2022-23
Degree of Bachelor of Laws
RESOLUTION
The Degree of Bachelor of Laws is governed by Resolutions of the University Court. The provisions of Resolution No. 582 supporting the Generic Undergraduate Regulations are set out with those regulations. The provisions of Resolution No. 600 are as follows:
1. The Degree of Bachelor of Laws (LLB) may be awarded by the Senate of the University of Glasgow in the College of Social Sciences (the College) as an Ordinary Degree and as a Degree with Honours in such designations as may be prescribed by Regulations.
2. The award of the Degree shall be governed by Resolution No. 582 - “Generic Regulations for the award of Degrees gained by the successful completion of Undergraduate Programmes” together with such Supplementary Regulations as are contained in this Resolution No. 600 - “Degree of Bachelor of Laws”. The Supplementary Regulations are set out in the Schedule of Regulations attached to this Resolution.
3. The early exit awards of Diploma of Higher Education and Certificate of Higher Education shall be governed by the Generic Undergraduate Regulations.
REGULATIONS
1. Recognition of Prior Learning
1.1 Assessed prior experiential learning cannot be counted for credit on this Degree.
1.2 Non-university examinations cannot permit entry with advanced standing.
1.3 a) Application may be made for reduction of the period of study for the Degree. Any reduction shall normally be not more than one academic session. In considering applications for reduction, the College may:
i) recognise examination passes in the University of Glasgow or another university or institution of higher or further education as equivalent to specified examination passes for the LLB, up to a normal maximum of 120 credits; or
ii) require a candidate seeking reduction to pass a further examination as a condition of granting the reduction sought; or
iii) recognise attendance on courses elsewhere as qualifying to sit the relevant examination for the LLB; or
iv) award general credit towards the requirements of the LLB, subject to a maximum of 120 credits, for examination passes in the University of Glasgow or another university or institution of higher or further education.
b) Applications for reduction of the period of study and for recognition of passes must be made in writing to the Senior Adviser of Studies. The Senior Adviser shall have delegated power to determine applications and shall report on the exercise of this power to College. Where relevant, the application must be supported by evidence of attendance or examinations passed. Written notification of the result of the application will be given and only such written notification may be relied on as evidence that the application has been granted. Any candidate who undertakes study elsewhere without such written notification of approval shall be deemed to be absent without leave and shall not normally be entitled to credit in respect of such study.
1.4 A candidate who already holds an Honours degree or equivalent may be enrolled as a candidate for the accelerated LLB.
a) The candidate will normally have examination passes recognised to a value of 120 credits, including 60 credits at level 3. Applications for such recognition will be made in accordance with §1.3(b).
b) For the purposes of the calculation of the grade point average[1] under §5.1 and for the award of Distinction and Merit under Generic Undergraduate Regulation §14.2 only those credits obtained through study for the accelerated LLB will be counted.
2. Maximum Period of Study
2.1 A candidate for the Degree must normally satisfy the minimum requirements for the award of an Ordinary Degree within four academic sessions and for the award of an Honours Degree within five academic sessions.
2.2 Accelerated LLB
In respect of a candidate for the accelerated LLB (both Common Law and Scots Law), §2.1 and Generic Undergraduate Regulation §3 will apply with the following modification:
the minimum period of study shall be two academic sessions.
3. Progress
Generic Undergraduate Regulations §10 and §11 apply with the following additional requirements:
3.1 General Progress Requirements for all Levels of the Award
a) A candidate for the degree of LLB will normally be required to discontinue study if:
i) After one session of study, they have not accumulated 60 credits at grade D3 or above.
ii) After two sessions of study, they have not accumulated 160 credits, including 40 credits at level 2, at grade D3 or above.
iii) After three sessions of study, they have not accumulated 240 credits, including 40 at level 2, at grade D3 or above, and achieved an overall grade point average[1] of at least 8.5.
iv) After four sessions of study, they have not achieved the requirements for the award of an ordinary degree.
b) A candidate will normally be required to repeat a session of study if they have not accumulated the following numbers of credits at grade D3 or above:
i) after one session, 80 credits;
ii) after two sessions, 200 credits, including at least 40 at level 2;
iii) after three sessions, 280 credits, including at least 40 at each of levels 2 and 3.
c) Where a candidate is required to repeat a session of study under §3.1(b), they may instead be suspended at their own request. The College may impose such conditions on suspension as it considers fit, and a suspended candidate shall normally be readmitted on application if they have satisfied those conditions. A candidate who has been suspended will be readmitted to the session of study which the College considers appropriate in view of their performance since beginning study for the Degree.
3.2 Admission to Honours
The requirements referred to in Generic Undergraduate Regulation §15.1(d) are:
a) A candidate for admission to study at Honours level must apply in accordance with the instructions issued by the School of Law. Any candidate who is refused admission to Honours study may appeal to the College Appeals Committee. A candidate for admission to joint Honours must, in addition, apply in accordance with the instructions issued by the relevant other School.
b) In order to obtain entry to single Honours in Law a candidate must normally achieve a minimum of 60 credits at level 2 with a grade point average of 12.0, at the first attempt, in courses offered by the School of Law. In this and the following subsections, a grade point average of 12.0 must be achieved in each course contributing to the minimum number of credits required.
c) To be admitted to Honours in the LLB with joint Honours programme a candidate must meet the requirements of Generic Undergraduate Regulation §15.1. If such a candidate does not meet the requirement of entry to Honours specified by the joint subject, they will not normally be admitted to single Honours in Law unless they achieve a minimum of 40 credits at level 2 with a grade point average of 12.0, at the first attempt, in courses offered by the School of Law.
d) To be admitted to Honours in any Law with Language programme a candidate must achieve a minimum of 50 credits at level 2 with a grade point average of 12.0, at the first attempt, in courses offered by the School of Law.
3.3 Progress within Honours
A candidate may normally proceed into Senior Honours only if they have attained grade D3 or above in at least two level 3 courses, or their equivalent if taken abroad, and attained a grade D3 or above for the compulsory courses listed in the relevant programme specification. A candidate who does not satisfy this requirement will be referred to the College Progress Committee.
4. Courses Available to Candidates
Courses that are available and courses that are compulsory for the Degree are listed in the relevant LLB programme specification for the LLB (Common Law) or LLB (Scots Law) as appropriate. A candidate who is admitted to either of these programmes will not be permitted to transfer to the other programme.
5. Programme Requirements for the Award of the Degree
5.1 Ordinary Degree Award
Generic Undergraduate Regulation §14 for the award of an ordinary/designated degree applies.In addition, to be awarded the ordinary degree, a candidate must:
a) Have accumulated at least 60 credits from level 3 courses included in the relevant LLB programme specification (see §4); and
b) Have obtained grade D3 or above in all the subjects listed as compulsory for the Degree (see §4).
5.2 Honours Subjects
A candidate for the Degree with Honours, be it the LLB (Common Law) or the LLB (Scots Law), shall profess either (i) single Honours in Law; (ii) Honours in Law with another subject approved by the Board of Studies for the LLB: French, German, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish language ('Law with Language'); (iii) Honours in Law with French, German, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish Legal Studies; or (iv) joint Honours in Law and another subject approved by the Board of Studies for the LLB. The requirements for these options are set out in the appropriate programme specification. Full details of the level 3 and level H courses offered by the School of Law, including syllabi, admission requirements, and timetable, are published annually and are available from the School of Law Undergraduate Office.
5.3 Honours Degree Award
a) Generic Undergraduate Regulation §16 for the award of an Honours degree applies with the following additional requirement: to be awarded an Honours Degree, a candidate must meet the requirements set out in §5.1.
b) Studies in Law undertaken during a period abroad may be granted recognition for the ordinary degree in Law and also be recognised as the equivalent of level 3.
c) For the avoidance of doubt, it is competent for a candidate to count up to 30 credits of Honours courses from courses offered by another subject area where the candidate has met any pre-requisites.
6. Other Information on Awards
6.1 Achievement of Grade D where a Course involves more than One Instrument of Assessment
Generic Undergraduate Regulation §9 applies. In order to achieve a grade D3 in a course which involves more than one instrument of assessment a candidate will:
a) obtain an overall mark for all instruments of assessment of grade D3 or above; and
b) have no G or H grade for any individual instrument of assessment.
[1] The grade point average is determined with reference to the schedule of grades and grade points contained in Schedule A and Schedule B of the University’s Code of Assessment. The grade point average is calculated by taking the product of each course’s weight and the candidate’s grade points and dividing the sum of these products by the sum of the courses’ weights. The weights shall correspond to the courses’ credit ratings unless specified otherwise in the relevant programme documentation. The grade point average is expressed to one decimal place (§16.34(a) of the Code of Assessment). In determining whether a candidate has achieved a required grade point average, no further rounding is permitted. For example, a candidate achieving a grade point average of 8.9 would not satisfy a requirement for a grade point average of 9.0.