English Law and European Legal Studies

Law is one of the foundational disciplines of organised social life: it provides the frameworks through which disputes are resolved, rights are protected, obligations are enforced, and power is constrained. Studying law at Aberdeen means engaging with both the Scots law tradition, which has its own distinctive foundations in Roman and civilian legal thinking, and the English law tradition that governs England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Adding European legal studies gives you a third dimension, exposing you to the legal systems and institutions of the European continent in comparative depth.

At the University of Aberdeen, this five-year, full-time programme is built on Aberdeen Law School's strong reputation and provides the qualifying subjects needed to pursue a career as a solicitor or advocate in Scotland or as a solicitor or barrister in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. The dual qualification route is genuinely unusual and gives you flexibility about where you practise, which is particularly valuable in an era of legal practice that increasingly crosses jurisdictions. A full year abroad studying European legal systems adds an international dimension that enriches both your legal education and your professional profile.

A typical entry tariff of 200 points reflects the highly selective and academically demanding nature of the programme.

Graduates from this programme are well placed to enter practice in Scotland, England, or Wales through the relevant professional qualification routes, or to pursue careers in international law, legal consulting, government legal services, corporate law, human rights organisations, and academic legal research. Many graduates continue to the professional legal training required for qualification in their chosen jurisdiction, while others move into commercial, regulatory, or international roles where the breadth of legal knowledge the degree provides is a distinctive asset.