LLB (Hons) Law with Foundation Year Bachelor's degree at Birmingham City University
LLB (Hons) Law with Foundation Year at BCU is recognised by a UK degree-awarding body, and the university holds Silver status for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
About this course
Looking for a foundation course in law in Birmingham? Our LLB (Hons) Law with a Foundation Year course has lower entry requirements and can lead to a full undergraduate qualification. Find out about our fees. From the provider’s course page.
LLB (Hons) Law with Foundation Year is a Bachelor's degree (LLB (Hons)) at BCU, based in City Centre Campus. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Law graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £25,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Law, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 86% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Foundation Year 6 modules
- Studying SuccessfullyCore20 credits
Module details
This module has been designed to help you to develop essential academic and interpersonal skills required to be successful on the course and to help you transition into Level 4 of your LLB studies. The module will provide you with foundational transferable skills to equip you for your future study in law and your personal and career development. You will explore some of the foundational transferable skills that are needed in order to successfully study a law degree, as well as starting a reflect
- Introduction to LawCore20 credits
Module details
The module will provide an introduction to what law is and the role that it plays in society today. You will be introduced to both domestic and international legal principles and processes, in order to explore their impact on specific areas of human conduct and, how they seek to manage the coexistence of individuals. This introduction to a variety of law and legal concepts will help underpin the study of other law modules across Level 3, such as Learning the Law and Studying Successfully. This w
- Learning the LawCore20 credits
Module details
This is a core and compulsory module and is part of the Level 3 of the course. This module aims to provide you with a foundational knowledge of the law and the core research and written communication skills necessary to be a successful undergraduate law student. The module will introduce you to several areas of the law and their socio-legal impact on individuals. This module will work in conjunction with the 'Introduction to Law' module with further engagement into the socio-political and legal
- Introduction to Legal Practice and ProcessCore20 credits
Module details
The module aims to provide you with an introduction to aspects of legal practice and processes within the context of the English legal system. You will be introduced to a variety of legal processes within the English legal system, and the roles of the personnel involved within Civil and Criminal litigation, including alternative dispute resolution. This knowledge will complement and enhance your studies across the semester. It also introduces concepts which will be developed further at Level 4 w
- Developing Legal ScholarshipCore20 credits
Module details
The module builds on what you have learnt in Studying Successfully, Introduction to Law, and Learning the Law during Semester one. This module will introduce you to areas of Tort, Contract and Criminal Law which are studied in depth at Levels 4 and 5 and will equip you with transferrable skills which will help with your transition into Level 4. During the module you will begin to appreciate the difference between primary and secondary sources of law, the different forms of primary sources, the p
- Legal Professionalism, Skills and AttributesCore20 credits
Module details
The module aims to introduce typical skills and attributes demonstrated by legal practitioners. You will begin to explore some of the key professional attributes expected of a legal practitioner such as drafting and advocacy. You will build upon many of the skills that you developed in Semester one to enhance your communication skills in the context of legal practice, enhancing the development of the transferable skills and professional attitudes to underpin successful study throughout the cours
First Year 10 modules
- Legal SystemsCore20 credits
Module details
The module has been designed to align with aspects of the functioning legal knowledge of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam. The module aims to provide you with basic knowledge of what the law is, what are its sources and the main characteristics of UK and foreign legal systems. The module provides foundational knowledge to support your study in Contract Law & Tort Law at Level 4, Criminal Law and Constitutional & Administrative Law at Level 5, Law of the European Union and the optional Comparative
- Foundations in Professional SkillsCore20 credits
Module details
The module aims to provide you with foundational skills to equip you for your future study in law and also your future personal and career development. You will explore some of the foundational transferable skills that are needed in order to successfully study the law, as well as starting a reflective process preparing you for a future legal or other career. The module provides foundational knowledge to support your study in Professional Skillsat Level 5 by starting your learning in a range of p
- Legal ThinkingCore20 credits
Module details
This module aims to furnish you with the key academic and scholarly skills to enable you to flourish as a legal scholar and succeed in your studies. The module's primary goal is to introduce you to the skillset necessary to be part of the community of knowledge and practice which is united by the use of legal thinking and knowledge. The module provides core legal skills which will support your study throughout the degree. It will develop your ability to find, interpret, apply and understand the
- Law of TortCore20 credits
Module details
The module will introduce theoretical considerations within the Law of Tort and its function in dispute resolution and with a focus upon concepts and principles of the Tort of Negligence. The module builds on what you have learned in Legal Systems, Foundations of Professional Skills and Critical Thinking during Semester 1 of Level 4. You will consolidate your legal knowledge and you will be introduced to principles of dispute resolution in the context of the Law of Tort. You will identify facts
- Contract LawCore20 credits
Module details
This is a compulsory module which aims to provide you with an appreciation of the relevant contractual principles such as offer, acceptance and consideration that are involved when parties enter into legally binding agreements. The module provides foundational knowledge to support your study in Business Law at level 5 as it introduces the context for the formation of commercial transactions which is an important aspect of business law. This module aligns with the LLB course's ethos of fostering
- Consumer and Agency LawOptional20 credits
Module details
The module addresses the regulation of consumer markets and the law, and the policies and institutional framework concerning the regulation of consumer markets. The module aims to balance both the theoretical and commercial aspects of both Consumer and Agency Law by showing how consumer law sets out to define and protect a consumer and the legal significance of being an agent. As a threshold idea you will be enabled to see that it attempts to re-balance the market in favour of the individual con
- Introduction to US Legal StudiesOptional20 credits
Module details
The module aims to provide you with knowledge of key aspects of the history of the U.S. Constitution and will provide you with the basic skills that will enable you to find U.S. legal material and conduct meaningful legal research. The module provides foundational knowledge to support your study in 'Federalism and the US Constitution' at Level 5 and the 'Individual and the US Constitution', 'American Legal Practice', "American Criminal Procedure and Practice', Human Rights in America' and 'Compa
- Global Perspectives of Human RightsOptional20 credits
Module details
Global Protection of Human Rights will provide a general introduction to human rights and the essential knowledge of the human rights safeguarding mechanisms. It will introduce the theory and practice of human rights and then the regional structure of the United Nations (UN), the Council of Europe (CE), the Organisation of American States (OAS), and the African Union (AU). You will learn how to research the region's legislation, the special procedures mechanisms, and then how to interpret the ad
- Criminal Justice Process and ProcedureOptional20 credits
Module details
Criminal Justice Process and Procedure aims to provide you with essential foundational knowledge of the criminal justice system in England and Wales, building upon what you have learned about the criminal justice system in English Legal Systems in Semester 1. This module will introduce you to a range of contemporary issues in criminal justice, enabling you to develop key transferrable skills, such as legal research, written and oral communication, team-work and ability to formulate coherent, per
- Introduction to MootingOptional20 credits
Module details
The module aims to provide you with the underlying skills which are required for advocacy. The module provides foundational knowledge to support your study in Advanced Mooting at Levels 6 by considering different court structures, presentation skills and the rules of legal language and court etiquette, building upon the study of Legal Systems in Semester 1 of Level 4. This module will provide you with the opportunity to consider how to conduct the legal research which is required for court advoc
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course combines a foundation year with a full undergraduate law degree, designed for those who may not have met traditional entry routes. You'll begin with fundamental legal concepts before progressing to core modules. A course like this normally moves from foundational subjects such as Contract Law, Public Law and Criminal Law in the early stage, through Tort Law, Land Law and EU/International Law in the middle years, to specialist options such as Commercial law, Human rights, Criminal justice, Family law and Employment law. In the final year, you'll typically undertake independent legal research through a dissertation or gain supervised practical experience in a law clinic, consolidating your understanding across the discipline.
Who it's for
This course suits students who want to study law at university level but may benefit from foundational preparation before the main degree. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent qualifications; the typical UCAS tariff band among entrants was 80–95 points. You'll need to be fluent in English and committed to a full-time, four-year programme. Check the university's funding pages for information on bursaries and scholarships available to you.
University & format
The course is studied full-time at Birmingham City University, a public university founded in 1971, based at the City Centre Campus. It runs for 4 years and is taught in English. The degree is awarded as LLB (Hons) and is recognised as a nationally recognised UK degree-awarding body. The university holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Professional placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 96% |
| an Access course | 3% |
| another higher-education qualification | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at BCU →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Law graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £25,000 | £22,500 – £30,000 | 7975 |
| 3 years after | £20,000 | £17,000 – £25,000 | 265 |
| 5 years after | £26,000 | £21,000 – £32,000 | 300 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 7,975. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Paralegal / TraineeTraining contract or pupillage route · 0–2 yrs
- 2Solicitor / BarristerQualified practitioner · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior AssociateLeading matters and clients · 5–9 yrs
- 4Partner / In-house CounselPartnership or heading legal · 9+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Law nationally
National figures for Law graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 7,975. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Law courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,352 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Job market & outlook
How Law graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- First-pass document review
- Standard contract drafting
- Legal research summaries
- Routine due diligence
More human than ever
- Advocacy and negotiation
- Judgement on ambiguous facts
- Client trust and ethics
- Strategy in disputes and deals
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Law graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Law firms
- Barristers' chambers
- In-house legal teams
- Government Legal Service
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Law graduates.
Law Firm Associates of all Practice Areas: Discuss your Overseas Relocation with Duke and Rawson – Australia/Asia/Middle East/Europe/Offshore/UKDuke and RawsonLaw Enforcement Success SpecialistAurorLaw Firm HR & Operations Lead - 12-Month ContractCharalle GroupLaw Firm Finance & Practice Manager, Leadership & OpsMcKinlay LawLaw Internship: Disputes & IBC – In-OfficeCanon SphereLaw Firm Front Desk & Guest Services (Oxford)Owen ReedIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £25,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.3 out of 10: NSS 79.6% · continued 86%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Birmingham City University
Law across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around City Centre Campus
4,178 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Law right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to BCU from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £18,570 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check BCU’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with BCU and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at BCU
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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