The BCL (International) is an exciting and dynamic four-year degree, offering students the opportunity to spend Year 3 at a law school in China, the US, Canada or Europe.

We have a wide variety of prestigious partner institutions and the year abroad can be tailored to suit your interests, both academically and culturally.

Our partner institutions have specialisations in international human rights law, business and commercial law, constitutional law, and health law. They also provide practical exposure to the law via trial advocacy, moot court and law clinics. 

The BCL (International) will give you the opportunity to immerse themselves in the international student experience, to explore new cities and countries, to make new friends, and to develop their academic and professional potential. This is in addition to obtaining a law degree, recognised by the professional bodies in Ireland, which may also be tailored to focus on specialised areas of law.

The BCL (International) is a four-year degree combining the core BCL course with a year abroad, studying at a law school in the US, Canada, Europe or China. At present, students can study at the following universities:

• East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai
• Brooklyn Law School, New York
• Temple University Beasley School of Law, Philadelphia
• Saint Louis University School of Law, Missouri
• Université de Montréal, Canada
• University of Copenhagen, Denmark
• University of Leiden, the Netherlands
• University of Helsinki, Finland
• University of Oslo, Norway
• Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic 

Each of these study-abroad options offers a unique experience and the course aims to tailor your interests with those of our partners to ensure you get the most from your year abroad.

This is a challenging and a rewarding degree course. You will work hard on your year abroad to make the most of this exceptional opportunity to learn about different legal systems and to expand your legal knowledge. You will participate fully in the international student experience, making life-long friends and memories. 

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

Mature students: Applicants should apply directly through the CAO (www.cao.ie) and will be required to sit an assessment test and attend interview. 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.

Students on the BCL (International) follow the same course of study as BCL students in Years 1, 2 and final year. This involves a combination of lectures, tutorials/guided study, and reading in the library.

The number of optional subjects available increases as you progress through the course and includes language (European languages and Mandarin) and business options (management and accounting), in addition to law options.

During the study-abroad year, you will follow the course requirements in the host institution and often take courses at graduate level. These vary depending on the host university and your interests.

You are provided with information on the  estimated costs of the various study-abroad options during the course of the BCL.

You do not pay fees to the host institution on the study-abroad year, although there may be a small registration charge. 

Written exams will take place before Christmas and in May.  Not all modules will have formal examinations.  Many modules use other types of assessment.

The skills modules are assessed on a pass/fail basis and include group work, presentations and oral advocacy.

During the study-abroad year, you will follow the assessment methods used in your host institution, which can involve open-book exams, course papers, in-class tests, moot court and other practical exercises, and also oral exams. Students find these exciting and rewarding. You must pass all assessments undertaken during the year abroad in order to progress to final year at UCC.

BCL (International) students are taught by the expert and dedicated staff of UCC's Law Department. This includes internationally recognised experts in child law, medical law, environmental law, family law, criminal justice and human rights law.

Students also have the opportunity, during the study-abroad year, to be taught through English by highly regarded international experts in our partner institutions in the US, Canada, Europe and China. Students always find this a varied and challenging experience.