About This Course
Fact File
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Title
Law (Pathways)
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Code
CK301
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College
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Duration
3 years, or 4 years if following the BCL (International) or BCL (Clinical)
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Teaching Mode
Full-time
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Qualifications
BCL (Hons)
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Fees
EU Student Contribution + Capitation: €3,250 See Fees and Costs for full details.
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Entry Requirements
2 x H5, 4 x O6/H7; other language. See Requirements for full details.
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CAO Points
2019: 476
Course Outline
Entry to Law (Pathways) provides a gateway to the study of law and allows students to shape their own period of study. At the core of each degree is a world-class learning experience facilitated by experts in many specialised areas of law, and you will develop a critical understanding of key law and policy issues.
You will commence as a BCL (Pathways) student and upon completion of your first year of study, can apply to transfer to your preferred path for the remainder of your degree.
The BCL at UCC is a comprehensive three-year law degree that ensures a critical understanding of the fundamentals of Irish and international law, together with exposure to a range of interesting elective areas of legal study. Alternatively, a Law Pathways student can apply for a four-year degree path which will include one or two semesters on either a work or study abroad placement.
The BCL (International) is an exciting and dynamic four year degree, offering the opportunity to study abroad at a partner university in China, India, the US, Canada or Europe for one or two semesters; each study abroad option offers a unique experience to you and the programme director aims to match your interests with those of our partners to ensure you have the best possible learning experience during your semester abroad.
The BCL (Clinical) is a four-year degree that incorporates a unique opportunity to work within the Irish legal system and facilitates students' development of professional, organisational and interpersonal workplace skills. If you gain a place on the BCL (Clinical) pathway, you will have the chance to engage with the law in practice and to understand how it influences and is influenced by real life. Work placements take place in a wide variety of areas including Commercial Law, Human Rights Law, Medical Law, Employment Law, and with diverse placement organisations including law firms, NGOs, regulatory bodies, in-house etc.
All Law students are exposed to this broad-ranging general degree or can opt to tailor subject choices to specialise in areas such as international law, business law, human rights law etc. You will also develop a strong foundation in legal research and writing, advocacy and legal reasoning. These are transferable skills which are attractive to employers in a wide variety of professions and industries. This unique structure allows you to tailor your law degree and maximise your potential and opportunities.
See the College Calendar for more detailed information on the programme and the Book of Modules for a more detailed description of programme modules.
Course Practicalities
Students must take 60 credits per academic year, with 5 credits typically equating to 12 weeks of 2 lecture hours per week. Selected modules also include a tutorial with 5 tutorials per semester.
The library is the main learning ground for law students and you will be expected to prepare in advance of lectures and tutorials and to follow lectures and tutorials with significant time reading and further researching the material covered in class.
The number of optional elective modules available increases as you progress through the course and includes non-law options; European languages, or Mandarin, or business options such as accounting and management.
Assessment
Law modules are for the most part examined by written assignments, end of semester examinations or both. Some modules, especially the skills modules, can include oral presentations as part of the examination process.
Who teaches this course
During your time on the BCL course, you will be taught by the expert and dedicated staff of the Law Department. They include internationally recognised experts in child law, medical law, environmental law, family law, criminal justice and human rights law.
Why Choose This Course
Key facts
- Comprehensive legal education
- A range of pathways
- Research-led teaching
- World-class Law School.
The BCL will provide you with a breadth of understanding of the fundamental concepts of Irish and international law, whilst also presenting you with a wide range of subject choice to build expertise in specialised areas.
The BCL (Clinical) includes a placement for at least one semester in a professional environment, including with law firms, NGO’s and regulatory bodies. This programme combines the study of law with an understanding of how the law works in practice, develops workplace and interpersonal skills and adds immense value to your CV.
The BCL (International) incorporates at least one semester of study abroad at a top law school in North America, Europe or Asia. This opportunity will broaden your horizons, enhance your CV and provide you with a unique insight into the laws of another jurisdiction.
Placement or Study Abroad Information
The BCL (Clinical) includes a placement for at least one semester in a professional environment, including with law firms, NGO’s and regulatory bodies.
The BCL (International) incorporates at least one semester of study abroad at a law school in North America, Europe or Asia.
The School of Law operates a summer placement scheme, securing placements and internships for UCC Law students who wish to experience legal practice nationally and/or internationally during their summer holidays. This is in addition to the work placement aspect of the BCL (Pathways) and BCL (Law & Irish) degree programmes.
Skills and Careers Information
The knowledge and skills acquired by UCC Law graduates equips them for an extensive array of careers, enhances their confidence and ability in the workplace and provides a balanced and varied foundation regardless of career path pursued.
The School of Law at UCC places a huge emphasis upon the development of transferable skills through dedicated modules, including legal writing and analysis, research skills and a compulsory moot court module, all of which enhances the presentation and advocacy skills of all law students.
The comprehensive legal education delivered at UCC and the breadth of study and placement opportunities, uniquely positions UCC law graduates for future study and employment opportunities.
Requirements
Leaving Certificate entry requirements
At least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish.
Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
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English |
Irish |
Other Language |
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O6/H7 |
O6/H7 |
O6/H7 |
Mature applicants
Applicants should apply directly through the CAO, include a statement of interest and are required to sit an assessment test and may be called for interview.
FETAC applicants
FETAC requirements can be found here. There are 5 places available for suitably qualified FETAC graduates.
Non-EU applicants
Please see the International Education Office website.
Non-EU Candidates
Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language.
To verify if you meet the minimum academic and language requirements for this programme please visit our qualification comparison pages.
For more detailed entry requirement information please refer to the International website.
Mature Students Requirements
Please refer to the mature student entry requirements for details.
Fees and Costs
Course fees include a tuition fee, student contribution fee and capitation fee. The state will pay the tuition fees for EU students who are eligible under the Free Fees Scheme. The annual student Contribution and Capitation Fees are payable by the student. In 2019/20 the Student Contribution Fee will be €3,000 and the Capitation Fee will be €250.
Please see Fees Office for more information.
How Do I Apply
EU applicants
Application to Year 1 of the degree programme is made directly through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Applicants should apply online at www.cao.ie. The normal closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1st February of the year of entry.
Mature applicants
Application is made through the CAO and the closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1st February of the year of proposed entry.
Non-EU Applications
Applicants who are interested in applying for the programme can apply online.
For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.
**All Applicants please note: modules listed in the course outline above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course, but these are subject to change from year to year. Please check the college calendar for the full academic content of any given course for the current year.
In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools and departments.