Law with Criminology

Year 1

Year 1 provides a fundamental understanding of the purposes and sources of Law and the main elements of the Scottish Legal System, in the context of the UK, the EU and the wider international environment. You will develop and apply key research, written and oral communication skills in addition to other transferable skills.

The course will also introduce you to the basics of criminal law and people’s behaviour.

Year 2

Concepts introduced in Year 1 are developed and you will begin to develop more specialised knowledge of certain areas of law. Your knowledge and understanding of the ethics and standards applying to the legal profession will be further established.

You will also learn more about the context of crime and how it is dealt with, within society.

Year 3

At the start of the Honours programme in Year 3, you will broaden your understanding of Law through the study of more specialist Law modules and the requirement to select some options which delve into the aspects of criminal law further.

Year 4

The final year provides you with the opportunity to undertake a range of additional specialist Law and criminology modules relevant to your career aspirations. You prepare a Dissertation on a specialist topic through independent study and research. The grade that you achieve in each module in Year 4 determines your Honours classification.

Learning Methods

Throughout the course, you will study four modules each Term, with each module involving around three hours of class teaching per week.  Each module differs, but most have two hours of lectures delivered to the whole class, plus a further one hour tutorial taught to a small group of about 18 students.

Your course resources will be available on CampusMoodle an innovative online teaching and learning environment which will enhance your learning experience and will keep you up-to-date with coursework and assignments on-the-go.

Through course projects and the Law Clinic, you will work with the local community, legal professionals and academic staff on live client projects, to help you apply your theoretical knowledge and build relationships with the legal industry in Aberdeen.

Activity Summary

• Lectures - 40 students per group, 6 hours per week
• Tutorial - 18 students per group, 3 hours per week
• Practical class or workshop - 30 hours per term
• Independent Study - 47 hours per week

How long is an LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology course?

This Law degree can be successfully completed in 4 years.

Independent Study

In Year 4, you will undertake a 12,000 word Dissertation which accounts for two modules.  The remaining six modules are optional thus you can tailor your degree to a chosen career pathway.

Staff Delivering on This Course

All our academic staff are encouraged to work towards a Higher Education Academy Fellowship.  This is a professional recognition of an individuals practice, impact and leadership of teaching and learning.

The majority of teaching staff on this course are engaged in research activity of the same subject. In addition, many of our staff have professional Legal experience meaning that the course is taught with a highly practical edge.

Staff on this course could also include guest lecturers, industry experts, librarians and Postgraduate Research students.

Assessment

*Please note assessment methods will vary according to module choices. 
 Typically students are assessed each year:

Year 1

• 5 written exams
• 8 written assignments, including essays
• 1 oral assessment
• 10 class tests

Year 2

• 7 written exams
• 8 written assignments, including essays
• 3 oral assessment

Year 3

• 6 written exams
• 9 written assignments, including essays
• 1 oral assessment

Year 4

• 5 written exams
• 7 written assignments, including essays
• 1 dissertation

Feedback

We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.

Academic Support

The Inclusion Centre advises and supports students who disclose a sensory or mobility impairment, chronic medical condition, mental health issue, dyslexia and other specific learning differences. Applicants are encouraged to arrange a pre-entry visit to discuss any concerns and to view the facilities.

Online Learning & Support

All undergraduate and postgraduate students, whether you are learning on campus or by online learning, benefit from using our collaborative virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle. You will be provided with 24/7 online access to your learning material and resources, along with the ability to interact with your class members and tutors for discussion and support.

Study Skills Support

The Study Support Team provides training and support to all students in:

• Academic writing
• Study skills (note taking, exam techniques, time management, presentation)
• Maths and statistics
• English language
• Information technology support

Library Support

The Library offers support for your course, including the books, eBooks, and journals you will need. We also offer online reading lists for many modules, workshops and drop-ins on searching skills and referencing, and much more.

Study Abroad

In Year 3 of the course you will have the opportunity to spend a 12-week term abroad at one of our partner universities in Europe or at our partner university in the US. Previous students have studied in Italy, The Netherlands and Denmark.

Job Prospects

Our Law LLB with Criminology degree opens the door to the legal profession in a variety of contexts.

Is Law a good career choice?

As well as the legal profession, opportunities also exist within:

• The financial sector 
• Civil service 
• Oil and gas 
• Banking 
• Corporate consultancy 
• Global business management 
• Local government 
• Trade unions 
• Charitable organisations

If you intend to become a solicitor, you can complete the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (DPLP) at RGU. This is a one-year postgraduate qualification, which can be studied on a part-time basis, and is mandatory in order to practice as a solicitor in Scotland. Many of our graduates who have taken this route have an excellent record for securing quality employment in the legal profession.

What are the entry requirements for the LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology degree?

Standard Entry Requirements

• SQA Higher: BBBB to include English (or a written subject requiring the use of English).
• GCE A Level: BCC to include English (or a written subject requiring the use of English).
• Irish Leaving Certificate Higher: H2H2H3H3 to include English (or a written subject requiring the use of English).
• IB Diploma: 28 to include Higher Level English (or a written subject requiring the use of English) at grade 5.

Minimum Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirements for widening access applicants are:

• SQA Higher: BBC/BCCC to include English or a written subject requiring the use of English

Advanced Entry

Students with a BA Law and Management degree from Robert Gordon University may enter Law LLB (Hons) course at Year 2 or 3, depending on the stage at which you joined the Law and Management course, allowing two degrees, one of them with Honours, to be obtained within a total of 5 or 6 years.

Applicants from Foundation Pathway Providers

Entry to year 1 or year 2 may be possible for students who have completed a Foundation Certificate or Foundation Undergraduate Pathway programme, from an approved UK provider, at 60% or above. For courses which require a specific subjects match, such as English or Maths, these would need to provided in addition to the Pathway Programme Certificate or result.

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with no component lower than 5.5, or an equivalent.

We accept a variety of in-country and secure English language tests, find out more:

Please note, some courses may require a higher standard of English than stated in this page. Contact admissions@rgu.ac.uk for further information.