University Admission Requirements

All of the 11 provider universities that teach the Scots Law LLB have slightly different entry requirements. These also might be slightly different dependant on your circumstances. Details of where you can find entry requirements for each of the university can be found in the table below. 

Universities are open-minded about the subjects pupils study at National 5 and Higher level, provided good grades are achieved and you have studied enough academic subjects. If its your first time studying at university and you are applying from school or college, universities will use grades achieved at Higher level to decide whether to offer you a place. These offers can be either conditional (where you may need to achieve a certain grade(s) or subject(s) to be admitted) or unconditional (where you already have all the academic requirements needed).

Different universities ask for different grades, and these change every year, but getting into a law degree can be competitive. It's a high demand subject and it's a good idea to study hard during your exams at school or college. Entry requirements vary from university to university and you should always check the details on respective websites or at university open days to ensure you know what the entrance requirements are at each institution.

For entrance requirements for the Accelerated graduate entry LLB (for applicants who already have an undergraduate degree) please see information here. 

Please note: only an LLB from one of the 11 universities accredited by the Law Society of Scotland forms part of the route to qualification as a solicitor. Universities should outline Law Society of Scotland accreditation of the LLB on their website, if you wish to qualify as a solicitor in Scotland in the future it is important you are on an accredited Scots Law LLB course. Any other course, such as a BA in law or an LLM will not form part of the route to qualification as a solicitor in Scotland.

Higher English is usually the only subject that universities require you to have studied for entrance onto an LLB, but it is important to consider entry requirements fully on the university's website. Each institution is different. For example, some universities will consider other literate based subjects rather than solely English 

Across many of the LLB universities there is flexibility on some of the other Highers you take. Often the best thing to do is to choose a selection of subjects which you enjoy. Social sciences are often a good choice when thinking about applying for law, as they teach you a lot of analytical and essay writing skills you'll need in your law degree. 

Further details and course finder tools can be found on the UCAS website.

* University of Glasgow applicants will also have to sit a type of 'aptitude' test called the national admissions test for law (LNAT) - http://www.lnat.ac.uk/

Thinking about going to university can be daunting and it's hard to know what to expect when starting your law degree. Our Education Policy Executive, Georgia Turnbull, shares her top tips for studying law below.

The Law Society often get asked what subjects you should study at school to apply for law. We advise choosing a variety of subjects to show a breadth of study, and to keep options open. Try to look at entry requirements in certain subjects (such as English) early so you can make your subject choice based on these. 

Take subjects you’ll enjoy and do well in! Its usually the subjects that you really enjoy that you do best in when exam time comes, so make sure you choose a few you know you like. 

Social sciences like History, Modern Studies and RME teach you critical thinking skills, analysis and essay writing skills. These can all be incredibly useful for preparing you for law at university, in both assessment and teaching. 

Utilise student support services such as university admission teams, your teachers, and widening access programmes. There is a lot of support out there for aspiring law students including the Law Society so do get in touch with us if you have any questions about a career in law. careers@lawscot.org.uk 

Try to exemplify your interest in law, and there’s lots of big and small ways you can do this!

You can get involved with the Law Society’s schools projects. Think about how the law might affect your part time job. Attend law firm insight days and work experience. Listen to legal podcasts. Or show how situations in your life have shaped your pursuit for a legal career. 

Doing your research also helps. Look into LLB courses at different universities online, and attend their open days to get a taste of what campus life might look like!