Law Schools and Programs in The United Kingdom

Law Studies in The United Kingdom

Law in the United Kingdom is an undergraduate subject. Students start a law degree, the LLB, directly after secondary school, and the degree is the academic stage of a longer route to practice. The UK does not have one legal system: universities in England and Wales teach the law of England and Wales, while Scottish universities teach Scots law, and the professional routes differ. This directory lists 46 schools in the UK that teach law, 11 of them in London.

How the law degree is organised

In England and Wales the standard LLB takes three years of full-time study. The LLB Law at the University of Bristol, the Law LLB Hons at Lancaster University and the Law LLB (Hons) at the University of Sussex all last three years and share the UCAS code M100. The core of the degree is what the Bar Standards Board calls the seven foundations of legal knowledge.

In Scotland the honours degree is longer. The University of Strathclyde in Glasgow describes a typical four-year LLB (Honours) curriculum, recognised by the Law Society of Scotland as a Foundation programme, which is one part of the route to qualification as a solicitor in Scotland. According to the university, its LLB graduates satisfy the professional requirements of the Law Society of Scotland and the Faculty of Advocates.

Several London institutions in this directory teach law, among them King's College London, University College London, SOAS University of London and the University of Westminster. Outside London, Manchester has three schools, and there are law schools in cities such as Aberdeen, Brighton, Cardiff, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sheffield.

From degree to profession

A law degree does not make its holder a lawyer. The two main professions in England and Wales have their own regulators and stages.

• Solicitor: the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) lists four requirements for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route: a degree in any subject or an equivalent level 6 qualification, passing both parts of the SQE (SQE1 and SQE2), two years of full-time or equivalent work experience, and meeting the SRA's suitability requirements.
• Barrister: the Bar Standards Board describes three components: academic, vocational, and pupillage or work-based learning. The academic component is a law degree, or a non-law degree followed by the Graduate Diploma in Law, with a minimum result of 2:2. The vocational component is a Bar training course. Pupillage is divided into a non-practising and a practising period, usually of six months each.

A law degree is therefore not strictly required to become a solicitor, but universities build SQE preparation into their courses. Lancaster University states that its LLB offers a significant amount of preparation for the material examined in SQE1, and the University of Sussex states that its course satisfies the academic component of Bar training. Students who intend to practise in another country should check the rules of that country's bar before choosing a UK degree, because the content is the law of England and Wales or of Scotland.

Admission and language

Applications for undergraduate degrees go through UCAS, with a maximum of five choices. For 2027 entry, the equal consideration date for most undergraduate courses is 13 January 2027 at 18:00 UK time, and 15 October for the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. UCAS notes that many universities continue to accept applications from international students later in the year.

Entry requirements are set by each university. Typical A-level offers for the LLB are A*AA at Bristol, AAB at Lancaster and AAB-ABB at Sussex; each university publishes the international qualifications it accepts. Some law schools also require the Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT), a 2¼ hour test with 42 multiple choice questions and an essay. Bristol requires it for its LLB.

Applicants whose first language is not English need a language certificate. Bristol asks for IELTS 7.0 overall, Lancaster for 6.5 and Sussex for 6.0 for their law degrees. For the Student visa, study at degree level requires English equivalent to CEFR level B2.

Fees and visa

Fees depend on fee status. For international students, the published first-year fees for law are £26,500 at Bristol (2027 entry), £26,300 at Lancaster (2027-28) and £26,650 at Strathclyde (2027-28). Home students pay £10,050 at Bristol and Lancaster for the same year.

International students normally need a Student visa. According to GOV.UK (checked in October 2026), the applicant needs a place offered by a licensed student sponsor, the application costs £558 from outside the UK plus the healthcare surcharge, and the applicant must show £1,529 per month for courses in London or £1,171 per month elsewhere, for up to nine months. After the degree, the Graduate visa allows a stay of 2 years if the application is made on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months from 1 January 2027.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a law degree take in the UK?

The LLB takes three years full time at universities in England such as Bristol, Lancaster and Sussex. In Scotland the honours LLB typically takes four years, as at the University of Strathclyde.

Can I become a solicitor in England with a UK law degree alone?

No. The SRA also requires passing SQE1 and SQE2, two years of full-time or equivalent work experience and meeting its suitability requirements.

Do I need the LNAT?

Only for some law schools. The University of Bristol requires it for its LLB; check the list on the LNAT website for the year of entry.