Law in Practice with International Relations with a Foundation Year

If you don’t attain the grades needed to enrol on to the LLB Law in Practice with International Relations undergraduate programme, then this 5-year programme, including a Foundation Year, could be for you.

The LLB programme at Swansea University is a specialised programme that prepares you for careers at the intersection of law and international relations, while also providing you with valuable workplace exposure.

Designed to prepare you for a wide range of careers, the programme is grounded in academic excellence and informed by leading research. It blends theory and practice, enabling you to understand how legal systems operate within wider social, political, and economic contexts, while critically examining the role of law in shaping international relations and transnational governance.

The Foundation Year gives you an exciting introduction to higher education, setting you up with the skills, confidence, and knowledge that you’ll need to be successful on your undergraduate degree. It’s ideal if you need a little more support after further education or are returning to education after a gap. The foundation year (level 3) will be delivered by The College, Swansea University (TCSU) on the Bay Campus. Years 2-4 (levels 4-6) will be delivered by the School of Law on the Singleton Campus.

From the outset, you will develop a comprehensive understanding of the foundations of legal knowledge, including Contract Law, Tort Law, Criminal Law, Public Law, Land Law, Equity and Trusts, and EU Law. These core subjects satisfy the academic stage of training required by the Bar Standards Board, and support those wishing to pursue the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

Alongside these core areas, you will study international relations modules that explore topics such as International Relations in a Changing World, and Global Justice and Human Rights in the Age of Globalisation. This will help you develop a critical understanding of how law interacts with international politics and global decision-making.

In the fourth year of your course, you will undertake a paid internship with an employer in a legal setting. This will allow you to experience legal practice firsthand, where you can pick up key skills that will be infinitely useful in your future career.

As you progress, you can tailor your degree through a wide range of optional modules in both law and international relations. Law options include Human Rights, Medical Law, Cybercrime, Environmental Law, Family Law, and World Trade, while international relations options may cover International Security, the Global South Covert Wars or America and the Bomb. This flexibility allows you to pursue your interests and develop specialist expertise across two complementary disciplines.

Your first year of study will be your Foundation Year at The College. This covers a mix of key themes in law, combined with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in your degree. Themes of study include:
Contract Law, Public Law, Criminal Law, Tort Law, Legal System, Academic Writing, Critical Thinking and Legal Skills

On successful completion of your Foundation Year, you will move to the School of Law to complete your LLB degree.

In Year 2, you will typically study areas including:
Public Law, Tort Law, Contract Law, International Relations in a Changing World, and Law, Professionalism and Ethics

In Year 3, you will typically study areas including:
Equity and Trusts, Criminal Law, Land Law, International Security, Global Justice and Human Rights in the Age of Globalisation, and Global South in International Relations

Year 4 will be spent entirely on a paid internship in a legal setting.

Your final year offers a wide range of optional modules allowing you to shape your own learning. Optional modules cover various areas including:
Environmental Law, Employment Law, Cybercrime, Counter-terrorism Law, Covert Wars, and America and the Bomb

We offer a variety of assessment methods within our programmes.

In addition to traditional examinations and essays, examples of alternative assessment may include:

• Writing a letter of advice to a client
• Preparing a legal briefing
• Blog and poster writing
• Group-based tasks
• Oral presentations

Throughout your undergraduate law degree, you will develop excellent research and analytical skills and learn to present your ideas effectively both verbally and in writing.

For full breakdown of course structure and assessment please visit our course pages at: www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/law/ or get in touch with us at study@swansea.ac.uk