The LL.B (Hons) Qualifying Law Degree
The Qualifying Law Degree (LL.B (Hons)) includes the law subjects required by the professional bodies to complete the first stage of training to become a solicitor or a barrister.
The College of Law and the Open University are pleased to be working in collaboration to offer this degree. The Open University is a world leader in providing supported open learning, offering a major programme of modules in law and legal studies.
The modules have been written by highly-qualified academics and practitioners from The College of Law and by Open University academics. They are delivered using the Open University's supported open learning methods.
Obtaining a qualifying law degree
The module package: teaching and learning methods
Contact the Open University
Obtaining a qualifying law degree
If you complete and pass the five compulsory modules plus a further 60 credits of Open University modules and/or credit transfer, your LL.B (Hons) may be recognised as a Qualifying Law Degree by the professional bodies subject to their additional requirements which are set out in the Recognition Leaflet 3.13. The Law Society and the General Council of the Bar: qualifications in law. Download Recognition Leaflet 3.13.
Since all of the modules relate to real-life situations and are approached from a practical and social perspective, the Qualifying Law Degree is a particularly attractive option if you want to learn about law in the context of modern society.
To obtain a degree with the Open University you must accumulate a total of 360 credits. The five compulsory law modules are each worth 60 credits. To make up the additional credits you can choose from the optional law modules (see Optional modules) or a variety of language, business, arts, science or technology subjects, or you may be eligible for credit transfer for previous study.
If you already hold a first degree, and wish to obtain the LL.B (Hons) degree, you may only need to take W200, W201, W300 and W301 without having to complete any further credits with the Open University (subject to credit rating with the University). For further information you should refer any queries to the Credit Transfer Office, Tel: 01908 653077.
If you are interested in taking one or more of the modules, but do not wish to obtain the LL.B (Hons) degree, any law module can be studied as part of other Open University undergraduate degrees (e.g. BA (Open)).
Back to top
The module package: teaching and learning methods
You will be registered as a student of the Open University, with access to all the benefits this entails.
The modules consist of materials, designed and written by academics and practitioners from The College of Law. The materials, which include manuals and resource books, draw on best practice in supported open learning and include everything you need to study at home (apart from internet access: for each module you are required to have access to the internet). Optional face-to-face tutorials may be offered and we recommend you attend these.
Your performance on the modules will be measured by continuous assessment (in the form of assignments) and by a written examination at the end of each module (for four of the five compulsory modules).
All Law Programme modules are completely open-access: there are no entry or qualification requirements to meet although we recommend that you study the compulsory elements in the following order: W100, W200, W201, W300, W301. This allows students who would find it difficult or impossible to follow a traditional mode of study to obtain a law degree. As a result of this open-access policy, students who have taken the modules so far have come from a very wide variety of backgrounds. Many are completely new to study at this level, but a substantial number are already professionally-qualified in other fields; the flexible study allowed by supported open learning means that it is possible to combine study with work or other activities.
Back to top
Contact The Open University
For further details, visit The Open University Law School website or contact:
Student Registration and Enquiry Service
The Open University
PO Box 197
Milton Keynes
MK7 6BJ
United Kingdom
Telephone +44 (0)845 300 60 90
(Monday to Friday 08:00 to 20:00 and Saturday 09:00 to 17:00 UK Time)
Fax: +44 (0)1908 654 914
Back to top