Law with a Foundation Year

If you don’t attain the grades needed to enrol on to the LLB Law undergraduate programme, then this 4-year programme, including a Foundation Year, could be for you.

The Foundation Year is an excellent way to gain the knowledge and skills needed to begin the LLB Law degree; you will be introduced to key themes in law, as well as being provided with opportunities to pick up new skills that will be of use throughout your undergraduate degree.

The Foundation Year is taught at The College, located on our Bay Campus. After you complete this year, you will move to the School of Law on Singleton Campus for the remainder of your studies.

You will gain a comprehensive grounding in the core areas covered by a law degree. As your studies progress, you can choose from a wide range of specialised subject areas of law relating to medicine, human rights, family, the environment, trade, employment, and media, with an extensive list of over forty optional modules to choose from.

All of our undergraduate Law programmes contain the foundations of legal knowledge needed to enter the legal profession. Our programmes provide a strong foundation for students who may wish to take the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE) in the future, and satisfy the academic stage of training required by the Bar Standards Board for those wishing to become barristers.

The School of Law provides you with exceptional student experience, excellent employability support, and a progressive curriculum.

Based at the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law, you will benefit from being part of a lively and diverse research and teaching environment with students at its heart.

Swansea University has an established and growing reputation for law teaching and research. The School of Law is recognised as a source of expertise and as having an impact on policy and practice in a diverse range of fields of practice. The School is wholly committed to continuous improvement in teaching and learning, and to putting students at the centre of its activities.

Law at Swansea is ranked:

Top 125 in the World (The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025)
Top 150 in the World (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)

We offer an inclusive, student-focussed learning environment and community. Modules are delivered and assessed in a variety of different ways and you will be encouraged to take responsibility for your own learning, to work independently as well as with others, to act professionally, and to master new skills. As well as teaching and learning activities we offer a broad range of opportunities for you to get involved: from research-based placements, to working with clients, to developing advocacy and other skills. Our thriving Law Clinic offers students the opportunity to get involved in giving advice to clients and we have programmes of extra-curricular mooting, negotiation and interviewing.

Our undergraduate degree structure, with its range of final year optional modules, gives you plenty of scope to tailor your studies to your particular interests, career goals, or ambitions.

This programme presents you with the chance to study abroad for a year at one of our partner institutions. Broadening your horizons and picking up new life experiences and skills can help to give you a competitive advantage when entering the world of work.

In addition to this, we also offer a range of work placement opportunities in a wide range of settings.

Swansea University has an established and growing reputation for law. The School is committed to continuous improvement in teaching and learning, and to putting students at the centre of its activities.

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:
Legal Skills, Criminal Law, Critical Thinking, Composition and Style

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:
Skills for the Study of Law, Tort Law, Contract Law, Public Law, Legal System

In Year 3, you will typically study areas including:
Equity and Trusts, Commercial Sales, Environmental Law, Medical Law, Negotiations, Human Rights Law, Foundations in Legal Practice, Media Law, Criminal Law, Land Law

In Year 4, you will typically study areas including:
Family Law, Employment Law, Counter-terrorism Law, Criminal Evidence, Cybercrime, Jurisprudence, Law dissertation, Advocacy, Law of Succession, World Trade Law, Law and the Nature Crisis

We offer a variety of assessment methods within our programmes.

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

• Writing a letter of advice to a client
• Blog and poster writing
• Group-based tasks
• Reflective Exercises
• Presentations

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