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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
Leaving Certificate:
O6/H7 in English, Irish, a third language and three other recognised subjects
Special Entry Recommendations: It is strongly recommended that entrants to this programme should have at least a Grade of H6 in Leaving Certificate Maths (or equivalent).
Click below for equivalent entry requirements information for:
Why is this course for me?
This course allows you to obtain a highly respected degree in law, whilst simultaneously acquiring a broad knowledge of economics. Certain areas of law (e.g. competition regulation and intellectual property) are heavily influenced by economic theory. BCL (Law with Economics) graduates are uniquely equipped to understand these regulatory frameworks in all of their conceptual complexity. On this degree, you’ll embark on a field of cross-disciplinary study which is intellectually very demanding, but also tremendously enriching and of immense practical importance.
Career & Graduate Study Opportunities
BCL (Law with Economics) graduates have an attractive skill-set, which is of undisputed relevance to commercial legal practices and to businesses. Recent graduates have found employment with leading law firms and businesses.
Graduates are also eligible to pursue further study in the fields of:
- Commercial Law
- Intellectual Property
- Economics
- Law & Finance
- Insolvency Law
First & Second Year
First year focuses on core Irish law modules, including:
- Constitutional Law
- Contract Law
- Tort Law
In addition, you will study quantitative economics and macroeconomics for business.
In second year, you will study:
- EU Law
- Property Law
- Criminal Law
At the same time, you’ll also develop your understanding of economics and statistics.
Third & Fourth Year
With a wide choice of law and economics modules, you can choose to pursue your own areas of particular interest and tailor your degree through modules, including:
- Revenue Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- Trusts Law
- Employment Law
- Competition Law in Practice
- Commercial Law
- International Monetary Economics
- Game Theory
- Macro-Economics
You may select from the clinical law modules offered by our Clinical Legal Education Centre (CLEC).
You’ll attend lectures and tutorials, in addition to engaging in study and preparatory work.
Assessment includes end-of-semester examinations, essays and group projects.
Law with Economics Sample Timetable (.pdf)
For detailed information on subject content click here.
Many students apply to spend time abroad during their third year at partner universities in locations which include:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- China
- Czech Republic
- France
- Germany
- India
- Italy
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- The Netherlands
- UK
- USA
“I chose Law with Economics as I wanted an excellent legal education with an additional understanding of businesses and people in the economy. I have studied exceptional modules which are in equal parts rewarding, challenging and exciting. Studying complementary areas like competition and finance through both disciplines has been particularly worthwhile. Outside of class,
I have presented mock court appeals to leading Irish judges, debated across Europe and organised debates and speakers for nearly 1,000 students at a time with the UCD Law Society. UCD’s Law with Economics students have countless opportunities during their degree and into the future.”
Conor White Graduate
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
Leaving Certificate:
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.
Click below for equivalent entry requirements information for:
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.
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.
For detailed information on subject content click here.
“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
Course Information
Law Dual Degree – BCL/Maîtrise (NFQ Level 8)
Full Time – Undergraduate Studies
CAO Code: DN600
CAO Points Range 2019: 521
Length of Course: 4 Years
Average Intake: 125
Leaving Certificate:
O6/H7 in English, Irish, a third language and three other recognised subjects
Special Entry Recommendations:
If you enter without a minimum of H3 in French you will not be able to take Law with French Law.
*Note: In first year you study the BCL [Law with French Law]; towards the end of first year, students achieving the highest grades have the option to apply for interview to enter the BCL/ Maîtrise or to continue with the BCL [Law with French Law).
Click below for equivalent entry requirements information for:
Why is this course for me?
This degree is one of two French Law Programmes offered by Sutherland School of Law, the other being the BCL (Law with French Law) on the opposite page. All students interested in the French Law Programmes enter the BCL [Law with French Law] in first year. Both degrees offer the exciting opportunity for immersion in two of the world’s major legal systems, the
common law and the civil law.
Towards the end of first year, the students who have achieved the highest grades in Level I of the BCL [Law with French Law] will have the option to apply for interview to enter the BCL/Maîtrise. The BCL/Maîtrise is an intensive dual degree aimed at highly motivated and ambitious students.
The major difference between the two Programmes is that the BCL/Maîtrise allows you to undertake two degrees: a degree in Irish law and a degree in French law, the Maîtrise en Droit, from either the Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II) or the Université Toulouse 1 Capitole. The Maîtrise en Droit
(or Master 1) is considered to be a Master’s level course.
Two years (third and fourth) are spent at
either Paris II or Toulouse 1.
Career & Graduate Study Opportunities
Graduates of the BCL/Maîtrise obtain a dual qualification which allows them to progress to professional legal training in Ireland or France. Graduates are particularly well placed to pursue careers with international law firms, EU and international organisations, diplomacy and government departments, or Non-Governmental Organisations. Recent graduates have secured roles with the Department of Foreign Affairs and with International Courts.
Most French law modules studied at UCD are taught through French.
First Year
In first year, you study the BCL [Law with French Law]. Students achieving the highest grades at the end of first year then have the option to apply for interview to enter the BCL/Maîtrise, or to continue with the BCL [Law with French Law].
Second Year
In second year, you will study other core Irish law modules:
- Property Law
- Criminal Law
You will also advance your French language training and continue to study French Private Law and French Public Law.
Third & Fourth Year
You will spend your third and fourth years in one of our two partner universities. The subjects studied are determined by those institutions.
– Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II) [see www.u-paris2.fr]
– Université Toulouse 1 Capitole [see www.univ-tlse1.fr]
Sample Law (Dual degree-BCL/Maîtrise) Timetable (.pdf)
For detailed information on subject content click here.
Key Fact:
The BCL/Maîtrise degree appeals to students who wish to pursue a career as a barrister, solicitor or French avocat, as well as to those who aspire to practise in the domains of International and European Law, or in governmental or international institutions.
“I have always wanted to keep an international dimension to my degree, and the BCL/Maîtrise was definitely the right choice for that. Being immersed in another culture can only open your mind; and understanding two very different legal systems is crucial to develop your critical thinking and enhance your analytical skills. Whether the final aim is to practice in Ireland, France, or to have an international career, job opportunities following this course are numerous. Taking advantage of the opportunities given by UCD is essential during your degree, and actively participating in one of the many societies or sports club on offer cannot be recommended highly enough.”
Adam Boutafenouchete Graduate
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
Leaving Certificate:
- O6/H7 in English, Irish, a third language and three other recognised subjects
If you enter without a minimum of H3 in French you will not be able to take Law with French Law.
Click below for equivalent entry requirements information for:
Why is this course for me?
The UCD Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) degree enjoys a proud history and an established reputation at home and abroad. The BCL degree allows you to immerse yourself in the study of law, to engage with a range of interesting legal perspectives and to acquire a profound understanding of how law works in theory and in practice.
Career & Graduate Study Opportunities
As a BCL graduate, you are well positioned to pursue a variety of careers, including qualifying as a solicitor or barrister who practise law independently, or working in:
- Law firms in Ireland or internationally
- Large corporations as in-house lawyers
- Professional service firms
- State bodies or Public Service
- Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- EU or other international institutions
- Legal research
- Academia
BCL graduates can also pursue successful careers other than in legal practice (e.g. as diplomats, journalists, broadcasters, authors or researchers) in Ireland or abroad. Graduates can undertake postgraduate law study programmes such as the LLM and/or a PhD in their area of interest.
First & Second Year
In first year, you’ll explore some foundational areas of law, including:
- General Introduction to Legal Skills
- Contract Law
- Tort Law
- Constitutional Law.
You’ll study modules in civil and criminal procedure.
In second year, you’ll explore EU Law and core areas of Irish law, including:
- Property Law
- Company Law
- Criminal Law.
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.
Third & Fourth Year
You can tailor your BCL by selecting from a wide choice of Law modules, such as:
- International Human Rights
- Environmental Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- Media Law
- Family Law
- Commercial Law
- Employment Law.
In addition, our Clinical Legal Education Centre (CLEC) offers “clinical” modules, which include Advocacy & Mooting, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Legal Practice and Legal Placement.
Assessment includes end-of-semester examinations, essays and group projects.
For detail information on subject content click here
Third year BCL students are offered the widest range of study abroad opportunities at our 50+ partner universities in locations which include:
- Antwerp
- Barcelona
- Berlin
- California
- Canberra
- Connecticut
- Exeter
- Miami
- Milan
- Minnesota
- Prague
- Singapore
- Stockholm
- Toulouse
- Uppsala
- Utrecht
- Vienna.
“Choosing to study law in UCD has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. The vast variety of legal modules that are available means that there is something for everyone who wishes to study a specific area of Law. There is also a great choice of electives to choose from, for example, I chose Psychology as an elective in my first year. As well as this, there are numerous opportunities in UCD for you to discover yourself through different societies, sport clubs and initiatives. Whatever your area of interest, UCD caters for it. As a result of my experience, I am convinced that UCD is the place to grow and discover your potential.”
Grace Oladipo
Course Information
BBL (Hons) (NFQ Level 8)
Full Time – Undergraduate Studies
CAO Code: DN610
CAO Points Range 2019: 521
Length of Course: 4 Years
Average Intake: 120
Leaving Certificate:
- O2/H6 in Mathematics
- O6/H7 in English, Irish, a third language, and two other recognised subjects
Click below for equivalent entry requirements information for:
Why is this course for me?
The BBL degree combines law and business into a single degree, providing you with an ideal skill-set for the commercial world and offering valuable career flexibility. BBL graduates are uniquely equipped with the analytical and advocacy skills that arise from a legal training, combined with the numeracy and financial literacy of a business degree.
Key Fact:You will study your business modules at the only Irish business school accredited by both AACSB (the principal American accreditation) and EQUIS (the leading European accreditation).
Career & Graduate Study Opportunities
BBL students can select the modules necessary for legal professional recognition, which will allow them to go on to qualify
as a solicitor or barrister, and work in legal practices in Ireland or abroad. Graduates can also pursue careers in:
- Accountancy
- Finance
- Taxconsultancy
- Corporate banking
- Business analysis
BBL graduates also have the option of pursuing postgraduate qualifications in either Law or Business.
First, Second & Third Year
During your first three years, you’ll study both business and law modules in equal measure and you’ll learn how these two disciplines interrelate. In addition to studying core Law degree subjects, such as Contract Law, Tort Law and EU Law, you may choose from a large variety of other law modules including:
- Revenue Law
- Commercial Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- Employment Law
The range of business modules includes:
- Accountancy
- Management
- Finance
- Economics
- Marketing
Fourth Year
According to your preference and career plans, you can choose to specialise in Law or Business.
BBL students may choose clinical legal education modules offered at the Clinical Legal Education Centre (CLEC), including Competition Law in Practice, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Advocacy & Mooting.
Note: The intensive nature of the BBL degree means that you will not have time to take external modules offered as part of UCD Horizons.
You’ll attend lectures and tutorials, in addition to engaging in study and preparatory work. Assessment includes end-of-semester examinations, essays and group projects.
Sample Business & Law Timetable (.pdf)
For detailed information on subject content click here.
BBL students can apply to spend a semester of third year on exchange in overseas universities including:
- Sydney
- Brisbane
- Innsbruck
- Louvain-la-Neuve
- Rouen
- Munich
- Milan
- Madrid
- Pamplona
- Tulsa
“Choosing a course with such variety is something I do not regret. Years of studying both subjects has allowed me to explore fascinating cultural, economic, legal and political areas in an Irish context as well as globally. You learn to have an analytical mind along with creative prose. Since first year I have been a proud member of the Boat Club. Despite my commitment to rowing, I have enjoyed balancing it alongside my academic interests with no difficulty. The people you meet and experiences you have are the true memories you will cherish but it is of great value to leave with a degree in something you enjoy. For me that is Business and Law.”
Andrew Mays Graduate
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