Course Information
BCL (Hons) (NFQ Level 8)
Full Time – Undergraduate Studies
CAO Code: DN600
CAO Points Range 2019: 521
Length of Course: 4 Years
Average Intake: 125
O6/H7 in English, Irish, a third language and three other recognised subjects
Note: Students entering this course are not required to have a prior knowledge of Mandarin. Those with prior knowledge of Mandarin are most welcome.
Why is this course for me?
Law with Chinese allows you to undertake a degree in Irish law, whilst simultaneously acquiring a broad knowledge of Chinese society and a very high level of competence in Mandarin. During this degree, you’ll gain comparative insights which inform an enhanced critical perspective on Irish law. Your third year is spent at a leading university in China.
Career & Graduate Study Opportunities
Graduates obtain a recognised degree in Irish law and are also particularly well placed to pursue legal careers with:
- International law firms
- European and international institutions
- Non-Governmental Organisations
BCL (Law with Chinese) graduates may wish to pursue further studies, including: MSc International Law and Business, LLM
(International Commercial Law) or LLM
(Intellectual Property & Information Technology Law), all in UCD Sutherland School of Law. Both Renmin and CUPL have excellent graduate programmes and are among the best law schools in the world.
What Will I Study
First & Second Year
First year focuses on the core Irish law modules of:
- Constitutional Law
- Contract Law
- Tort
- General Introduction to Irish legal System
This is combined with intensive Chinese language training and an introduction to Chinese culture and society. In second year, you’ll continue to build your knowledge of the foundations of Irish law, covering:
- EU Law
- Property Law
- Criminal Law
- You’ll also advance your Chinese language skills and deepen your knowledge of Chinese society.
Third Year
You’ll spend your third year at a partner university in Beijing, China (Renmin University or the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL)), where you’ll take some modules through Mandarin.
Fourth Year
On your return to UCD for the last year of your degree, you will undertake a dissertation on Chinese Law (in English). You’ll also choose modules, from the full range of Irish law modules including clinical modules from the School’s Clinical Legal Education Centre (CLEC).
Note: Some modules on this degree are taught through Mandarin. No prior knowledge of Mandarin is required for this degree.
You’ll attend lectures and tutorials, in addition to engaging in study and preparatory work. A sample timetable can be viewed at www.ucd.ie/myucd/law.
Assessment includes end-of-semester examinations, essays and group projects.
Testimonial
“I chose to study this programme, in part because of its relevance in today’s world, but also because it is thoroughly engaging. It provides an opportunity for students to develop a deeper and broader understanding of both the Irish legal system and Chinese culture, through studying a range of subjects from EU law and criminal law to the Chinese language and Doing Business in China. Lectures are extremely insightful and are taught by highly regarded individuals. In particular, the small Chinese classes allow students to interact closely with the teaching staff. As part of the course, students are given the chance to study in Beijing, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the capital of one of the biggest expanding markets of our generation.”
Timothy Wu Murphy Student