Law School UK vs Canada

Studying Law in the UK vs Studying in Canada

Canadian students who study law in the UK are eligible to come back to Canada and practice law after a short period of study in Canadian Law. There are many advantages of studying law in the UK from shorter degree courses to more intensive teaching and learning. Some of the differences between studying law in the UK and Canada are considered below.

Entry requirements

Canadian students with good grades in their high school diploma are eligible for three-year LLB undergraduate law courses in the UK. Students with a prior first degree can study a two-year law programme.

Applications

In the UK, students apply through UCAS, a system where a single application is prepared and sent to up to five universities. Each university considers the application individually and will often respond within a couple of weeks to a month.

Length of study

Gaining a practicing law degree can take seven years in Canada, but just three years in the UK. A quicker qualification means lower total costs for your degree, and a quicker route into paid work. Students who have already completed a first degree can do an undergraduate law degree in just two years.

Cost of Study

UK law degree tuition fees generally vary between £12,000-£18,000 per year (around 21,000-32,000$CAD). Living costs are around £10,000-£13,000 (17,500-23,000$CAD) depending on location and lifestyle. Although annual tuition fees may be slightly higher than Canadian universities, the shorter period of study means that the cost of studying in the UK is comparable to that of studying in Canada.

Transfer Students

Most UK students study at one university for the duration of their degree, not transferring between institutions. It is not usual for UK universities to accept international transfer students either, meaning credits earnt at a Canadian degree can usually not be counted towards a UK qualification.

Difference in definitions

School – In Canada, ‘school’ usually refers to universities or higher education establishments, whereas in the UK school is generally only used for lower level education institutions for children aged 4-16. At universities, certain departments may be called schools, such as a Law School or School of Law.

Course – This term in the UK refers to the full degree programme. The series of teaching sessions that Canadian students may be familiar with as a course is referred to as a module in the UK.

Degree Programme Structures

When studying Law in the UK, students will have core modules covering the foundations of law. These are compulsory lessons that everyone on the course takes. Some optional modules also related to law may be available, particularly after the first year of studies. Each modules is worth a set number of credits (normally 15, 30 or 60), and students must study 120 credits per year at undergraduate level, and 180 credits at postgraduate level (this can vary between universities). This system varies from the Canadian system where students will often study a major and make up their credits with lessons in different subjects. Students studying in the UK will be expected to spend time reading about their subject and researching outside of set lectures and tutorials.