designed to provide students with the opportunity to gain foundational knowledge of law, with an emphasis on supporting students in their transition into undergraduate study. 

As a first year Aston Law student, you will study:

Legal System and Skills Legal Systems and Skills provides both vital knowledge and skills to its students, introducing students to the English Legal System and English Legal Method, whilst also equipping them with the skills necessary to succeed as an undergraduate law student.

Liability in Crime and Tort Liability of Crime and Tort aims to provide an understanding of the core rules and principles of English Tort and Criminal Law.

Introduction to Contract and Property Introduction to Contract and Property introduces students to principles of English Contract Law and Property Law/rights, preparing them for further study of practical and commercial contracts.

Law of Business and Business Concepts This module introduces students to business law, enabling students to understand the principal legal features of business entities, including sole traders, partnerships and companies. The module also, among other things, considers financial reporting and disclosure obligations.

The Future of Law: Introduction to Technology and its Regulation This module aims to explore the interaction between law and modern technology, introducing students to the evolutionary relationship between legal rules and technological change whilst recognising the significance of technological change on future law making. This module covers topical issues such as Artificial Intelligence, Space Law, and Crypto Currency.

Year 2

The second year of the programme builds on the knowledge and skills gained in year 1 of the degree with the aim of challenging our students to think more deeply and creatively around how the law works in practice. 

As a second year Aston Law student, you will study: 

Law in an Applied Context Law in an Applied Context is the key second-year skills module. This module is designed to aid students in securing, and succeeding in, a placement or graduate role, in a professional work environment.

Public Law and Regulation Public Law and Regulation introduces and develops students understanding of constitutional and administrative law in post-Brexit United Kingdom.

Commercial Contracts and Practices Commercial Contracts and Practices develops understanding acquired on the first year Introduction to Contract and Property module and introduces students to several important issues and terms relevant to commercial contracts.

Land Law Building on the property law principles learned in Year 1 of the degree, Land Law aims to enable students to understand and apply the rules of English Land law in an accurate manner within a modern context.

The second year of the law programme is also where you will have your first opportunity to select optional modules, enabling you to take charge of your learning experience and begin to identify areas of deeper interest or specialism. Second year students have the choice of 2 subjects from the following optional modules: 

• Commercial Law
• Dispute Resolution 
• Employment Law
• Intellectual Property and the Internet
• Medical Law & Ethics
   

*Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules. This is an indicative list of options and may change.

Year 3

This course is available as a 3 year degree without a placement, or a 4 year degree with an integrated sandwich placement. Both options are available to home, EU, and international students. You will spend this year in a professional placement if you chose to pursue one. 

See placement year section or find out more about the Aston placement year.

Final Year 

In your final year, you will study one core module: Legal Project Management: Business Law in Practice. This module aims to introduce students to the core outcomes of the SQE examinations with a particular focus on Business Organisations. Building on understanding gained in Law of Business and Business Concepts in year one, the module incorporates transactional activities, replicating the kinds of tasks that trainee solicitors are likely to carry out in practice. 

You will then have the opportunity to select up to 6 optional modules from the following list to complete your degree: 

• Advanced Criminal Law*
• Business Ethics
• Commercial Applications of Equity 
• Competition Law
• Data Protection Law
• Dissertation
• Emerging Technologies, AI and the Law
• Equity and Trusts*
• European Union Law*
• Fraud, Bribery and Corruption 
• International Commercial Law
• International Human Rights Law 
• Islamic Finance Law 
• Product, Intellectual Property & Entrepreneurship
• Sports Law 
• Wills, Probate and Private Client. 

* These modules must be studied for the LLB to satisfy the requirements of the Bar Standards Board for the academic component of training. 

~availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules. This is an indicative list of options and may change. 
 

Typical offers:

A Levels

BBB (standard offer)

BBC (with EPQ or Core Maths minimum grade B)

BBC (contextual offer*)

IB

31 points overall in the IB diploma with 5, 5, 5 in 3 higher level subjects.

BTEC, Access & other

BTEC Extended Diploma - DDD (standard offer)

BTEC Extended Diploma - DDM (contextual offer*)

We accept the QAA-recognised Access Diploma which must consist of 45 credits at Level 3. You must obtain a minimum of 30 distinction and the rest must be at merit or distinction. Please note that we do not accept the English and Maths components within the Access qualification and you must meet the GCSE entry requirement.

The University also accepts the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate/BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma and BTEC Level 3 National Diploma/BTEC Level 3 Diploma for entry onto degree programmes, provided that they are studied in combination with other qualifications that are equivalent to three full A2 Levels.

T Levels

The following T levels are accepted qualifications for this course:

• T-Level - Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Grade D
• T-Level - Digital Production, Design and Production Grade D
• T-Level – Education and Childcare Grade D
• T-Level – Onsite Construction Grade D
• T-Level – Building Services Engineering for Construction Grade D
• T-Level – Digital Business Services Grade D
• T-Level – Digital Support Services Grade D
• T-Level – Health Grade D
• T-Level – Healthcare Science Grade D
• T-Level – Science Grade D

GCSEs

5 GCSE grades A*/9 – C/4 to include:

• GCSE Maths – grade C/4
• GCSE English Language or English Literature – grade C/4

Learn more about admission to this course

View our Admissions Policy.

Whilst the grades listed here are our entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only an estimate. We will therefore consider applicants with predicted grades that fall below these entry requirements if the application is of a high standard (however, initial offers will not be lower than stated above).

Aston University welcomes applications from students with a wide range of qualifications from the UK and overseas, including combinations of qualifications. If your qualifications are not listed here and you wish to check whether they meet the entry requirements for this course, please contact the university.

Please note that General Studies does not contribute towards the UCAS points requirement but is welcomed as an additional qualification.

International students

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification. Find out more about our English language requirements.

For more information about qualifications view our Aston in your country webpage. 

Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston. Find out more.

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here. 

The law school follows Aston University’s Blended Learning Approach, which consists of a mix of in person (on campus learning), together with online learning. 

The applied nature of the course means that you will experience a range of interactive teaching methods, including but not limited to, practical exercises, workshops, small group sessions, guest lectures and group working. This is then all supported by a virtual learning environment. 

Assessment

At Aston Law School, we pride ourselves on our use of authentic assessment methods in addition to traditional forms of assessment. Consequently whilst some modules are assessed by takeaway exams and coursework, others adopt ‘real world’ approaches to assessment, providing you with the opportunity to enhance your CV and employability skills within the supported context of assessment. Method of authentic assessment currently adopted within the Law School include: 

• Letters of Advice 
• Interviews with supervisors
• Legal Blog writing 
• Group presentations and pitches 
• Academic Posters

Personal development

This degree is designed to give you a range of transferable and practical skills to help you succeed within your chosen career. We make extensive use of group working and presentations to prepare you for the reality of working life and develop your teamworking and negotiation skills.

Our optional placement year gives you the genuine practical experience that is invaluable in developing an appreciation of legal, business and cultural issues which cannot fully be replicated in the lecture room.

Placement year

This course is available as a 3 year degree without a placement, or a 4 year degree with an integrated sandwich placement. Both options are available to home, EU, and international students. Find out more about the Aston placement year.

We have a dedicated Employer Team within our Careers and Placements department who have links with local, national and international organisations and advertise vacancies to students through an online platform exclusively for Aston students and graduates.  

The placement year also increases your commercial awareness and gives you the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in practice. The opportunity to undertake a study placement with one of our international partner institutions is also available if you would prefer.

Aston University was recognised as the 'Best University Placement Service'.

The Careers and Placements team at Aston University won the 'Best University Placement Service' category at the National Undergraduate Employability (NUE) Awards 2022. This was achieved by launching Virtual Employability Festivals and recognising the power of peer-to-peer communication by pairing 500 students looking for placements with 500 students who had completed placements.

The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as home students. Further information can be found here.

Tuition fees for students are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. Any such increase shall always be in accordance with the law. When undertaking a placement year, a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees and funding

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs. Find out more about our scholarships here.

Our close links with local law firms, businesses, industries and social enterprises, as well as extra-curricular opportunities and the option to undertake a placement year, means that law at Aston has a high employability focus.

Real-world Learning

Whilst our learning provides real-world examples, our assessments and extra-curricular opportunities are geared towards strengthening your CV and supporting your career prospects.

You will have the opportunity to undertake a placement year either in the UK or overseas. Studying English law means that you can practice internationally.

Career paths

This degree is ideal for those who want to become a solicitor or barrister and has been designed to help you acquire the knowledge and skills you need to become a successful legal practitioner.

However, a degree in law also provides an excellent foundation for other careers where legal knowledge is important, including taxation, human resource management, accountancy, regulation and compliance.

Recent graduates

Graduates from Aston University Law School have gone on to work in roles including:

• Negotiations Case Handler
• Legal Assistant
• Corporate Client Accounts Support
• Travel Money Advisor
• Associate Consultant Trainee Paralegal
• Banking Customer Services Advisor.

Graduates have gone on to work at organisations such as Hays Legal, Shoosmiths, DAC Beachcroft, Irwin Mitchell, Capita and HSBC.

Why study Law at Aston University?

Our LLB Law at Aston Law School has been designed with modern legal practice in mind, and offers a breadth of practical experiences and real-world opportunities to bring the theoretical learning to life.

This law degree will prepare you for the legal profession but also develop transferable skills to suit roles that require legal knowledge within business.

What opportunities are there on the Law degree at Aston University?

You could choose to undertake your third year on an integrated placement.

As well as lectures, there are plenty of real-world examples and case studies, opportunities to work within teams and demonstrate your understanding in a number of ways. All of this brings what you learn in lectures to life whilst developing skills that will benefit you in whatever career path you choose.

Why should international students choose Aston University?

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our undergraduate programmes. Students from over 120 different countries chose to study with us every year.  Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability, and our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.