Overview

Law is a prestigious and respected degree, setting you on the path to becoming a qualified solicitor or advocate. But it does much more than that. A law degree equips you to assess situations, tackle challenges and think analytically, preparing you for success across a wide range of professions.

Our Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at GCU brings this to life, combining academic study with practical, career-focused learning grounded in the realities of modern legal practice.

You’ll complete the Law Society of Scotland foundation programme and study core areas of private, public, criminal and commercial law. Along the way, you’ll build a strong understanding of the Scottish legal system and how it operates in practice.

You can specialise in areas such as:

international law
children and human rights
employment and equality law
sports law
media law
healthcare law and ethics.

At GCU, employability is embedded throughout the course. Skills-based modules build key professional competencies, including:

client interviews
mediation
legal drafting
problem solving.

At GCU, employability is embedded from day one and developed throughout your degree. You’ll take part in skills-based modules that mirror professional legal practice, building confidence in areas such as client interviewing, mediation and legal drafting.

You’ll also develop transferable skills highly valued by employers, including critical thinking, communication, teamwork and the ability to analyse complex information and present clear, reasoned arguments.

In your third year, you can apply for a work placement with a relevant organisation. You’ll be supported throughout the process to help you find and secure the right opportunity. You’ll gain academic credit, but the real value is in the experience. You’ll come away with key people skills, an appreciation of the wider professional context, and valuable industry contacts.

Examples of previous placements include:

Citizens Advice Bureau
Legal Services Agency
Miscarriages of Justice Organisation
Ethnic Minorities Law Centre
law firms such as Brodies and Lombardi Associates.

You can also get involved with GCU’s Law Clinic. Run by students, it promotes access to justice, supports the community and works on law reform. You’ll have the option to gain hands-on experience here, working on real cases under the safe supervision of qualified legal professionals.

Why study Bachelor of Laws at GCU?

Work on real-life legal cases through GCU’s Law Clinic. Gain hands-on experience, build confidence and develop practical legal skills while supporting access to justice under the supervision of qualified professionals.
Build a strong foundation in core areas of law, with the flexibility to specialise in topics that match your interests and career ambitions.
Develop career-ready skills from day one. Professional practice and work placements are embedded into the course, helping you apply your legal knowledge and gain transferrable skills that all employers value.
Our LLB focuses on law in action. We bring real-world topics into the classroom through our work with government, parliament and partner organisations.
Benefit from our strong links with our alumni community. You’ll have opportunities to connect with legal professionals at different stages of their careers through networking events and mentorship. Gain valuable insights, build relationships and develop connections that can support your future career.

Law Society of Scotland

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What you will study

Please note that full module information is in the process of being finalised for publication and will be made available here shortly.

In the meantime, you can view and download the Programme Specification at the bottom of this page. This document provides an overview of the course structure, including indicative modules, learning content and further key information. The modules listed on the Programme Specification are for the current academic year and are intended to give you an idea of what you may be able to study on this course.

Careers

To enter the legal profession in Scotland, you must complete an accredited LLB degree. This course is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland, so when you graduate, you’ll have taken the first essential step towards becoming a solicitor or advocate.

To qualify as a solicitor, you’ll then need to complete the Diploma in Legal Professional Practice with a recognised provider, followed by a two-year traineeship with a law firm.

If you want to become an advocate (a specialist court lawyer), you’ll need to meet the requirements of the Faculty of Advocates, which includes further specialist training and examinations.

GCU law graduates work across the legal sector in Scotland, the UK and internationally. They are partners, associates, and solicitors in high street firms and global partnerships. Some are in-house lawyers for companies and government departments, and others are advocates specialising in court work.

Our graduates now work as solicitors in a wide range of law firms, including the largest and best-known legal employers in Scotland.

These include:

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Anderston Strathearn
Ashurst
Brodies
Clyde and Co.
Dentons
DLA Piper
Harper MacLeod
Morton Fraser MacRoberts
Pinsent Masons.

As a highly valued qualification, the LLB also opens doors to many diverse graduate careers. Our students have gone on to work in other exciting areas, such as:

academia
finance
business
risk management
compliance and regulation
media
policy
public service.

Course information

Award	Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location	UCAS
LLB (Hons)	Full time	4 years	Sep 27	Glasgow	M114	Enquire Apply
Award	Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location	UCAS
LLB (Hons)	Full Time	4 Years	Sep 26	Glasgow	M114	Enquire Apply

Please note that admission to GCU is considered on a competitive basis, and the academic entry requirements stated here may be the minimum required to be eligible for an offer.

International students can get information on entry requirements specific to their country in our International Study section.

Year 1

Standard entry requirement

Scottish Higher: AAABB or equivalent incl Higher in English

A Level: BBB or equivalent incl A Level in English or Law

Minimum entry requirement

Scottish Higher: BBBC or equivalent incl Higher in English

A Level: CCC or equivalent incl A Level in English or Law

Year 2 entry

Standard entry requirement

HND Legal Services passed with graded units AAA plus successful interview can be considered for Year 2 entry.

English language requirement

IELTS score of 7.0 with no element below 6.5 (or equivalent)

Additional information for international applicants

Entry requirements by country
Application deadlines
English language tests
Knowledge of English - Applicants from a majority English speaking country may not be required to provide further proof of your English language proficiency. Information about this requirement is available on the Student Visa section of the gov.uk website.

Additional information for all applicants

Relevant experience (Recognition of Prior Learning)

GCU's flexible entry policies exist to allow relevant work experience and prior learning to be considered towards standard entry or advanced entry into a course.

If you do not have the typical academic entry qualifications, but can demonstrate relevant work experience and/or credits from recognised professional bodies, you may be eligible to enter this course via the University's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) scheme.

Minimum entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements are for widening access students only. If you are from a group that is not currently well-represented in higher education you may qualify as a widening access student. This includes living in a target postcode area, attending a target school or college, attending SWAP, are care-experienced or provide care for someone else, have refugee status or are an asylum seeker.

Teaching and assessment methods

We use different assessment methods, including essays, exams and practical assessments. They test your ability to apply legal rules and principles to real-life situations.

As your skills develop, we also use interactive modes of assessment. These include:

legal advocacy
mooting
client interviews
mediation
negotiation.

GCU Law Clinic

Our Law Clinic provides free and confidential legal support to people who do not qualify for free legal aid and cannot afford to pay.

Led by our student volunteers, it provides general legal advice, drafts legal letters, represents clients in court and negotiates contractual disputes. It contributes to legal education initiatives like street law, and projects on issues such as climate change, women in law and legal reform.

You’ll get to work on real cases under the supervision of practicing legal professionals.

Visit our Law Clinic web page

Visit the Street Law website

Exchange and study abroad

You can take part in an international exchange during Year 3, for either one trimester or the full academic year. You can study at one of our partner institutions, including:

University of Lyon
University of Lille
EBS University for Business and Law, Hesse, Germany

You’ll get full academic credit during your exchange. Living and studying abroad helps you build independence, confidence and curiosity while experiencing law in another country. It also allows you to develop valuable international contacts and enhance your employability.

If you choose to study abroad, you’ll focus on your international experience during Year 3 rather than completing a placement.

Placements

We offer a Professional Links module in Year 3, where we find you a work placement with a partner organisation. This gives you the opportunity to earn academic credit and gain real-world experience.

Partner organisations include:

Citizens Advice
Legal Services Agency
Miscarriages of Justice Organisation
Ethnic Minorities Law Centre
Brodies LLP
Lombardi Associates.

If you choose this module, you’ll focus fully on your placement during Year 3 rather than taking part in international exchange.

Research and impact

GCU is one of the most active law departments in Scotland. We focus on real-world and social impact, engaging in policy and driving reform. Our lecturers are regularly invited to give expert evidence to the Scottish Parliament, contributing to the scrutiny of legislation and shaping the law.

We bring this energy and insight into the classroom and invite professionals from partner organisations to give masterclasses and guest lectures.

Our partners include charities, campaigners and public sector organisations, such as:

The Scottish Government
Scottish Human Rights Commission
The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
Police Scotland.

Professional accreditation

To enter the legal profession in Scotland, you must complete an accredited LLB course.

GCU is accredited as an LLB provider by the Law Society of Scotland. Successful completion of the LLB is your first step towards becoming a solicitor or advocate.

To qualify as a solicitor in Scotland, you must also complete a Diploma in Legal Professional Practice with a recognised provider. You will also need to complete a two-year legal traineeship at a law firm.

If you wish to join the Scottish Bar and become an advocate, you must meet the requirements of the Faculty of Advocates. This involves specialist examinations.

Visit the Law Society of Scotland website

Download the programme specification

In addition to the core modules that all students must undertake, some courses offer students a choice from a selection of optional modules to shape the focus their degree. Optional modules where available, form part of the overall credit structure of the course.

Download the programme specification for a detailed breakdown of the course structure, including modules, what you'll learn and other useful information.

Terms and Conditions

Details of the University’s terms and conditions are available here.

Overview

Why study Bachelor of Laws at GCU?

Accreditations

What you will study

Careers

Course information