Undergraduate overview

Our vision for the School of Law is to provide an exciting, innovative and well-regarded legal education in such a way as to support the individual in maximising their potential and in realising their career plans. We can offer you both single and combined honours qualifying law degrees which will help you to further your chosen career plans. We have a growing reputation for our clinical legal education programme and also for our innovative use of technology in teaching law. All of our LLB pathways are accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.

It is our philosophy that students benefit greatly from learning from experience and thus we have developed a range of placement opportunities that you can take advantage of. You can work with the Citizens Advice Bureau either in Portsmouth or Havant or with the Trading Standards Service or with Portsmouth Mediation Service or in our newly formed Employment Law Clinic. We are continuing to expand these opportunities and have now developed an Innocence Project where students can work on investigating miscarriages of justice. We believe that law students in particular benefit from seeing how law operates in society and becoming involved in the local community and in trying to make a difference.

We are also forging links with the local courts and will facilitate opportunities for you to sit in on both civil and criminal trials and to learn more about the different personnel involved within the court process.

We have a number of innovative units within our programmes that make extensive use of information technology through our web-based Victory learning platform. In one unit, we have online assessment that involves you in fact finding through a more realistic analysis of a videoed interview rather than using a paper-based problem approach. We will ask you to become involved in face-to-face negotiation. We believe that our modern curriculum will give you the knowledge and skills to succeed whatever your chosen career.

LLB Law

This qualifying law degree offers you the chance to study core legal subjects whilst gaining practical experience of the legal system. As with all law degrees, there are opportunities to work as Citizens Advice Bureau volunteers, special constables with Hampshire Constabulary, and with Portsmouth City Council's Trading Standards.

LLB Law with Criminology

As well as studying core law subjects, you will also specialise in the study of criminal behaviour - its causes and the responses of criminal justice agencies. With a sociological focus, you can look into detail at the reasons why people commit crimes and the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in dealing with them. You will have the opportunity to gain valuable legal experience through working with the Citizens Advice Bureau, Hampshire Constabulary and with Portsmouth City Council's Trading Standards.

LLB Law with European Studies

This accredited degree programme is taught jointly by the School of Law and School of Languages and Area Studies (SLAS). Whilst studying important law subjects, you will explore the history of the European Union (EU), its government and politics and have the opportunity to study a language. As will all law degrees, you will have to opportunity to gain first-hand experience by working within the local community.

LLB Law with International Relations

This accredited degree programme is taught jointly by the School of Law and School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies. The course allows you to gain a thorough knowledge of key law subjects whilst also investigating the challenges of international relations. Core themes include the changing nature of warfare, conflict between states, the impact of globalisation and recurring global issues such as poverty, injustice and human rights. This course also offers the opportunity to gain legal experience within the Citizens Advice Bureau, Hampshire Constabulary and with Portsmouth City Council's Trading Standards.

LLB Law with Business

Within this qualifying law degree you can combine the two disciplines of law and business. Students will learn about the key legal principles whilst the business units address all of the key areas of commercial activity, from managing people to understanding how organisations work. For anyone planning to work in a business context, these units are of key relevance. Combined with a detailed knowledge of the law and relevant work experience, graduates will possess an excellent portfolio of skills and knowledge which will be valued by employers.

BA (Hons) Law with Business Communication

This course is available to international applicants only whose first language is not English and who require additional support in the development of English language skills.

 We live in a world where business is global and the internet facilitates cross-border trade. In such an environment, an understanding of law, legal liability and legal process is vital.

This degree is designed for international students wishing to combine the study of law with the further development of their English language skills, making it particularly attractive for anyone considering a career in the general area of law, business or management. Normally entry will be at second-year level subject to evidence of two years of relevant previous study of law in higher education (ideally including English Legal System), but exceptionally final year entry may be possible.

It embraces both the conceptual framework and the context of law, and covers the basic principles of English commercial law (which is often the governing law in international contracts), and the principles of both private international and public international law.

The law element of the degree is taught by the School of Law, whose students come from all over the word including  Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. The language element is taught by the School of Languages and Area Studies which is also cosmopolitan in make-up and has a well-respected suite of English language programmes for non-native speakers.