Studying Law at Ulster University
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A frequently asked question by parents and prospective students at the Nawaloka College of Higher Studies, which has launched the ‘Two plus One Degree’ in Law is about the third year when the students have to go to Belfast for the third and final year.
Ulster’s Law School offers a broad range of courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Students can either study a single honours law degree, or law alongside another subject. Quite importantly, all Ulster’s undergraduate law degrees are ‘Qualifying Law Degrees’ for the purposes of eventual professional qualification in England and Wales, as well as in Northern Ireland. This is a distinct advantage as otherwise lawyers or law degree holders from Sri Lanka face many an obstacle in getting admitted to the Bar in England and Wales or even in Northern Ireland.
Ulster University is well recognised for providing an inspiring, engaging and intellectually stimulating environment for students of law at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels.
Research emerging from the School of Law is both pioneering and world-leading, with results from the UK National Exercise (REF) having assessed its research as 4th overall in the UK, eclipsing the results of larger and more established law schools. Moreover, the School of Law in the National Student Survey results,2017 had an overall satisfaction of 96%, way above the national average, and in the Guardian University League Tables for 2018 Law at Ulster ranks in the top 20 UK Law Schools. The School of Law prides itself on maintaining strong links to practice and delivering teaching that is relevant, fresh-thinking and dynamic, so as to provide law students with a solid preparation for their future career.
Studies at the undergraduate degree at the School of Law provides students with guaranteed entry to a place for professional legal studies at the University of Law in England (2:2 or above grade) as well as competitive entry to professional legal study in Northern Ireland.
At Ulster, the approach to teaching is designed to link classroom study to real life legal situations through problem-based learning. Emphasis is placed on ensuring that students develop living knowledge: the skills and experience they will need in order to succeed in their chosen career. Internship opportunities complement teaching and enhance employability by providing students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge in the real world and gain relevant professional experience.
Teaching is delivered in a supportive and nurturing environment, underpinned by a comprehensive University-wide student support system and student mentoring system, which assists students in the transition from school to university.
Accessibility and equality are important to Ulster University. The University seeks to ensure that entry to study law is based on ability rather than affordability. Its Undergraduate fees are competitively low and students are entitled to apply for financial support by way of Bursaries and Scholarships.
The postgraduate courses offer the opportunity to acquire specialised knowledge in a range of specific sub-fields, including: Commercial Law, Media Law, Environmental Law, Family Law, Human Rights Law and Legal Technology, Alternative Dispute Resolution etc.
Taught by leading experts in the field, the Postgraduate courses are at the forefront of legal education and Ulster University is the home to a number of leading research and teaching initiatives. For instance, courses provided by the internationally renowned Transitional Justice Institute provide students with an opportunity to undertake multidisciplinary research and learning in the field of transitional justice, a major topic of relevance in Sri Lanka. The Ulster University Law Clinic provides the UK’s only LLM in Clinical Legal Education, is pioneering access to justice research and scholarship. Whilst the Legal Innovation Centre (a collaboration between the School of Law and the Department of Computer Science) is the only UK centre dedicated to the study of innovation and technology in law.
The third year spent at Ulster University Law School provides many opportunities to develop broad, transferable skills alongside specific legal ones. As well as being enjoyable and intrinsically rewarding, these are also valuable opportunities for Professional Development and provide evidence for material to include in CVs, job applications and the Higher Education Achievement Record (HEAR), the new style transcript for all graduates. Students also gain credit towards the Ulster EDGE award. The HEAR and EDGE award aims to help to develop a tailor-made portfolio of personal, professional and academic achievements. These opportunities include:
Student representatives and student law societies
Mooting
Law awards
Placement opportunities
And keeping in touch after graduation
As a student, you can have your say in and about the running of the Law School and the University, as a student representative on the School’s Staff Student Consultative Committee or by getting involved in the Students’ Union. Law students at one campus have a Law Society page, while the students in another campus have a Facebook page. Ulster University law students are encouraged to participate in internal and external mooting competitions, with the help and guidance of staff members. Mooting is also incorporated into several modules throughout the undergraduate degree.
These are intense and demanding events, but highly rewarding, giving students a real insight into the styles of legal argument that help them to appreciate the role of law in society, including its limitations and deficiencies.
Ulster University pays particular attention to the needs of foreign students to enable them to easily integrate into campus life. Several units within the University offer assistance in finding reasonably priced accommodation; channel students who need medical or counseling advice to appropriate professionals or institutions; and a mentor system provides students with assistance on academic issues.
All in all, students can look forward to an enriching experience as they study at Ulster University during their third and final year.
-Dr. Dayanath Jayasuriya P. C.