Law in Practice with International Relations with a Foundation Year

LLB Law in Practice with International Relations with a Foundation Year at Swansea University is a specialised five-year 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.

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 LLB, 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.

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.

In Year 0, you will typically study areas including: Critical Thinking; Legal Skills; Foundations in Law; Criminal Law; Contract law; Tort Law.

In Year 1, you will typically study areas including: Public Law; Law, Professionalism and Ethics; International Relations in a Changing World; Tort Law; Contract Law.

In Year 2, you will typically study areas including: Criminal Law; Equity and Trusts; Land Law; Placement Preparation: Year in Industry / Year in Practice; Global Justice and Human Rights in the Age of Globalisation; International Security; Criminal Law; Land Law.

In Year 3: Year spent in Industry

In Year 4 , you will typically study areas including: Researching Politics 1; Employment Law: Rights and Obligations; Counter-terrorism Law; Law Dissertation; Foundations in LegalTech; Street Law; Human Rights & Social Justice; Family and Child Law; Researching Politics 2; Global Environmental Politics.

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