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  • Legal Methods (Certificate of Higher Education)
  • 2012/2013 entry
  • Contact us
  • Attendance
    • One afternoon or evening a week from September/October–July, plus Saturday schools (dates to be confirmed).

      The programme is offered across three terms on the following days and times:

      • Monday 6pm–9pm (Bloomsbury)
      • Tuesday 2pm–5pm or 6pm–9pm (Bloomsbury)
      • Wednesday 2pm–5pm or 6pm–9pm (Bloomsbury)
      • Thursday 6pm–9pm (Stratford).

      When you apply for your place, please be sure to note which of these days and times you would like to enrol for. Please note that spaces on the programme are limited, so it is advisable to apply as early as possible.

  • Duration

    • One year.

  • Entry requirements
      • All applicants will be required to undertake a written exercise designed to evaluate your comprehension skills. The exercise requires no prior knowledge of law and will be sent to you with clear instructions and a submission deadline, upon receipt of your application.
      • For applicants whose first language is not English, an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent is required. If you would like assistance with English language skills, Birkbeck offers a range of academic English and language development modules.
      • You must be willing to work 10–15 hours a week independently outside class and will need to ensure that you are able to access the internet regularly (facilities are available at the College).
  • Fees and funding
  • Location
    • Central London and Stratford.
  • Teaching
    • Lectures, seminars, exercises, oral presentations, discussions and debates. Teaching may be on a whole-class, group work or individual basis. Assessment takes a variety of forms, including coursework, examinations, tests, presentations and online contributions.


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Legal Methods (Certificate of Higher Education) - 2012/2013 entry


  • Overview
    • This programme is ideal if you lack prior educational qualifications or need additional qualifications to gain entry onto an undergraduate LLB course. You will leave the course with a thorough understanding of the construction and interpretation of English law and with a good foundation in the skills needed to study law.
  • Why study this course at Birkbeck?
      • Gain a University of London qualification – expand your knowledge and enhance your CV.
      • Learn the skills you need for a degree in law, and get help with applying to university.
      • Complete the award in one year – with a guaranteed place on Birkbeck's LLB and credit for one of the first-year modules if you pass with a mark of 50 per cent or above.
      • Widely recognised as an entry qualification for a range of law degrees.
  • Course structure

    • You must successfully complete the following four modules, worth a total of 120 credit points:

      • Legal Skills
      • Reading Law
      • Law and Due Process
      • An Introduction to Human Rights and EU Law.

      You must enrol for the whole programme and cannot enrol for individual modules.

  • Further study opportunities

    • Students awarded the Certificate of Higher Education with a mark of 50 per cent or above are automatically offered a place on Birkbeck's LLB degree with credit for the first-year Legal Methods and Legal Systems core module. Students who achieve a mark of below 50 per cent are eligible to apply for a place on the LLB programme.

      This Certificate of Higher Education may also fulfil the entry requirements for first degrees at other universities.

  • Apply now