Law with International Relations with a Foundation Year

If you don’t attain the grades needed to enrol on to the LLB Law with International Relations 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 an LLB 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.

During the following three years, 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 with an extensive list of over forty optional modules to choose from.

Alongside this, you will learn about the value of peaceful relationships between nations, focusing on themes including globalisation, international politics, peace and conflict, and power strategies.

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.

Based across the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law and the School of Social Sciences, you will benefit from being part of two lively and diverse environments that keep students at their heart.

Swansea University has an established and growing reputation for teaching and research in both law and international relations, and is consistently recognised as a source of expertise and as having an impact on policy and practice in a diverse range of fields. We are also wholly committed to continuous improvement in teaching and learning, and to putting students at the centre of our 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-focused learning environment and community. Modules are delivered and assessed in a variety of 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.

You will have the competitive option in semester one (available for 20 students) of undertaking an internship module with the - Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament, working closely with a Member of the Senedd (MS) for one day a week. In addition to this, in your final year you will have the invaluable opportunity to opt for a place on their Placement Scheme.

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.

We also offer a variety of additional work placement opportunities in a wide range of settings.

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 Singleton Campus to complete your LLB degree.

In Year 2, you will typically study areas including:
Public Law, Skills for the Study of Law, Introduction to International Relations, War and Peace in the Nuclear Age, Employability Skills for Social Sciences, Tort Law, Contract Law

In Year 3, you will typically study areas including:
Equity and Trusts, Globalisation, International Security, Criminal Law, Land Law

In Year 4, you will typically study areas including:
Researching Politics, Family Law, Commercial Sales, Environmental Law, Employment Law, Counter-terrorism Law, Criminal Evidence, Cybercrime, Medical Law, Parliamentary Studies, Global Environmental Politics, Africa in International Relations

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
• Blog and poster writing
• Group-based tasks

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