Law - Pathways
Our BCL (Hons) Law-Pathways programme is offered by the College of Business & Law at University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland. The programme allows for law students to take a general law degree which can be shaped to suit their own interests.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
3 or 4 Years
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements
At least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish. Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
English O6/H7
Irish O6/H7
Other Language O6/H7
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
UCC awards the following points to the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Link Modules:
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
While Link Modules are counted for point scoring purposes they may not be counted as one of the six subjects to satisfy minimum entry requirements.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Careers / Further progression
Skills and Careers Information
The knowledge and skills acquired by UCC law graduates equip them for an extensive array of careers, enhances their confidence and ability in the workplace, and provides a balanced and varied foundation regardless of career path pursued.
The School of Law at UCC places a huge emphasis upon the development of transferable skills through dedicated modules, including legal writing and analysis, research skills, and a compulsory moot court module, all of which enhance the presentation and advocacy skills of all law students.
The comprehensive legal education delivered at UCC and the breadth of study and placement opportunities uniquely position UCC law graduates for future study and employment opportunities.
Further information
Approximate Available Places 22
Find out about the mature entry requirements at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/entryreqs/matureapplicants/
Approximate Available Places Overall 115
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Course Outline
Our BCL (Hons) Law-Pathways programme is offered by the College of Business & Law at University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland. The programme allows for law students to take a general law degree which can be shaped to suit their own interests. If you take this degree you can specialise in areas such as international law, business law, human rights law, etc. You will also develop a strong foundation in legal research and writing, advocacy, and legal reasoning; these transferable skills are attractive to employers in a wide variety of professions and industries. Fundamentally this unique programme allows you to tailor your law degree and maximise your potential and opportunities.
You will commence this programme as a BCL (Pathways) student and, upon completion of your first year, you can then apply to transfer to your preferred path for the remainder of your degree.
The BCL at UCC is a comprehensive three-year law degree that ensures a critical understanding of the fundamentals of Irish and international law, together with exposure to a range of interesting elective areas of legal study. Alternatively, a Law Pathways student can apply for a four-year degree path which will include one or two semesters on either a work or study abroad placement.
BCL International Programme
Our BCL (International) programme is an exciting and dynamic four-year degree, offering the opportunity to study abroad at a partner university in China, India, the US, Canada or Europe for one or two semesters; each study abroad option offers a unique experience to you and the programme director aims to match your interests with those of our partners to ensure you have the best possible learning experience during your semester abroad. This opportunity will broaden your horizons, enhance your CV and provide you with a unique insight into the laws of another jurisdiction.
BCL (Clinical) Programme
Our BCL (Clinical) programme is a four-year degree that incorporates a unique opportunity to work within the Irish legal system and facilitates students' development of professional, organisational, and interpersonal workplace skills. This programme includes placement for at least one semester in a professional environment, including with law firms, NGOs and regulatory bodies. This programme combines the study of law with an understanding of how the law works in practice, develops workplace and interpersonal skills, and adds immense value to your CV.
Work placements take place in a wide variety of areas including commercial law, human rights law, medical law, employment law, and with diverse placement organisations including law firms, NGOs, regulatory bodies, in-house, etc.
Year 1 Core Modules:
LW1104 Foundations of the Legal System (5 credits)
LW1112 Constitutional and Institutional Law of the European Union (5 credits)
LW1153 Criminal Law (10 credits)
LW1154 Law of Contract (10 credits)
LW1156 Legal Research and Writing (10 credits)
LW1161 Constitutional Law: Fundamental Rights (5 credits) plus LW1162 Constitutional Law: Institutions of Government (5 credits) or
LW1163 Dlí Bunreachtúil: Bunchearta (5 credits) plus LW1164 Dlí Bunreachtúil: Institiúidí an Rialtais (5 credits)
Elective Modules (choose 10 credits):
LW1106 Law of Torts I (5 credits) plus LW1107 Law of Torts II (5 credits)
AC1103 Financial Accounting Fundamentals (5 credits) plus AC1104 Accounting for Partnerships and Companies (5 credits)
CH1001Chinese Language (Mandarin) I (5 credits)
FR0105 Introduction to French (5 credits)
FR1005 French for Near Beginners (5 credits)
FR1105 Threshold French (5 credits)
FR1107 French for Reading Purposes I (5 credits)
GA1002 Ceart na Gaeilge idir Scríobh agus Labhairt (10 credits)
GE0005 German Language (CEFR-Level A2.1) (5 credits)
GE0008 German Language (CEFR-Level A2.2) (5 credits)
HS0028 Spanish Language (Beginner Level) (10 credits)
HS0128 Spanish Language (Improver [01]) (10 credits)
HS1009 Spanish Language (Post Leaving Certificate) (10 credits)
IT1102 Non-Beginners' Written and Spoken Italian (10 credits)
IT1109 Introduction to Written and Spoken Italian (10 credits)
Placement or Study Abroad Information
The BCL (Clinical) includes placement for at least one semester in a professional environment, including with law firms, NGOs, and regulatory bodies.
The BCL (International) incorporates at least one semester of study abroad at a law school in North America, Europe, or Asia.
The School of Law operates a summer placement scheme, securing placements and internships for UCC Law students who wish to experience legal practice nationally and/or internationally during their summer holidays. This is in addition to the work placement aspect of the BCL (Pathways) and BCL (Law & Irish) degree programmes.
Academic Programme Catalogue
See the Academic Programme Catalogue (https://ucc-ie-public.courseleaf.com/programmes/) for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year-to-year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules (https://ucc-ie-public.courseleaf.com/modules/)
Dr. Aisling Parkes BCL (Pathways)
a.parkes@ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 490 2022
http://www.ucc.ie/en/lawsite/