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Foundation in Law

Foundation Diploma

Key facts
Overview
How to apply
Tuition fees
Learning and assessment
After you graduate
Free language courses

Key facts

UCAS code

M101

Start dates

September 2021 / September 2022

Location

Headington

Course length

Full time: 1-year foundation course leading to 3-year undergraduate degree (funding available for all 4 years if the whole programme is undertaken).

Part time: 2 years

Department

School of Law

UCAS Tariff Points

72

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Overview

Our Foundation in Law course equips you with the key academic knowledge and critical skills needed to study for a qualifying law degree (QLD). 

During the year-long course you will:

  • develop key legal skills such as statutory interpretation and case reading
  • enhance your problem solving and oral skills
  • gain highly-valued competencies in legal research and writing.

This course is ideal:

  • if you want to study Law at Oxford Brookes but need to supplement your A-Levels grades
  • if you wish to return to study after a long break.

By choosing our Foundation in Law, you’ll be joining a supportive and close-knit community. Our department is led by academics who are experts in their fields. You’ll receive the support and guidance needed to build university-level skills. And at the end of the course, you’ll emerge equipped to confidently progress to the LLB in Law at Oxford Brookes.

Upon successful completion of the Foundation in Law course, you will be guaranteed a place on our LLB in Law course.

Students in court

How to apply

Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.

For more information about how we are supporting applicants impacted by Covid-19, please see our information for applicants page.

Standard offer

UCAS Tariff Points: 72

A Level: DDD

IB Points: 24

BTEC: MMP

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

English language requirements

For students without English as a first language, an IELTS score of 6 is required. 

Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.

International qualifications and equivalences

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English requirements for visas

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Credit transfer

Many of our courses consider applications for entry with credit for prior learning. Each application is individually assessed by our credit entry tutors. 

If you would like more information about whether or not you may be eligible for the award of credit, for example from an HND, partly-completed degree or foundation degree, please contact our Admissions team.

We operate the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). All undergraduate single modules are equivalent to 7.5 ECTS credits and double modules to 15 ECTS credits. More about ECTS credits.

Application process

Full time Home / EU applicants

Apply through UCAS

Part time Home / EU applicants

Apply direct to the University

International applicants

Apply direct to the University

Full time applicants can also apply through UCAS

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
2021 / 22
Home (UK) full time
£9,250
Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module
International / EU full time
£14,300

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2021 / 22
Home (UK) full time
£9,250
Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module
International / EU full time
£14,300

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:
+44 (0)1865 483088
financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Please note tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.

Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.

Financial support and scholarships

For general sources of financial support, see our Fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course, if any, are detailed below.

The published course and module descriptions were accurate when first published and remain the basis of the course, but the University has had to modify some course and module content in response to government restrictions and social distancing requirements. In the event of changes made to the government advice and social distancing rules by national or local government, the University may need to make further alterations to the published course content. Detailed information on the changes will be sent to every student on confirmation in August to ensure you have all the information before you come to Oxford Brookes.

Learning and assessment

On our course you will:

  • examine a broad range of law subjects
  • develop important interpersonal, communication and time management skills
  • gain the knowledge and abilities you need to succeed in further study.

In Semester 1 you will  improve your oral, written and interpersonal skills for Higher Education. You’ll take modules that introduce you to key concepts in law, criminal law and study skills.

In Semester 2 you will learn about key concepts in constitutional and contract law. You will also undertake a small research project to prepare you for your target degree. You will receive one-to-one support from a supervisor.

A dedicated academic advisor will support you throughout your course. And help you explore your options for either continued study or employment.

Three students chatting on seating

Study modules

Semester 1

Compulsory modules

Introduction to Law

In this module, you’ll gain a strong understanding of the English and Welsh Legal System. You’ll gain the knowledge you need to study law at degree-level, as you get to grips with the role of the courts. You’ll have a firm grasp of the sources of law in a common law system, and how the courts work in England and Wales. You’ll also visit a court, and gain an understanding of how courts operate. 

Principles of Criminal Law and Reading Cases

In this module, you’ll gain a crucial skill in a key area of Law - the ability to read legal cases with precision, rigour, and clarity. You’ll also explore some fundamental concepts of criminal law, including what constitutes a criminal act or criminal mindset.

Research Skills

In this module, you’ll gain the core knowledge to succeed in your Foundation in Law course. You’ll develop key skills in how to undertake a research project in law. You’ll get to know legal databases, and the process of managing and carrying out a research project.  

Study Skills

In this module, you’ll develop the tools you need to study Law successfully at university. You’ll gain excellent organisation and time management skills, crucial to studying the law in the full workload of an LLB Degree. You’ll gain the critical skills to read widely and purposefully. You’ll also learn how to take notes effectively while reading, as well as write clearly and correctly.

Semester 2

Compulsory modules

Criminal Advocacy Application

In this module, you’ll develop key skills for practising law. You’ll develop core knowledge of criminal advocacy, which is when you make your client’s case to the court. You’ll get to know the criminal procedure of a Crown Court Trial, and develop your ability to communicate confidently and persuasively when speaking in public. You’ll gain the oral presentation skills you need for criminal advocacy in the Crown Court, and you’ll learn these skills through video recording, feedback and analysis. 

Introduction to Constitutional Law and Essay Writing

In this module, you’ll gain core skills in legal writing, accelerating your chances of success in your Foundation in Law course, and later LLB degree. You’ll learn how to use journal articles to enhance your legal analysis. You’ll also have the opportunity to practice your legal writing, allowing you to improve continually. 

Principles of Contract Law and Problem Solving

In this module, you’ll get to grips with the law of Contract, which governs and enforces how, and when, we make legal agreements. You’ll understand Contract Law from the point of view of a consumer, and understand the most recent law on consumer rights. You’ll gain a strong understanding of statutory interpretation - how courts interpret and apply the law. You’ll also gain key skills in problem solving, vital to practicing the law. 

Research Project

This module gives you the chance to do independent research on a fascinating legal subject. You’ll gain core skills for studying the law at degree-level, as you identify, define and complete your own research project. You’ll base your project on one of three topics, centered around our staff’s research interests, meaning you’ll always be taught by an expert. You’ll have expert guidance and one-to-one support from your supervisor, who will help you as you get to know your topic.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from that shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Learning and teaching

You’ll learn in a highly supportive environment that encourages a broad range of learning styles. 

Our course modules originate from the School of Law. This means that we draw on a range of content, approaches and expertise from within the Faculty. 

You will learn through a variety of teaching and learning methods including: 

  • lectures, seminars and workshops
  • supervised independent learning
  • court visits
  • skills acquisition sessions
  • work with a wide range of practical resources.

During your studies, you’ll gain a range of personal and professional skills which will be a springboard for your future career development in a number of industries.

Assessment

Assessment methods used on this course

Assessment methods are diverse. While some modules require formal exams, we will mostly assess you by coursework, including:

  • essays
  • reflective logbooks
  • critical commentaries.

After you graduate

Career prospects

Our Foundation in Law is principally intended as a route to further study at degree level. However, this is also a course that is heavily focussed on developing your academic and interpersonal skills and inspiring self-confidence.

By the end of this course you will have been coached in written expression, presentation skills, independent learning, working in groups, accessing information from a range of sources and working to deadlines.

All of these qualities are valued by employers and will make you attractive to a range of workplaces.

Further study

Our Foundation in Law course has been specifically designed to introduce you to, and prepare you for, any one of the awards named below:

  • LLB Law
  • LLB Law with Business
  • LLB Law with Criminology

You will be able to progress directly to these awards at Oxford Brookes without further application and you will be advised and assisted in this process by your Academic Advisor and/or your Student Support Coordinator.

Free language courses

Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.

More about free language courses

Programme Changes: On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website.

For more information, please visit our Changes to programmes page.