LLB, Joint LLB and Graduate LLB

Information for applicants to our Law programmes

Edinburgh Law School is renowned for its international and interdisciplinary outlook, having been at the heart of legal education and research for more than 300 years. The Faculty of Law at the University of Edinburgh, now known as Edinburgh Law School, was founded in 1707 and is situated in historic Old College in the heart of Edinburgh.

We are ranked 1st in Scotland, 5th in the UK and 13th in the world for law (Times Higher Education World University Rankings: Law 2024).

New students will join a supportive law community and be assigned to a LawPALS group - our peer assisted learning scheme, which is designed to help students adapt to the study of law. 

Degree programmes and structures

Need a refresher on the details of the degree programme you've applied for? Our Degree Finder provides more information about your programme, such as:

  • what you will study
  • where you will study
  • career opportunities
  • fees, costs and funding 

Law programmes: 2025 entry

A Degree Programme Table (DPT) provides comprehensive information about the structure of a degree programme, including both compulsory and optional courses. The detailed programme content for 2025/26 is available below.

Law programme degree structures 2025/26

Why study Law at Edinburgh?

Our Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programmes will teach you the general principles of law and how to apply them to specific situations and cases. You will develop analytical skills and legal research skills and learn how to present an argument clearly, accurately and persuasively.

Concepts such as the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession, and access to justice for all, are at the heart of legal study. As a law student, you will also earn about the formal structures of our society and the role of law in shaping society.

Scots law

At Edinburgh you will study Scots law. Our LLB programmes (excludes the LLB Global Law) are accredited by the Law Society of Scotland. You will be required to study certain courses to graduate with a fully qualifying degree.

In addition to becoming a practising solicitor or advocate in Scotland, a number of our graduates also go on to qualify and practise as a lawyer in other jurisdictions in the UK, Europe, and elsewhere. To do this you must meet the relevant local conversion requirements and any further study required in the non-Scottish destination jurisdiction.

The LLB is not only a gateway to practising law: many of our graduates opt not to practise law, and the LLB is an excellent grounding for many other careers, including politics, policy and government work, as it will provide you with a range of useful rhetorical, academic and professional skills.

Please note that timetables and courses do change. The timetable below is included to give you an idea of how your time might be spent in Year 1, semester 1.

This shows lectures and tutorials and does not include the time you will need to complete your weekly readings, tutorial exercises or assessment preparation.

This is a sample timetable only. Courses may be subject to change and availability.

Students on other LLB degree programmes can expect a similar mixture of lectures and tutorials. 

Semester 1

Monday 

  • 09:00 to 10:00 Scottish Legal System (Lecture)
  • 11:00 to 12:00 Contract and Unjustified Enrichment (Lecture)

Tuesday

  • 10:00 to 11:00 Contract and Unjustified Enrichment (Lecture)
  • 11:00 to 12:00 Elective (Lecture)
  • 12:00 to 13:00 Family Law (Lecture)
  • 15:00 Elective (Tutorial)

Wednesday

  • 11:00 to 12:00 Elective (Lecture)
  • 13:00 to 14:00 Family Law (Tutorial)

Thursday

  • 09:00 to 10:00 Scottish Legal System (Lecture)
  • 10:00 to 11:00 Contract and Unjustified Enrichment (Lecture)
  • 15:00 Scottish Legal System (Tutorial)

Friday

  • 09:00 to 10:00 Scottish Legal System (Lecture)
  • 12:00 to 13:00 Family Law

Reading a quality newspaper regularly is one of the best preparations for the study of law: the news is full of legal issues, many of which you will study during your degree.

LLB (Hons)

H MacQueen, Studying Scots Law (5th edn., ed. Megan Dewart, 2016). This text provides you with an introductory acclimatisation to the study of law generally and to Scots law in particular.


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