PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION

PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION

Programme title: /
English and German Law LLB and Baccalaureus Legum
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
(where stopping off points exist they should be detailed here and defined later in the document) / LLB (awarded by UCL); Baccalaureus Legum (awarded by University of Cologne)
UCAS code:
(where applicable) / M146
Cohort(s) to which this programme specification is applicable:
(e.g. from 2008 intake onwards) / From September 2010 intake onwards
Awarding institution/body: / UniversityCollegeLondon
Teaching institution: / UniversityCollegeLondon
Faculty: / Laws
Parent Department:
(the department responsible for the administration of the programme) / Laws

Departmental web page address:

(if applicable) /
Method of study:
Full-time/Part-time/Other / Full-time
Criteria for admission to the programme: / A Levels
Grades / A*AA
Subjects / Complete fluency in German required.
AS Levels / A pass in a further subject at AS level or equivalent is required.
GCSEs / English Language and Mathematics at grade B. For UK-based students, a grade C or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet this requirement following enrolment at UCL.
IB Diploma
Points / 39
Subjects / A score of 19 points in three higher level subjects, with no score lower than 5. Complete fluency in German is required.
Other qualifications as listed in the UCL Prospectus:
Length of the programme:
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such as study abroad or placements in industry) / M146 – 2 years of study at UCL followed by 2 years of study at University of Cologne
Level on Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes) / H
Relevant subject benchmark statement (SBS)
(see Guidance notes) / Laws

Brief outline of the structure of the programme and its assessment methods:
(see guidance notes) /
Students take four subjects per year. In addition, students receive a short introduction to legal method at the start of year 1, plus a year-long introduction to German law, legal institutions and legal terminology, taught in German, throughout the first year of study. Eight compulsory subjects are taken in years 1 and 2 (plus European Legal Studies I during the first-year), the third and fourth years are spent studying abroad at the University of Cologne in Germany. Most subjects are taught by weekly lectures or seminars combined with biweekly tutorials, but teaching methods vary (especially in year 3) and may consist of seminars or lectures with or without tutorials.
Year 1
Contract Law (3-hour unseen examination)
Criminal Law (3-hour unseen examination)
Property Law I (3-hour unseen examination)
Public Law (3-hour unseen examination)
European Legal Studies I (German) (un-assessed)
Year 2
European Union and Human Rights Law (3-hour unseen examination)
European Legal Studies II (German) (2-hour unseen examination + two 2,500 word essays)
Property Law II (3-hour unseen examination)
Tort Law (3-hour unseen examination)
Students spend their third and fourth years studying the Baccalaureus Legum at Cologne University, Germany.
Students are required to submit a 10,000 word Research Essay in their fourth year of study and this can be completed under the supervision of either UCL or the University of Cologne.
Board of Examiners:
/ i) Name of Board of Examiners:
LLB Board of Examiners
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
/ JASB (Joint Academic Stage Board of the SRA and Bar Council) / Date of next scheduled accreditation visit: Spring 2014
  • EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
    To promote an understanding of the role of the law as it governs relations between individuals in society, and between the individual and government.
  • To cultivate an ability to analyse complex issues that are raised in disputes and to find the relevant principles of justice that should be used to find a solution to the dispute.
  • To develop an ability to communicate in a clear and effective way, both in writing and orally.
  • To foster an understanding of transactions between individuals and governments, both nationally and internationally.
  • To develop an enthusiasm for research into legal and social issues.
  • To promote the values of our founders (justice, liberty and equal rights for all) through critical analysis and an active interest in law reform.
To achieve these aims, the Law Faculty offers a wide range of subjects and employs a variety of teaching methods. The degree programmes it runs provide both a general liberal education and a basis for careers not only in the legal profession but also in fields as diverse as the civil service, local government, the social services, higher education, the armed forces, business, industry, the media, finance and accountancy.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of: / Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Intellectual skills are developed through the teaching and learning programme outlined above. Each course, whatever the format of the teaching, involves discussion of key issues, practice in applying concepts both orally and in writing, analysis and interpretation of material, and individual feedback sessions for students on work produced.
/ Assessment:
Assessment is by a combination of unseen written examinations and essays.

B: Skills and other attributes

Intellectual (thinking) skills: / Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
In their first year students receive instruction, training and opportunities for practice and feedback on the use of the law library and indexes, and of material, including primary legal sources, on the internet. Students attend a mixture of lectures, seminars and tutorials from which they can draw models for the synthesis of material, and the processing and analysis of material. They are required to submit practice essays for formative feedback, for some of which they are given full advice on reading and for others of which they are expected to find their own sources. They are required to participate in tutorials and seminars and prepare presentations, to hone their communication skills. They receive supervision for the writing of the optional Research Essay in the final year, and for the writing of essays in other final-year optional subjects.
/ Assessment:
Assessment is by way of unseen written examinations, and shorter essays in the first and second year, with opportunities to write other essays for assessment in some optional subjects. There is no formal assessment of oral presentation and communication skills.

C: Skills and other attributes

Practical skills (able to): / Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
In their first year students receive instruction, training and opportunities for practice and feedback on the use of the law library and indexes, and of material, including primary legal sources, on the internet. Students attend a mixture of lectures, seminars and tutorials from which they can draw models for the synthesis of material, and the processing and analysis of material. They are required to submit practice essays for formative feedback, for some of which they are given full advice on reading and for others of which they are expected to find their own sources. They are required to participate in tutorials and seminars and prepare presentations, to hone their communication skills. They receive supervision for the writing of the optional Research Essay in the final year, and for the writing of essays in other final-year optional subjects.
/ Assessment:
Assessment is by way of unseen written examinations and essays as set out above, the criteria for which include clarity of expression, independent thought, familiarity with the relevant information, critical ability, ability to assess the work of others. Essays must be submitted, word-processed, on time and there are penalties for non- and late-submission. Essays in the third year require independent research, often using the internet, to be successfully completed. Oral presentation skills are not formally assessed.

D: Skills and other attributes

Transferable skills (able to): / Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
In their first year students receive instruction, training and opportunities for practice and feedback on the use of the law library and indexes, and of material, including primary legal sources, on the internet. Students attend a mixture of lectures, seminars and tutorials from which they can draw models for the synthesis of material, and the processing and analysis of material. They are required to submit practice essays for formative feedback, for some of which they are given full advice on reading and for others of which they are expected to find their own sources. They are required to participate in tutorials and seminars and prepare presentations, to hone their communication skills. They receive supervision for the writing of the optional Research Essay in the final year, and for the writing of essays in other final-year optional subjects.
/ Assessment: Assessment is by way of unseen written examinations and essays as set out above, the criteria for which include clarity of expression, independent thought, familiarity with the relevant information, critical ability, ability to assess the work of others. Essays must be submitted, word-processed, on time and there are penalties for non- or late-submission. Essays in the third year require independent research, often using the internet, to be successfully completed. Oral presentation skills are not formally assessed.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
  • the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (
  • the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements (
  • the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
  • UCL teaching and learning policies;
  • staff research.

Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s) Name(s):
/ Dr Matt Fisher
Date of Production: / 14/02/13
Date of Review: / Feb 2013
Date approved by Head of Department:
Date approved by Chair of Departmental Teaching Committee:
Date approved by Faculty Teaching Committee / Feb 2013