| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
International and Comparative Law, LLB
Introduction
This innovative degree provides a unique student learning experience through the comparative study of legal cultures, institutional and intellectual expectations of law, and state and international orders. It teaches law at a conceptual level, without focusing on one specific jurisdiction, and can help develop careers across international bodies, non-profit organisations, multinational companies and arbitration.
Study Information
At a Glance
- Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
- Degree Qualification: LLB
- Duration: 48 months or 96 months
- Study Mode: Full Time or Part Time
- Start Month: September
- Location of Study: Aberdeen
- UCAS Code: M130
What You'll Study
Students will explore the following topics:
- Institutional structures of law at the jurisdictional, state and international levels
- Foundations of public law in constitutional democracies, including relationships between states and their citizens
- The traditional contrast between the great global civilian and common law traditions, and the problems with that contrast
- Ideas and expectations of law stemming from civilian legal traditions
- Ideas and expectations of law stemming from common law thought
- Critical understanding of the ways in which civilian and common law thinking can operate in practice
- The rich diversity of legal traditions that existed prior to the European Ages of Exploration
- The Euro-centric nature of legal analysis, and how to spot and critically analyse European and Western assumptions concerning law and legal orders
- Reflective study of comparative law methodology
- Critical understanding of international legal orders
- Fostering the capacity to reflect critically on students own legal methods, assumptions and culture, in a manner consistent with decolonising the curriculum
Year 1
- Compulsory Courses:
- Foundations of Public Law (LS1031)
- Foundations of Legal Cultural Comparison (LS1532)
- Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD1002)
- Foundations of Private Law (LS1022)
- A World Full of Law: Legal Cultures Before the Age of Exploration (LS1030)
- Foundations of Common Law with English Criminal Law (LS1533)
- Delict and Unjustified Enrichment (LS1536)
- Optional Courses: Plus 30 credits from courses of choice.
Year 2
- Compulsory Courses:
- Introducing Comparative Constitutional Law (LS2043)
- Legal Theory (LS2544)
- Introducing Comparative Private Law (LS2545)
- Eu Institutions and Law (LS2026)
- Public International Law (LS2032)
- Private International Law (LS2532)
- Optional Courses: Plus 30 credits from courses of choice.
Year 3
- Compulsory Courses: Honours Course
Year 4
- Compulsory Courses: Honours Course
- Dissertation (LS4025)
How You'll Study
Learning Methods
- E-learning
- Group Projects
- Individual Projects
- Lectures
- Peer Learning
- Research
- Seminars
- Tutorials
- Workshops
Assessment Methods
Assessments will be conducted in a range of different ways, including the use of Multiple Choice Tests (MCTs), essays, problem questions and written exams. An additional summative assessment will contribute to the final mark in any situation where an end-of-term exam is used. Constructive and timely feedback will be given in advance of subsequent assessments.
Why Study International and Comparative Law?
This programme equips students with the intellectual tool-kit required to think like a lawyer in a globalised context. Thinking like a lawyer in a globalised context calls for a very special skillset. It calls for:
- the best of traditional, jurisdiction-specific legal education, including rigorous grounding in the skills of handling black-letter law
- the capacity to understand the dynamic interchange of legal ideas which operate at the supranational level, and to spot the deep and conflicting cultural assumptions that underpin them
- the ability to engage with different legal languages, these being the unique ways in which legal ideas are expressed across many different jurisdictions
- respect and understanding of radically different cultural assumptions from student’s own assumptions
- the intellectual confidence to be able to navigate those assumptions to negotiate an agreement and a way forward.
Entry Requirements
Qualifications
- SQA Highers:
- Standard: AAAA or AAABB
- Minimum: BBBB
- Adjusted: BBBC
- A LEVELS: Standard Offer: AAB
- International Baccalaureate: 34 points overall, including average of 5 at HL
- Irish Leaving Certificate: 5 subjects at Higher minimum required at H2, obtained in one sitting
English Language Requirements
- IELTS Academic: OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
- TOEFL iBT: OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
- PTE Academic: OVERALL - 59 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
- Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Fees and Funding
- EU / International students: £20,800
- England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £9,535
- Home Students: £1,820
Careers
This programme offers a unique student learning experience in the UK, by fostering the comparative study of legal cultures more generally. It offers a sophisticated legal education for those looking to work in the field of arbitration, or for supranational or international institutions such as those found in the UN or the EU, or for NGOs, individual governments or their civil services, or alternatively for international law firms and major multi-national companies.
Facilities
Students will have access to:
- The Old Aberdeen campus promoting immaculately preserved buildings with state-of-the-art facilities for learning, research and recreation
- Award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library and the Taylor Law Library
- Food, drink and retail
- Events and webinars hosted by external experts
- Experienced, supportive and networked academic staff
- Consistent access to academics both online and in person
Related Undergraduate Degrees
- MA Criminology and Sociology
- LLB Law
- LLB Law - Accelerated
- LLB Law and European Legal Studies (5 years)
- LLB Law with Computing Science
- LLB Law with English Law
- LLB Law with English Law - Accelerated
- LLB Law with English Law and European Legal Studies (5 years)
- LLB Law with options in Business Management
- LLB Law with options in Economics
Our Experts
- Professor Andrew Simpson (Course Coordinator)
- Professor Tamas Gyorfi
- Professor Roy Partain
- Professor Mátyás Bodig
- Professor Zeray Yihdego
- Professor Péter Cserne
Information About Staff Changes
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This innovative LLB program provides a unique student learning experience through the comparative study of legal cultures, institutional and intellectual expectations of law, and state and international orders. It teaches law at a conceptual level, without focusing on one specific jurisdiction, and can help develop careers across international bodies, non-profit organizations, multinational companies and arbitration, where complex perspectives on law are invaluable.
Objectives:
- Develop a critical understanding of the global legal landscape.
- Analyze and evaluate legal issues from diverse cultural perspectives.
- Examine the foundations of public law in constitutional democracies.
- Gain a comparative understanding of civilian and common law traditions.
- Develop the ability to navigate complex legal dialogues and negotiations.
Program Description:
This program challenges traditional Eurocentric and Western assumptions about the law. It delves into the rich diversity of legal traditions and equips students with the theoretical tools to analyze and evaluate the law from a critical perspective. Students will study the fundamentals of public law and international orders, exploring ways to improve them. The program focuses on practical legal realities in a globalized context, where ideas about justice and fairness are constantly evolving.
Outline:
Content:
- Institutional structures of law
- Foundations of public law
- Civilian and common law traditions
- Comparative legal methodology
- International legal orders
- Decolonizing the curriculum
Structure:
- Full-time or part-time options
- 48 or 96 months duration
- Semester-based system
Modules:
- Introduction to International Law and Comparative Law
- Foundations of Public Law
- The Common Law Tradition
- The Civilian Law Tradition
- Comparative Legal Methodology
- International Legal Orders
- Decolonizing the Law
Assessment:
Assessments will be conducted through various methods, including:
- Multiple Choice Tests (MCTs)
- Essays
- Problem questions
- Written exams
- Additional summative assessments for end-of-term exams Constructive and timely feedback will be provided to students.
Teaching:
Teaching Methods:
The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including:
- E-learning
- Group projects
- Individual projects
- Lectures
- Peer learning
- Research
- Seminars
- Tutorials
- Workshops
Faculty:
The program is taught by a team of experienced and expert faculty members, including professors, lecturers, and teaching fellows.
Unique Approaches:
The program adopts a comparative approach to legal education, which allows students to see the strengths and limitations of different legal systems. It also emphasizes decolonizing the curriculum by acknowledging and critically analyzing Eurocentric assumptions about the law.
Careers:
This program equips graduates with the skills and knowledge to pursue careers in various fields, including:
- International organizations (UN, EU)
- Non-profit organizations
- Multinational companies
- Arbitration
- Government
- Civil service
- International law firms The program also provides a strong foundation for further studies in law, such as pursuing a master's degree.
Other:
- The program is offered at the University of Aberdeen, a top-ranked UK Law School.
- The program is designed for students who want a broad, comparative legal education, not for those seeking to practice law in a specific jurisdiction.
- The program is grounded in critical thinking and analysis, encouraging students to question and challenge traditional legal assumptions.
Conclusion:
This LLB program offers students a unique and comprehensive legal education with a global perspective. It equips graduates with the skills and knowledge to succeed in a variety of careers and contribute to a more just and equitable world.
EU / International students:
£20,800
