Gavin Howe
The University of St Andrews offers postgraduate law courses, including an MLitt in Legal and Constitutional Studies, an interdisciplinary programme that allows students to construct an individually tailored degree. While the University of St Andrews Law Society provides resources for students of all disciplines and stages of their academic careers, it is unclear whether undergraduate law is offered at the university.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| University | St Andrews |
| Degree Type | MLitt |
| Course Name | Legal and Constitutional Studies |
| Course Type | Interdisciplinary |
| Course Structure | Individually tailored |
| Areas of Focus | Administrative Law, Business Law, Criminal Studies, Dispute Resolution, Economic Law, Energy Law, Environmental Law, General Law, International Law, Jurisprudence, Medical Law, Technology Law |
| Entry Requirements | UK degree of at least 2:2 in any subject, good command of English, relevant work experience |
| Application Process | No formal deadline, rolling basis, applications made directly to the provider |
| Course Start Dates | January (fast-track, 7 months), September (traditional, 9 months) |
| Additional Information | Networking opportunities through Saint Connect and St Andrews Union Debating Society, student-run publication St Andrews Law Review |
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Entry requirements
St Andrews University offers a Legal and Constitutional Studies MLitt programme. This is an interdisciplinary programme run jointly by the Schools of History and International Relations. Students can construct an individually tailored degree with a primary focus in legal history or international law, or they can pursue an integrated, interdisciplinary degree.
The University of St Andrews offers a variety of flexible entry options to ensure that its doors remain open to all students, regardless of background or personal circumstances. Although entry to St Andrews is competitive, the university recognises a range of different qualifications and considers all aspects of your application, including context, your personal statement, and references. Grades alone will not guarantee admission, and actual offers may be higher or lower than the listed minimum grades required by each programme.
For undergraduate entry, the university recognises the following qualifications:
- International Baccalaureate (IB): 36 (HL 6,5,5) to 38 (HL 6,6,6 plus SL 6,6,6).
- Where AAA at A-Level is required, the university will ask for two Distinctions and one Distinction (D, D, D), or A in the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales and AB at A-level.
- Where AAB at A-Level is required, the university will ask for three Distinctions (D, D, D) or B in the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales and AA at A-level.
- Higher National Certificate (HNC): ‘A’ Graded Unit.
- Higher National Diploma (HND): ‘AA’ Graded Unit.
- Foundation Apprenticeship: accepted as equivalent to one additional SQA Higher for applicants to degree programmes in the Faculty of Arts and Science for non-required subjects.
- Access Diploma to higher education: a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3 at Distinction and Merit.
For postgraduate entry requirements, please see the university's 'Entry requirements by country' page. The university's ambition is to see equity of access across the country, regardless of socio-economic background. St Andrews pledges to make an offer to all UK applicants who reside in the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland, provided that the desire to study the subject is demonstrable, the minimum asking rates within all specified subjects are met, and if relevant, there is success in external testing or interviews.
For the Legal and Constitutional Studies MLitt programme, a 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree in a subject-related area is required. If your first degree was obtained outside the UK, see the international entry requirements. English language proficiency is also required. The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application, including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
In addition to academic qualifications, work experience is an essential requirement for gaining employment in the legal sector, as well as for undertaking solicitor, barrister, and advocate training. There are many ways to gain work experience, from insight days and longer-term internships to voluntary work and mini-pupillages. St Andrews also offers a Pre-Law programme to help students develop the fundamental skills that lawyers need and law schools look for. Students can also take advantage of Saint Connect, the university's exclusive, global, online community for networking and career mentoring, and the St Andrews Law Review, a student-run publication committed to fostering discussion among aspiring legal professionals. For personalised help on any aspect of applying for a job in the legal sector, students can book an appointment with a careers adviser.
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Work experience
St. Andrews University offers a Pre-Law program for students interested in pursuing a career in law. The Pre-Law Curriculum is a set of courses designed to help students develop the fundamental skills needed for law school and the legal profession. Students can select at least six courses in consultation with their adviser to create a personalised schedule. The curriculum focuses on enhancing critical reasoning, articulation, and argumentation skills, as well as providing a basic understanding of historical, economic, political, and philosophical topics relevant to law.
The Pre-Law program at St. Andrews also emphasises the interactive nature of law. To this end, they have developed the SAGE program, which provides students with interactive educational experiences to improve their collaborative learning skills. The program encourages students to connect with others, understand different perspectives, defend their positions, and work cooperatively—all essential skills for aspiring lawyers.
In addition to the academic curriculum, St. Andrews University offers various opportunities for students to gain hands-on work experience. The university has an extensive network of alumni and practitioners in the legal field who are willing to provide mentorship and internships. These internships cover a range of legal areas, including criminal and civil practice, tax accounting, and legal positions in various government offices and corporations.
Furthermore, St. Andrews University provides career support and resources to help students navigate the legal sector. The university encourages students to join Saint Connect, an exclusive global online community for networking and career mentoring. Students can also participate in extracurricular activities such as the St Andrews Union Debating Society and the St Andrews Law Review to enhance their CVs and build connections. Work experience is considered essential for gaining employment in the legal sector, and St. Andrews ensures that students have access to insight days, internships, voluntary work, and mini-pupillages to prepare them for their future careers.
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Course structure
St Andrews University offers a Pre-Law Curriculum for students who want to develop the fundamental skills that are needed to study law and are looked for by law schools. The curriculum is designed to foster powers of critical reasoning, articulation, and argumentation. It also provides a basic grounding in the historical, economic, political, and philosophical topics that are essential for lawyers. The Pre-Law Curriculum consists of a set of courses from which students, along with their advisers, select at least six to include in their schedule. The courses are chosen in consultation with practising lawyers and admissions counsellors from prestigious law schools.
The university also offers an MLitt in Legal and Constitutional Studies, an interdisciplinary programme run jointly by the Schools of History and International Relations. Students can construct an individually tailored degree with a primary focus in legal history or international law, or they can pursue an integrated, interdisciplinary degree. The compulsory modules equip students with knowledge of different theoretical approaches to law, legal history, and constitutionalism, using the past to interrogate and investigate current issues and controversies. Modules are delivered through seminars, workshops, one-to-one discussions, and supervised independent research projects.
The St Andrews degree structure is designed to be flexible. Students study compulsory modules delivering core learning alongside optional modules chosen from a list available that year. The modules are examples from previous academic years and may be subject to change. As a research-intensive institution, the university ensures that its teaching references the staff's research interests, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed to enhance students' learning experiences.
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Student societies
The University of St Andrews in Scotland has a Law Society, which is a career-focused student group. The society is sponsored and supported by various partners who provide presentations on applications, commercial awareness, and firm-specific updates. The society also attends the St Andrews Careers Fair and Networking Dinner. In addition to these career-oriented activities, the Law Society at St Andrews has a strong mooting wing, which focuses on advocacy skills and participates in competitions.
The University of St Andrews also has a student-run publication called the St Andrews Law Review, which aims to foster discussion among aspiring legal professionals. This provides an opportunity for students interested in law to further engage with the subject and connect with other like-minded individuals.
Additionally, the St Andrews Union Debating Society is another student group that can help enhance your CV and build connections in the legal sector. Joining such societies can offer a great way to connect with other law students, gain valuable career insights, and develop essential skills that will benefit your future legal career. They provide a holistic approach to legal education, combining academic knowledge with practical experiences and industry connections.
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Career prospects
St. Andrews University offers a Pre-Law Curriculum comprising a set of courses from which students select at least six to include in their schedule. This curriculum is designed in consultation with practising lawyers and admissions counsellors from prestigious law schools. The Pre-Law work is done in conjunction with the SAGE program, which provides students with practice in collaborative learning.
St. Andrews University's Pre-Law students can design a course of study reflecting their particular interests in law. Students interested in sports law, for example, can work with their Pre-Law adviser and their major adviser to develop a background in Pre-Law appropriate to their interests.
The university's Pre-Law graduates and other practising lawyers form an informal network to provide off-campus advice and hands-on experience to current students. These graduates are eager to offer internship experiences that will give current students a taste of the professional life of lawyers. These internships might be in any aspect of the law, from general criminal and civil practice to tax accounting at a State Attorney's Office. St. Andrews Pre-Law students have also enjoyed successful internships at corporations such as IBM and Rockwell International and at institutions such as the National Archives, the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the National Zoological Park Conservation and Research Center.
To prepare for a career in law, St. Andrews University students are encouraged to research the sector carefully and talk to people already working in the sector. They can connect with these professionals through Saint Connect, the university's exclusive global online community for networking and career mentoring. Students can also enhance their CVs and build connections through the St Andrews Union Debating Society and St Andrews Law Review, a student-run publication committed to fostering discussion among aspiring legal professionals.
Work experience is an essential requirement for gaining employment in the legal sector and for undertaking solicitor, barrister, and advocate training. St. Andrews University students can gain work experience through insight days, longer-term internships, voluntary work, and mini-pupillages. The Careers Centre also puts on events where students can talk to visiting employers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can study law at St Andrews University. The university offers a MLitt in Legal and Constitutional Studies, an interdisciplinary programme where students can construct an individually tailored degree.
Entry requirements include a UK degree of at least 2:2 in any subject and a good command of both spoken and written English. Relevant work experience may also be considered.
There is no formal deadline as law schools recruit on a rolling basis. However, applications for the part-time GDL must be made directly to the individual provider.
St Andrews University has a Law Society that provides resources and support for students interested in a career in law. The university also has a global online community for networking and career mentoring, as well as a debating society and a student-run publication dedicated to fostering discussion among aspiring legal professionals.
Many firms look to fill contracts two years in advance, requiring applications at the end of the fourth year or summer before the GDL. While it is not guaranteed, around 80% of qualifying trainees stay at their firms.
