Programme Specification for Law by distance learning BA Combined Legal Studies, LLB (Hons)
This programme is only offered at: Offered only in collaboration with ICS Ltd.
|
Final award |
BA Combined Legal Studies, LLB (Hons) |
|
Intermediate awards available |
Cert HE, Dip HE, Ordinary degree, University Undergraduate (Associate) Certificate |
|
UCAS code |
N/A |
|
Details of professional body accreditation |
Exemption from the academic stage of legal training by both the Law Society and the General Council of the Bar |
|
Relevant QAA Benchmark statements |
Law (QAA, 2000) |
|
Date specification last up-dated |
March 2010 |
Profile
The summary - UCAS programme profile
BANNER BOX:
Law holds a fundamental position in society and shapes many aspects of human behaviour. The LLB degree offers an insight into the principles, processes and institutions of Law and the relevant social, political, historical, philosophical, ethical and cultural context in which Law operates. It gives students the opportunity to develop skills that are central, not only to legal professions, but to many other types of employment.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Entry to Level 1 or the Full Programme
To enrol on the first Level or the Full Programme you must normally hold 200 UCAS Tariff Points or equivalent.
Entry on a Modular Basis
If you do not hold the required tariff points for Level 1 or Full Programme entry, studies will be permitted on a modular basis, following a counselling interview with a programme advisor. If you are concerned that this level of study may not be suitable for you, we will provide an online basic skills exercise with feedback to assist you to make a decision.
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
What is LLB (Hons) Law?
Law holds a fundamental position in society and shapes many aspects of human behaviour. The LLB degree offers an insight into the principles, processes and institutions of Law and the relevant social, political, historical, philosophical, ethical and cultural context in which Law operates. It gives students the opportunity to develop skills that are central, not only to legal professions, but to many other types of employment.
LLB (Hons) Law with ICS
- Study at your own pace to develop knowledge of the Law
- A broad-based degree preparing you for many careers
- No entry qualifications needed to start on a module – modules make up degrees!
- All programme materials designed by experts in the fields of Law
- No set term times and no need to attend classes
- An affordable way to learn with a flexible choice of ways to pay
- Help and guidance from ICS student advisers AND mentors
- Academic support from a subject specialist tutor
- Access to the ICS Online Student Community – you are not alone
Programme structure
In order to obtain a Qualifying Law Degree you need to complete your programme within six years.
To be awarded an Honours Degree in Law, you will have to complete a total of 18 modules, with a value of 360 credits. This will comprise 120 credits at Level 1, 120 at Level 2 and 120 at Level 3. All modules in Levels 1 and 2 are compulsory. In Level 3 you have the opportunity to choose the equivalent of six modules from a list of options
It is also possible to study Law as part of a Combined Honours Degree, either as a Major/Minor or a Joint Honours. For a Law Major you must study 4 compulsory Law modules at each level. Subject to regulatory requirements, this degree will still be classed as a Qualifying Law Degree.
For a Law Minor you must study two core modules at Levels 1 and 2 and two modules from a choice of three at Level 3.
A Joint Honours means you can study two disciplines in equal measure. There are three compulsory Law modules at Levels 1 and 2. You may choose the equivalent of three from a list of options at Level 3.
Neither the Joint Law degree nor the Law Minor leads to a Qualifying Law Degree.
Learning environment
This programme is offered on a distance-learning basis allowing you to select your learning environment – be it your home, office or a public library. Learning material is presented in the format of textbooks with specially written Study Guides containing interactive activities; feedback is provided to enable you to monitor your own progress.
Student/ student discussion and student/ tutor discussion opportunities are available via our Online Student Community Website. Additional learning resources include access to ATHENS and UK Libraries Plus system.
Assessment
There are two opportunities each calendar year at which to take exams or submit final assessments. Your mentor will help you decide when to take each exam/ submit each assessment.
Assessment is by a mix of programmework and examination. programmework includes essays, logs, research projects, practical tasks and an optional final year project. 50% of assessment at level 1 is by programmework, in order to provide maximum feedback and guidance to you. Across levels 2 and 3, the emphasis shifts to more examination-based assessment.
programmework is set for completion; detailed feedback is provided on an individual basis.
Work experience/placement opportunities
-
Project work
The Programme includes the option to undertake a research project in the final year. The project is the equivalent of two modules. Students will be required to undertake research into a legal topic of their choice and produce a dissertation of 10,000 words.
Added value
By successfully completing a distance learning degree programme, you not only display relevant knowledge, skills and understanding to an employer but also that you are able to manage your time effectively, that you are self-motivated and already have a good work ethic – all of which will give you the edge you need to find success in the real world.
Subject to certain regulatory requirements, students who successfully complete the LLB (Hons) degree will be exempt from the academic stage of legal training by both The Law Society and the General Council for the Bar.
IS THIS THE PROGRAMME FOR ME?
If you are interested in...
- Understanding the relationship between law, individuals and society.
- Gaining a comprehensive and critical understanding of key legal principles, issues and institutions.
- Examining those legal principles, issues and institutions within their social, economic, political, cultural and international contexts.
- Analysing policies, philosophies and issues underpinning the development of substantive legal principles and there enforcement.
- Developing transferable skills, which are flexible and employment-related.
If you enjoy...
- Handling detailed and complex materials and presenting facts, principles and issues raised in a clear and concise manner.
- Developing your written presentational skills and gaining confidence to present your ideas in a clear, concise and cogent manner.
- Exploring a range of Law related issues in the 21st Century.
- Research, advocacy and negotiation.
If you want...
- A degree in Law covering a range of applications including grounding in core law subjects with a range of options.
- Knowledge and skills that can be used in a large range of career settings.
- To study in a flexible way.
Your future career
This degree provides a foundation for a wide range of careers. Students may go on to train as solicitors or barristers or they may go on to postgraduate study. Law also develops key transferable skills that provide an excellent basis for employment in areas unrelated to law, for example, Local Government, Charities, Non-Governmental Institutions, the private sector, Police and Prison Service, etc.
How we support you
On enrolment, you will be provided with an induction pack containing all the information you need to prepare you for your studies.
ICS has a team of dedicated mentors to help you with general needs and respond to your queries in respect of any administrative issues. You can contact your mentor via phone, e-mail, post and fax – and you are guaranteed a timely response. Your mentor will also contact you at regular intervals – initially to welcome you and agree a study plan, and then to talk to you about your progress and remind you of important deadlines.
In addition, you will be allocated a subject tutor for each module you study.
You can contact your subject tutor via your mentor, or directly via the ICS Online Student Community.
In addition, the ICS Online Student Community provides opportunities for you to contact other students.
Bonus factors
- No set term/enrolment times
- Study at your own pace
- Contact with Tutors as much or as little as you want.
- The support of experienced Mentors to guide you through your studies.
- Flexible payment plan
- Contact with other students through the Online Student Community
Outcomes
Programme aims and learning outcomes
What is this programme designed to achieve?
This programme is designed to give you the opportunity to:
- Develop a critical understanding of law and legal processes in political, economic, international, comparative and historical contexts
- Develop skills in legal analysis and reasoning
- Pursue a successful, responsible and useful career in a number of areas of employment, through relevant knowledge, skills and understanding
- Progress to further study
- Encourage independent judgement and self-awareness
- Make informed choices for future work and study through providing a general, broadly-based programme
- Learn in a flexible manner; in a timescale and environment in keeping with your preferences and needs
- Satisfy the academic stage of training of the Professional Bodies
What will you learn?
Knowledge
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of The English Legal System (ELS)
- Ability to explain the main legal institutions and procedures of the ELS
- A thorough understanding of the core substantive areas within its jurisdiction
- A detailed knowledge of certain substantive areas beyond core subjects, reflecting options
- A knowledge of the relationship between ELS and various Supranational and International sources of law.
- Research methods and the utilisation of primary and secondary sources
- The background and structure of the legal profession
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of the European Union legal requirements.
Thinking skills
- Analysis and interpretation of evidence
- Scientific reasoning
- Critical thinking
- Appreciation of multiple perspectives and approaches.
Subject based practical skills
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of The English Legal System
- Ability to explain the main legal institutions and procedures of The ELS
- Research methods
- Utilisation of primary and secondary sources.
Skills for life and work (general skills)
- Communication, both oral and written
- Computer literacy (word-processing, electronic communication, electronic databases, statistical software, internet searching)
- Numeracy and statistical competence
- Self-awareness
- Planning and time-management
- Specific employability skills.
Structure
The programme structure
Introduction
All ICS/ UEL programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.
One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study).
Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:
- 0 - equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme
- 1 - equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 2 - equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 3 - equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- M - equivalent in standard to a Masters degree
Credit rating
The overall credit-rating of this programme is 360 credits.
Typical duration
To gain a qualifying Law degree, the programme must be completed within six years. ICS support, however, is available for eight. Study within this period is entirely flexible and should be determined and planned by you, with the support of your mentor.
How the teaching year is divided
You can commence your studies at any time – enrolment on this programme is not tied to the academic year. We will work with you to formulate a realistic study plan based on the time you have available for study, availability dates for exams and assessments and your preferred completion date.
What you will study when
A typical full-time student will take six 20-credit modules per year, but you may choose to take much less than this. To graduate as an honours degree student you will need to have completed six modules at level one, six at level 2 and the equivalent to six at level 3 (five if the Project option is chosen).
For the LLB (Hons) Law single pathway all six modules at Levels 1 and 2 are CORE modules, which means that they must be studied. Modules at Level 3 are optional; six modules (or five if you choose the Project option) must be chosen from a list of ten.
To study Law as a Major in a Major/Minor Combined Honours, four CORE modules at each Level must be studied. The remaining modules will come from another discipline of choice.
To study Law as a Minor in a Major/Minor Combined Honours, two CORE modules must be studied at Levels 1 and 2 and two modules from a choice of three at Level 3.
To study Law as part of a Joint Honours Degree, three modules at each Level must be studied. In Levels 1 and 2 the three Law modules are CORE. Modules at Level 3 are optional. Students can only study modules for which they have the relevant prerequisites.
- Single - 120 credits at levels one, two and three
- Major - credits at levels one, two and three
- Joint - credits at levels one, two and three
- Minor - 40 credits at levels one, two and three.
Modules are defined as:
- Core - Must be taken
- Option - Select from a range of identified module within the field.
- A Prerequisite Module - Is a module that must be passed by the student, in order for that student to study on another module.
- A Prerequisite Module - A module is a precursor for another module when the student must register on the precursor module in order to study subsequently on the other module.
The following are the core and optional requirements for this programme.
| LEVEL | TITLE | CREDITS | STATUS SINGLE | STATUS MAJOR | STATUS MINOR | STATUS JOINT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Skills for Academic Learning in Law |
20 |
Core |
Core |
Not available |
Core |
|
1 |
The Legal System |
20 |
Core |
Core |
Core |
Core |
|
1 |
Contract Law |
20 |
Core |
Core (at Level 2) |
Core (at Level 2) |
Not available |
|
1 |
Comparative Legal Systems |
20 |
Core |
Core |
Not available |
Core |
|
1 |
Tort Law |
20 |
Core |
Core (at Level 2) |
Not available |
Not available |
|
1 |
Constitutional and Administrative Law |
20 |
Core |
Core |
Core |
Core (at Level 2) |
|
2 |
Law and Society |
20 |
Core |
Core |
Core |
Core |
|
2 |
Criminal Law |
20 |
Core |
Core (at Level 3) |
Not available |
Core |
|
2 |
Equity and Trusts |
20 |
Core |
Core |
Not available |
Core |
|
2 |
Human Rights |
20 |
Core |
Core (at Level 3) |
Option (at Level 3) |
Not available |
|
2 |
European Union Law |
20 |
Core |
Core (at Level 3) |
Option (at Level 3) |
Not available |
|
2 |
Land Law |
20 |
Core |
Core (at Level 3) |
Option (at Level 3) |
Not available |
|
2 |
Intellectual Property |
20 |
Option |
Core |
Not available |
Option |
|
3 |
Family Law |
20 |
Option |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
|
3 |
Company Law |
20 |
Option |
Not available |
Not available |
Option |
|
3 |
Employment Law |
20 |
Option |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
|
3 |
Consumer Law |
20 |
Option |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
|
3 |
Medicine and the Law |
20 |
Option |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
|
3 |
International Human Rights |
20 |
Option |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
|
3 |
Evidence |
20 |
Option |
Not available |
Not available |
Option |
|
3 |
Project |
40 |
Option |
Not available |
Not available |
Option |
|
3 |
Public International Law |
20 |
Option |
Not available |
Not available |
Option |
Requirements for gaining an award
In order to gain an Honours degree you will need to obtain 360 credits including:
- A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher PLUS
- A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher PLUS
- A minimum of 120 credits at level three or higher
In order to gain an Ordinary degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 300 credits including:
- A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher PLUS
- A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher PLUS
- A minimum of 60 credits at level three or higher
In order to gain a Diploma of Higher Education you will need to obtain at least 240 credits including a minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher and 120 credits at level two or higher
In order to gain a Certificate of Higher Education you will need to obtain 120 credits at level one or higher.
In order to gain a University Undergraduate Certificate students will need to obtain 40 credits at Level 1 or higher.
In order to gain a University Undergraduate Associate Certificate students will need to obtain 20 credits at Level 1 or higher.
Only one final award may be obtained.
In order to gain a Foundation Degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 240 credits including:
- A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
- A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
(A foundation degree is linked to a named Honours degree onto which a student may progress after successful completion of the Foundation degree.)
Degree Classification
Where a student is eligible for an Honours degree, and has gained a minimum of 240 UEL credits at level 2 or level 3 on the programme, including a minimum of 120 UEL credits at level 3, the award classification is determined by calculating:
|
The arithmetic mean of the best 100 credits at level 3 |
× |
2/3 |
+ |
The arithmetic mean of the next best 100 credits at levels 2 and/or 3 |
× |
1/3 |
and applying the mark obtained as a percentage, with all decimals points rounded up to the nearest whole number, to the following classification
|
70% - 100% |
First Class Honours |
|
60% - 69% |
Second Class Honours, First Division |
|
50% - 59% |
Second Class Honours, Second Division |
|
40% - 49% |
Third Class Honours |
|
0% - 39% |
Not passed |
Assessment
Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching and learning
Knowledge is developed through
- Guided reading
- Knowledge-based activities with feedback
- On-line question/ answer forums
Thinking skills are developed through
- Reflective/ thinking activities with feedback
- Analytical activities with feedback
- Evaluative activities with feedback
- Problem-solving activities with feedback
- On-line question/ answer forums
Practical skills are developed through
- Practical/ physical activities with feedback
- IT activities with feedback
- Research skills-based activities with feedback
Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through
- The study medium, i.e. distance learning
- Planning activities with feedback
- IT activities with feedback
- All other activities with feedback
- Project work.
Assessment
Knowledge is assessed by
- programmework
- Essays
- Examinations
Thinking skills are assessed by
- programmework
- Examinations
- Book reviews
- Project work
Practical skills are assessed by
- Practical reports
- Portfolio compilation
- IT exercises
- Case study exercises
- Project work
Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by
- Project work
- Group work
- Tutorial assignments
- IT exercises
Quality
How we assure the quality of this programme
Before this programme started
Before this programme started UEL checked that:
- There would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
- Adequate resources would be in place;
- The overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
- The content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
- The programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
- The proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.
This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions. Each panel scrutinises available documents and talks to the staff who will teach the programme before deciding whether it can be approved.
How we monitor the quality of this programme
The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:
- external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
- statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
- student feedback.
Drawing on this and other information programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation. The process is monitored by the University's Quality Standing Committee.
Once every six years an in-depth review of the whole field is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists. The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions. The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.
The role of the programme committee
ICS has a Programmes Study Board comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme. The team is responsible for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality. The programme committee plays a critical role in the quality assurance procedures.
The role of external examiners
The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner. External examiners have two primary responsibilities:
- To ensure the standard of the programme;
- To ensure that justice is done to individual students.
External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:
- Approving exam papers/assignments;
- Attending assessment boards;
- Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks;
- Ensuring that regulations are followed;
- Providing feedback through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future.
Listening to the views of students
The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:
- Module evaluations
- Programme evaluations
- Polls via our website
- Student representation at ICS Programmes Study Board Meetings held twice yearly.
Students are notified of the action taken through:
- Individual mailing letters as required
- A newsletter, published twice a year
- Postings on the ICS Student Community
Listening to the views of others
The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:
- Annual student satisfaction questionnaire
- Questionnaires to former students
- Annual Tutor conference
Further Information
Alternative locations for studying this programme
| Location | Which elements? | Taught by UEL staff | Taught by local staff | Method of Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Where you can find further information
Further information about this programme is available from:
- The ICS website www.icslearn.co.uk
- The UEL web site
- The Student Handbook
- Current External examiners
- External examiner reports (available from UEL virtual learning environment (UELPlus or Moodle))
