The Admissions Team consists of the Undergraduate Advisers and Undergraduate Selectors who work in close cooperation with the Admissions Tutor. The Admissions Selectors, in consultation with the Admissions Tutors, will be responsible for the selection process for the undergraduate programmes in Law.
All applicants are contacted within four weeks of receipt of the application, to establish contact and inform the applicant of the process to be followed. Applications that are received on time (in accordance with the deadlines of the UCAS application cycle) are guaranteed equal consideration.
All applications are considered on an equal basis, and are not segregated by the type of educational institution attended.Successful applicants are invited to attend an open day, but they are informed that attendance is not obligatory.
We only interview a selection of suitable mature applicants. All interviews are conducted by two people, at least one trained in fair and effective recruitment, and are undertaken in accordance with the University's policy on equal opportunities. Non-mature applicants are interviewed only in exceptional circumstances.
The criteria for assessing interview performance may include, for example:
All applicants seeking admission for all undergraduate Law degrees must sit the LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law). There are two sections to the test: a multiple choice section and an essay writing section. The results help us to differentiate between our many excellent candidates. Full details relating to the LNAT are available on the dedicated LNAT website. Please note that applicants are required to sit the LNAT before their application can be considered.
Mature applicants: For mature applicants, although there are no fixed academic requirements, evidence of recent study and examinations is expected. All mature applicants are to sit the LNAT; the LNAT score and essay are used as an indication of an applicant’s aptitude for a degree in law. Suitable mature candidates are invited for interview by two members of the academic staff, including at least one who has undergone University training in fair and effective recruitment.
Deferred entry: The Law School welcomes deferred entry applications. However, only a limited number of offers may be made to applicants in this category in order to ensure fairness to those applying in the next admissions cycle.
International students: Applicants are interviewed only in exceptional circumstances.
Applications for joint honours courses LLB Law and French (MR11) and LLB Law and German (MR12), are considered using the same procedures described above, with additional co-operation with the admissions tutor from the joint School.
Please note – cross-school/joint honours programmes may have additional/different selection criteria, specific to the particular course of study. Prospective applicants are therefore strongly advised also to refer to the Admissions Statements provided by partner Schools for their intended course of study;
Successful applicants are invited to attend a visit day, but they are informed that attendance is not obligatory. For those who attend, the School will try to ensure there are representatives from the German and French departments present at the visit day, and to arrange a visit to the School of Modern Languages if required.
Academic entry requirements for standard qualifications (A-level, SQA, IB, Access, BTEC, Welsh Bacc, 14-19 Diploma, GCSEs) can be found in the online Undergraduate Prospectus.
Other qualifications, including international qualifications, will be considered on their individual merits; further information is available from the University's Country-specific Information webpages.
In order to ensure that applications are assessed objectively and that the particular circumstances of each individual applicant are taken into account, members of the Admissions Team score applicants using the following weighting to make up the overall scoring:
We take an holistic approach to all applications, ensuring that the educational and social context in which an applicant applies is taken into consideration, where supported by clear evidence that this may have adversely affected academic achievement. This may include time spent in Local Authority care, information about which is provided in the UCAS application.
Such applications are awarded a one grade uplift on the academic score, e.g. an AAB applicant will be awarded the same academic score as an AAA applicant. Applicants still need to satisfy specific subject requirements.
We also consider evidence of clear motivation to study. This may include attendance at a University summer school, a targeted Access Scheme (such as Access to Bristol, Realising Opportunities or Pathways to Law), or participation in other higher education outreach activities.
We do not take the following into consideration when making admissions decisions: the school type attended by an applicant or whether an applicant’s parent has any experience of higher education.
We use the following criteria for assessing the personal statement:
References will be assessed for information on the following: the applicant’s motivation, ability to work independently, powers of analysis and expression. We will also consider information which suggests the applicant’s performance does not reflect their ability, as well as educational context and special circumstances.
International applicants are assessed using the same criteria as UK/ EU applicants. Please refer to the International Office web site for advice regarding the qualification requirements specific to your country.
In order to receive an offer, overseas students are expected to demonstrate the high level of academic potential needed to succeed in our programme of study, and to have impressive personal statements and references.
Overseas applicants are interviewed only in exceptional circumstances. Applicants from countries where English is not the first language will be expected to have a grade B in GCSE (O Level) English, or 627 in written TOEFL (263 in the computer version, 107 in the internet version) with five in the written English test, or 7 in the IELTS language test with a score of 7 in the writing component and no less than 6.5 in the other components. Alternative language qualifications may be approved by the Admissions Office.
The University’s English Language requirements can be found in the UG Prospectus and at: http://www.bris.ac.uk/university/governance/policies/admissions-englishlang-reqs.html.
The LNAT is mandatory for overseas applicants, and there are test centres all over the world. Full details are available on the dedicated LNAT website.
Please note that applicants are required to sit the LNAT before their application can be considered.
Applicants are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexuality, religion, disability or age.
Typical offers for A-levels and other UK qualifications can be found in the Entry Data in the online Undergraduate Prospectus.
Offers to applicants with non-standard qualifications will be made equivalent to the published A-level offer.
We may make lower offers based on whether an applicant is deemed to have experienced educational disadvantage, as defined in section 7.5 of the University’s Admissions Principles and Procedures.
As there are no fixed academic requirements for mature students, offers vary. They are calculated on the basis of the recent study and examination performance of the applicant, the LNAT score and essay, as well as other work/life experiences.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) stipulates in its Guidance for providers of recognised law programmes that the maximum time for completion of a qualifying law degree is ‘the normal period for completion of the degree programme plus one year’ (see section 2.7 of the Guidance). This applies to both the Law Society and the Bar Council.
The Law School generally accepts 'late' applications from mature and international applicants. An application is 'late' if it is submitted between 15 January and 30 June. If applicants make a 'late' application, they will have to register and book an LNAT test slot by 25 June 2013 and sit the test by 30 June 2013. However, we would strongly recommend that they apply and sit the LNAT as early as possible as we cannot guarantee that we can consider late applicants right up to the deadline.
The School of Law works within and builds upon the University disability policy. Disability is the name for disadvantages faced by people with physical/sensory impairment/dyslexia/mental health issues. Each student is unique. Our commitment is to respond to their individual needs as best we can. Where current systems and structures give rise to barriers for students, we will address the causes of those issues, working with students to seek to ensure all students are able to pursue their lives fully.
We welcome applications from students with disabilities. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Undergraduate Office for a preliminary discussion or visit. We are committed to providing realistic information and meeting students’ needs wherever possible. Please see our Disability and Health Issues webpage for more information.
The University of Bristol's Disability Services co-ordinates the University’s support for deaf students and students with disabilities. The University has a well-established policy aimed at recruiting and assisting disabled students. For more information, see the Undergraduate Admissions Principles and Procedures and the Equality and Diversity website.
The School of Law has a Disability Code of Practice, which is accessible through our Disability and Health Issues page. The School of Law also has its own Disability Adviser. Students may go directly to Disability Services for advice and/or may use the Disability Adviser to help access support services or identify issues and solutions.
It is for students to decide whether they wish to disclose any disability to the University and the Law School. We understand that students may not want information about any difficulties that they are experiencing disclosed to anyone or may choose to share that information with one member of staff. The School of Law works within the University Policy on Confidentiality. If students choose, however, to disclose their disability, this enables us to address any difficulties they may have and to provide solutions to them. Students can disclose a disability to us at any time, whether at the start of or during their period of study.
The Law School supports the general principle that University of Bristol students can transfer between programmes but they have no automatic right to do this. Transfer candidates will be assessed for transfer both on their academic merits and also against the balance of teaching resources and commitments at the time of application.
The Law School does not accept transfers into year two or three. All applications will only be considered for entry into year one.
Professor Celia Wells will be Head of School for the academic year 2012-13.
Dr Jonathan Burnside will be Admissions Tutor.