BCL (Law and French) allows you to study law and French at the same time in a joint honours degree. You can then become a lawyer with specific linguistic skills.

Over the course of four years, you will take modules in law and French. You will graduate with a degree in both. This means you can progress further towards a career in law, or you can pursue a career in linguistics, translation or teaching.

Most of our graduates combine these two sets of skills and become lawyers with a unique linguistic ability. They often go on to work abroad in international or EU firms and institutions.

The highlight of the degree is Year 3, which you will spend at a prestigious law school in France (Paris X, Lyon III, Strasbourg, Montpellier or Rennes) or Canada (Université de Montréal).

The core legal part of the degree is common to all other law courses in UCC (BCL, BCL International, BCL Clinical and BCL Irish), so you will be part of the larger cohort of students in the Law Department. However, you will have specific classes in French, offered by the French Department, and in French law (within the Law Department).

The 15-20 students who start a BCL (Law and French) degree every year tend to develop a strong sense of identity.

In year 3, you will go abroad to study French or Canadian law entirely through the medium of French. This year is often seen by our students as a life-changing experience, during which they not only practise and improve their linguistic skills and become acquainted with another legal system, but also learn to live independently in a foreign country.

When they return to complete their degree, they have matured and are ready to make judicious module choices in Year 4, in preparation for their professional project, or for further university studies.

The degree is fully compliant with the entry requirements of the Law Society of Ireland and of King’s Inns. In four years, it will provide you with an excellent legal education, and the opportunity to become fluent in French.

Our BCL (Law and French) graduates are much sought after by employers and third-level institutions alike, as their maturity, legal capability and linguistic skills make them lawyers with a very specific edge.

See the College Calendar for more detailed information on the Programme and the Book of Modules for a more detailed description of Programme Modules.

Leaving Certificate entry requirements:

H5 in two subjects, and O6/H7 in four other subjects in the Leaving Certificate from Irish, English, another language, and three other subjects recognised for entry purposes.

Special Entry Requirement: H3 in French.  Students presenting with a 2016 (or previous) Leaving Certificate must present with a HB3 in French.

Mature students: 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. A H3 in French in the Leaving Certificate is required (HB3 if presenting a pre-2017 Leaving Certificate).  Approximately two places are available on this programme for mature applicants.

International Students should visit the International Education website.

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.

Non-EU Applicants

Mature Applicants:  Application is made through the CAO (www.cao.ie) and the closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1st February of the year of proposed entry.

The BCL (Law and French) degree is provided in collaboration with the other law degrees in UCC, and is based on the same core law modules and skills. In addition, besides modules in French through your degree, you will have a vast range of subjects to choose from during your year abroad.

In your final year, you can avail of the large number of choices the Law Department offers to all students.

In terms of study, a combination of tutorials and lectures is used. Navigating between law classes and French classes is described by students as "using both parts of their brains": logic for law and language; creativity for French culture and literature.

Written exams will take place before Christmas and in May.  Not all modules will have formal examinations.  Many modules use other types of assessment.  French modules are based more on continuous assessment.

During Year 3, you will follow the assessment rules of your host university, either in France or in Canada.

The BCL (Law and French) degree course benefits from the input of all staff in the Law Department, as most modules are common to all other law degrees. A broad spectrum of legal experts teach in varied areas of law, including:

• Contract Law
• Constitutional Law
• Criminal Law
• Company Law
• EU Law
• Tort Law
• International Law
• Revenue Law
• Family Law
• Land Law