Law

Law at Cambridge

Although our BA (Hons) course (referred to at other universities as an LLB degree) is primarily concerned with English law, there are opportunities to study other legal systems, including civil (Roman) law, EU law and international law. You can also study theoretical and sociological aspects of law such as jurisprudence or parts of criminology.

Facilities and resources

The David Williams Building, on the University’s Sidgwick Site, houses lecture theatres, seminar rooms and a moot court. It is also home to the Squire Law Library, one of the finest academic law collections in the UK. The Library offers an extensive collection of printed and electronic resources and excellent computing facilities.

The Faculty and University Law Society organise numerous activities, including public lectures, careers events with leading barristers’ and solicitors’ firms, social events, and mooting competitions (debates about hypothetical legal cases).

Course costs

Tuition fees

Information on tuition fee rates for Law is available on the tuition fees page.

Additional course costs

There are no compulsory additional course costs for Law. However, most students prefer to purchase their own copy of a relevant statute book (c£15 each) for around 10 of their total 15 papers across the whole course (depending on papers chosen). If you have any queries about resources/materials, please contact the Faculty.

Student exchange schemes

In previous years, the Faculty has offered students the opportunity to spend a year studying abroad at one of our partner institutions. We currently offer this opportunity to undergraduates under the Turing Scheme (subject to funding) – please check the Faculty website for further information and updates on the exchange scheme.

Changing course

If you wish to combine Law with another subject it is best to discuss this with your preferred College before submitting your application.

Students who wish to combine Law with another subject usually study Law after that subject rather than before. It is desirable to study Law for two years wherever possible since it is not possible to pass all seven 'foundation' subjects necessary for a qualifying Law degree at Cambridge in less than two years.

If your first subject has a two-year Part I, you need to consider the implications – especially the financial implications – of four years as an undergraduate.

To be able to change course, you need the agreement of your College that any change is in your educational interests, and you must have the necessary background in the subject to which you wish to change – in some cases you may be required to undertake some catch-up work or take up the new course from the start/an earlier year. If you think you may wish to change course, we encourage you to contact a College admissions office for advice. You should also consider if/how changing course may affect any financial support arrangements.

After Cambridge

Students wishing to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales will need to sit two Solicitors Qualifying Examination assessments (SQE1 & SQE2) after the completion of their undergraduate studies. For more information visit the Solicitors Regulation Authority website. 

Students wishing to qualify as barristers in England and Wales can satisfy the academic component of training with the BA in Law if they read papers covering the ‘Foundations of Legal Knowledge’, as set by the Bar Standards Board (BSB); please see the Faculty website for more details. Following the completion of their undergraduate studies, students may proceed directly to vocational courses that lead to professional accreditation. For more information about qualifying as a barrister visit the BSB website.