MA (Hons) German and Legal Studies · University of AberdeenBachelor's degree · 5 years
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University of Aberdeen · Undergraduate

MA (Hons) German and Legal Studies Bachelor's degree at the University of Aberdeen

MA (Hons) German and Legal Studies at University of Aberdeen. You'll study law alongside German language and culture, combining two distinct disciplines.

MA (Hons)
Award
5
Years
Full-time
Study mode
90%
in work/study (15m)

About this course

MA (Hons) German and Legal Studies is a Bachelor's degree (MA (Hons)) at the University of Aberdeen, based in Old Aberdeen. It runs 5 years, studied full-time.

For Law graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 69% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £26,000. (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.

9.1
/ 10
Exceptional
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Excellent86

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)

Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Exceptional90

Moderate evidence Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Exceptional96

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 96% (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.

Year 1 17 modules
  • Legal SystemCompulsory15 credits
    Module details

    This course introduces the fundamental components and characteristics of the Scottish legal system. It includes a study skills programme which covers different facets of the study of law along with a series of practical workshops which introduce key legal information sources (both electronic and paper) and appropriate search strategies. Lectures and tutorials will cover topics such as the Scottish legal tradition, formal sources of Scots law, the legislative process, organisation of the courts,

  • Foundations of Private LawCompulsory15 credits
    Module details

    The course provides firstly a map of private law as drawn from the institutional scheme. It then progresses to an equivalent of the medical student's study of anatomy in the sense that, concentrating on the law of property and obligations, it examines the main concepts of private law and how they operate together as a system to solve everyday legal problems.

  • Academic Writing for Language & LiteratureCompulsory
    Module details

    This compulsory evaluation is designed to find out if your academic writing is of a sufficient standard to enable you to succeed at university and, if you need it, to provide support to improve. It is completed on-line via MyAberdeen with clear instructions to guide you through it. If you pass the evaluation at the first assessment it will not take much of your time. If you do not, you will be provided with resources to help you improve. This evaluation does not carry credits but if you do not c

  • Getting Started at the University of AberdeenCompulsory
    Module details

    This course, which is prescribed for level 1 undergraduate students and articulating students who are in their first year at the University, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across the first 4 weeks of term. Topics include University orientation overview, equality & diversity, MySkills, health, safety and cyber security, and academic integrity. Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Transcript

  • German for Beginners 1Optional15 credits
    Module details

    This language course provides students with a sound foundation in German (grammar and vocabulary). It enables students to understand the gist of authentic written and spoken German and to speak and write about familiar topics with a degree of accuracy and fluency. No previous knowledge of German is required, but this course is also for students which took German at school before, on any level lower than Higher or A-level. With 3 Language Classes and 1 Language Practical per week this course enco

  • German for Beginners 2Optional15 credits
    Module details

    This language course provides students with a sound foundation in German (grammar and vocabulary). It enables students to understand the gist of authentic written and spoken German and to speak and write about familiar topics with a degree of accuracy and fluency. No previous knowledge of German is required, but this course is also for students which took German at school before, on any level lower than Higher or A-level. With 3 Language Classes and 1 Language Practical per week this course enco

  • Background to German for Beginners 1Optional15 credits
    Module details

    Students will gain detailed knowledge and understanding of the fascinating political and cultural developments and historical events in 20th century Germany. They will be introduced in weekly lectures and tutorials to a variety of texts and contemporary films. This course is taught in English and normally taken in conjunction with GM1054 German for Beginners 1. It is specifically recommended to students with the intention to proceed with German Studies beyond level one. No pre-requisites are req

  • The Global City in Text and FilmOptional15 credits
    Module details

    Focusing on major cities in Europe and the Americas, this course unit uses a range of texts, including films, poetry and fiction, to investigate urban spaces as sites of promise, power and loss. Representations of global cities, and experiences of urban dwellers, highlight themes such as empire, identity, leisure, labour and love. Set amid glittering facades and gritty back streets, the texts studied in this course explore the many meanings of the urban experience across place and time. These ur

  • German Language 1Optional15 credits
    Module details

    This module is designed for students with an SCE H in German or equivalent. The course develops receptive and productive oral and written German language skills. Students who are considering applying for entry to German Honours must take this course. This course involves intensive language study. Upon successful registration to this course, you are expected to complete a short online entry test on MyAberdeen to ensure that you are registered for the most appropriate course for your language abil

  • German Language 2Optional15 credits
    Module details

    This module is designed for students with an SCE H in German or equivalent. The course develops receptive and productive oral and written German language skills. Students who are considering applying for entry to German Honours must take this course. The course builds on GM1050.

  • Modern German Culture 1Optional15 credits
    Module details

    Learn more about German 20th-century literature, dealing with the events that shaped German and European history. As in all good literature, we will discuss universal themes and topics covering all of the most important aspects of modern life.

  • Criminal LawOptional15 credits
    Module details

    This course is a compulsory course on the LLB degree introducing students to Scottish Criminal Law including its sources and current law. It examines various aspects of substantive law including crimes against the person, crimes of dishonesty, crimes against property and criminal defences enabling students to understand and apply the law in these areas. The course also develops student's written, verbal and analytical skills utilising written course work and problem solving exercises in tutorial

  • A World Full of Law: Legal Cultures Before the Age of ExplorationOptional15 credits
    Module details

    This course presents legal history over several millennia and from many different original cultures. This course carries the student through a legal adventure, exploring a wide range of legal systems around the globe and throughout human history. The course covers the origins of law from Africa, South Asia, East Asia and beyond. From those beginnings, it traces how legal cultures emerged, evolved, or transformed. The course will explore the interplay of law and religion over the centuries. The g

  • ContractOptional15 credits
    Module details

    Contract is one of the central subjects of private law and is one of the main branches of the law of obligations, the other being Delict and Unjustified Enrichment. Contract Law covers obligations which are voluntary in nature. Every day we make contracts from buying a newspaper to buying a house. Contract Law is an area where Scots law and English law are very similar, and this course will cover Scots contract law but also highlight where English law differs with the aim of giving students a wo

  • Foundations of Common Law with English Criminal LawOptional15 credits
    Module details

    The common law tradition is one of the major legal traditions of the world. This course briefly introduces students to the conceptual and institutional structures of the common law tradition. This in turn introduces the fundamentals of the modern English legal system and its practical operation. A large section of the course then turns to the practical operation of English law through study of English Criminal Law.

  • Delict and Unjustified EnrichmentOptional15 credits
    Module details

    This course introduces students to two of the key branches of the Scots law of obligations, namely delict (which governs legal liability for situations such as the negligent infliction of harm upon others and defamation) and unjustified enrichment (which is concerned with questions such as, if I pay you money in error, am I entitled to demand that you return it?).

  • UK Constitutional LawOptional15 credits
    Module details

    This course is an introduction to the laws and rules of the UK Constitution. Major topics include the institutions of state, parliamentary sovereignty, the rule of law, the separation of powers, and devolution. This area of law is fast-moving, and an effort is made to address current issues.

Year 2 2 modules
  • Modern German Culture 3Compulsory15 credits
    Module details

    Learn more about modern German history and culture while also extending your skills in reading German texts.

  • German Language 4Compulsory15 credits
    Module details

    Building on work done in GM 2042, the course will develop further language skills.

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

You'll study law alongside German, integrating both disciplines across your five years. A course like this typically moves from foundational law modules, Contract, Criminal and Public Law, in your first year, before progressing to Tort, Land Law and broader International perspectives in your second. Years three and beyond introduce specialist options in areas such as Commercial law, Human rights, Criminal justice, Family law and Employment law, often culminating in independent research or a law clinic placement. Throughout, you'll develop your German language skills in parallel, building both legal literacy and cultural knowledge. The combination equips you to understand law within an international and cross-linguistic context.

Who it's for

This course suits students interested in law and German language together. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent qualifications; the typical UCAS tariff among entrants was 208–223 points. You'll explore legal specialisations such as Commercial Law, Criminal Law, Human Rights, Corporate Law, Family Law, Intellectual Property, Criminology and Public Law, whilst developing German language competence alongside your legal studies.

University & format

This is a five-year Bachelor's degree (MA (Hons) in German and Legal Studies, UCAS code MR92) studied full-time at the University of Aberdeen, a public university founded in 1495 and located in Old Aberdeen. The course is taught in English and confers a nationally recognised UK degree. The university holds regional accreditation as a recognised UK degree-awarding body.

Student satisfaction

How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.

The teaching on my course
92%
Learning opportunities
84%
Assessment and feedback
74%
Academic Support
89%
Organisation and management
90%
Learning resources
93%
Student voice
78%

Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 93%.

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.

Application timelineWhat happens next
  1. 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted

    Your application needs a reference before you can send it.

  2. 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  3. 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

  4. 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline

    18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.

Show 5 later dates
  1. 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens

    Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.

  2. 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers

    Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.

  3. 2027 entryClearing opens

    Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.

  4. 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  5. 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

Entry & how to get in

Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent70% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 208 - 223 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check the University of Aberdeen's official course page for the current offer.

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

QualificationShare
A-levels or equivalent70%
a previous degree20%
another higher-education qualification5%
a Baccalaureate5%

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Competitive entry

Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.

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.

Add your grades to see where you land

Your points will drop onto the distribution above, with an honest above / within / below read.

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.

Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesA*A*A*+A-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeMR92quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code MR92). One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write 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.

  3. 3
    Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time

    UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results 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.

💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask University of Aberdeen whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.

Fees & funding

What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.

Tuition per year

Internationalset by the university

Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.

Check fees at University of Aberdeen →

If you normally live in Scotland

For eligible Scottish-domiciled students at an eligible Scottish provider, SAAS can pay tuition directly. Living-cost support can combine bursary and loan and depends on household income and student circumstances. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.

Check the current amounts with SAAS →

Paying for it

  • SAAS tuition payment: paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students, applied for through SAAS.
  • Living-cost support: a mix of bursary and loan from SAAS, depending on household income.
  • Repayment: only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
  • Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.

Scotland runs its own system through SAAS; check saas.gov.uk for current rates.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All University of Aberdeen funding →

Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.

Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.

StudyKit · free

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.

Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

Careers & earnings

What Law graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.

Graduate earnings: this course

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£26,000£23,500 – £29,00050
3 years after£26,500£22,000 – £32,000240
5 years after£40,000£33,000 – £48,000235

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

90%
in work or further study 15 months on
69%
in highly skilled work or study
96%
continue past their first year
86%
find their work meaningful
79%
say work fits their future plans
  1. 1Paralegal / TraineeTraining contract or pupillage route · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Solicitor / BarristerQualified practitioner · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior AssociateLeading matters and clients · 5–9 yrs
  4. 4Partner / In-house CounselPartnership or heading legal · 9+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs Law nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£26,000
£23,000 – £30,000
After 3 years LEO
£26,500
£19,550 – £27,600
After 5 years LEO
£40,000
£24,225 – £34,200
national rangethis course’s medianaxis £18,000 – £41,500

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.

90 of 100

were in work or further study

15 months after graduation

65% working20% working and studying5% in further study69% in highly skilled work or study

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. 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.

This course £40,000Peer median £28,000Middle 50% £25,500–£31,500
93rd percentile

Compared with 1,352 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.

UK occupations graduates enter

Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.

  • Legal professionalsSOC 2020 241 · 45% of published destinations · ASHE median £45,000
  • Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
  • Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 14% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760

Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 35; response rate: 75%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.

Job market & outlook

How Law graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.

85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Law courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

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.

Where they work

  • Law firms
  • Barristers' chambers
  • In-house legal teams
  • Government Legal Service

Is this course right for you?

The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.

💷

Student finance

Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold.

📈

Where graduates go

90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £26,000. 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 9.1 out of 10: NSS 85.7% · in work or study 90% · continued 96%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

The University of Aberdeen

All students13,930
International18.8%
Aged 25+29.2%

Law across the UK

Students144,525
Aged 25+24.3%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Is Law right for you?

Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.

International students

What applying to University of Aberdeen from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is set per course by University of Aberdeen; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. 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

University of Aberdeen offers the Aberdeen Global Scholarship (£6,000/yr) for international students, see Scholarships above.

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 University of Aberdeen and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Entry is competitive. Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 208 - 223 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
Set by the University of Aberdeen. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For Law graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 69% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £26,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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