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There are several things to bear in mind in your quest for finding the right university for law. They include location, courses on offer and size.
Remember, you’ll be at university for three years or more, so you shouldn’t take this decision lightly. Read on to compare some of the best universities for law in the UK.
Please note, this table has been compiled using ranking websites as a guide, but is not a definitive list. There are other law universities in the UK that are not included below.
| University | Typical A-Level or IB Offer | Admissions Test : Interview | Complete University Guide Ranking (for Law) |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Aberdeen (LLB) | ABB, 34 points | No : No | 6 |
| Abertay University (LLB) | ABB, 29 points | No : N/S | 28 |
| Aberystwyth University | ABB-BCC 30-28 points | No: N/S | 42 |
| Aston University (LLB) | AAB-ABB, 32 points | No : No | 46 |
| Bangor University (LLB) | ABB-BBB 80-128 UCAS points | No : N/S | 45 |
| University of Bedfordshire (LLB) | At least 80 UCAS points, 64 from 2 A-Level passes | No : No | 90 |
| University of Birmingham (LLB) | AAA, 32 points | No : No | 24 |
| University of Bristol (LLB) | A*AA or A*A*B, 38 points Contextual Offer: AAB, 34 points | LNAT : Yes | 19 |
| Brunel University London (LLB) | ABB, 31 points | No : No | 52 |
| University of Cambridge (BA) | A*AA, 40-42 points | Cambridge Law Test : Yes | 1 |
| Cardiff University (LLB) | AAA-AAB, 34-32 points | No : No | 30 |
| City, University of London (LLB) | ABB, 29 points | No : No | 75 |
| De Montfort University (LLB) | BBB, at least 120 UCAS points. 28 points | No : No | 59 |
| University of Dundee (LLB) | ABB, 36 points | No : No | 11 |
| Durham University (LLB) | A*AA, 38 points | LNAT: Yes | 10 |
| University of East Anglia - UEA (LLB) | AAB, 34 points | No : Only in exceptional circumstances | 29 |
| University of Edinburgh (LLB) | A*AA-ABB, 43-39 points | No : No | 7 |
| University of Essex (LLB) | BBB, 30 points | No : Yes | 51 |
| University of Exeter (LLB) | AAA, 36 | No : No | 13 |
| University of Glasgow (LLB) | AAA, 38-34 points | LNAT : Yes | 23 |
| KCL (LLB) | A*AA, 35 points | LNAT : Yes | 4 |
| Keele University (LLB) | ABC-BBB, 32 points | No : No | 34 |
| University of Kent (LLB) | AAA-AAB 34 points | No : No | 22 |
| Lancaster University (LLB) | AAB 35 points | No : Yes (if borderline grades or unconditional offer) | 15 |
| University of Leeds (LLB) | AAA, 35 points | No : No | 96 |
| University of Leicester (LLB) | AAB, 33 points | No : No | 37 |
| University of Lincoln (LLB) | BBB, 30 points | No : N/S | 44 |
| University of Liverpool (LLB) | AAA, 36 points | No : No | 35 |
| Liverpool John Moores University (LLB) | BBB, 26 points | No: No | 49 |
| LSE (LLB) | A*AA, 38 points | LNAT : Yes | 9 |
| University of Manchester (LLB) | AAA, 36 points | No : No | 21 |
| Manchester Metropolitan University (LLB) | BBB-BBC, 26 points | No : N/S | 54 |
| Newcastle University (LLB) | AAA, 34 points | No : Yes | 31 |
| University of Nottingham (BA/LLB) | AAA, 36 points | LNAT : Yes | 12 |
| University of Oxford (Qualifying BA) | AAA, 38 points | LNAT : Yes | 2 |
| Oxford Brookes University (LLB) | BCC, 29 points | No : N/S | 79 |
| University of Portsmouth (LLB) | AAB-ABB, 30-31 points | No : No | 38 |
| Queen Mary University of London (LLB) | A*AA, 36 points | No : No | 27 |
| Queen's University Belfast (LLB) | AAA, 36 points | No : No | 17 |
| University of Reading (LLB) | AAB, 34 points | No : No | 32 |
| Robert Gordon University (LLB) | BBC, 29 points | No : No | 40 |
| Royal Holloway, University of London (LLB) | AAB-ABB, 32 points | No: No | 89 |
| University of Salford (LLB) | BBB, 31 points | No : No | 76 |
| University of Sheffield (LLB) | AAA, 36 points | No : No | 18 |
| SOAS University of London (LLB) | AAA-AAB, 37 points | LNAT : Yes | 43 |
| University of Southampton (LLB) | AAA, 36 points | No : No | 26 |
| University of Stirling (LLB) | ABB, 36 points | No : No | 20 |
| University of Strathclyde (LLB) | AAB-BBB, 38 points | No : No (unless applying to Clinical LLB) | 8 |
| University of Sussex (LLB) | AAB-ABB, 32-34 points | No : No | 33 |
| University of Surrey (LLB) | BBC, 31 points | No : No | 61 |
| Swansea University (LLB) | AAB-BBB 32-34 points | No : No | 36 |
| UCL (LLB) | A*AA, 39 points | LNAT : Yes | 3 |
| University of Warwick (LLB) | AAA, 38 points | No : No | 25 |
| University of York (LLB) | AAA or A*AB or A*A*C, 36 points | No : Yes | 16 |
Location is an extremely important factor to think about when choosing a law university. While you’re deciding, weigh up the pros and cons of studying in a large city vs in a smaller city / town.
Studying in a big city like London is an extremely exciting experience because you’ll have plenty of nightlife and entertainment at your fingertips. This option, however, comes with an added safety risk so it’s important to bear that in mind.
Rural universities will provide students with safer environments for their study, but while living in smaller towns, you may find that the opportunities for culture and entertainment outside campus are limited. If your chosen university is in a smaller town, check out the closest cities you can explore on the weekends.
If you’re not keen on moving out for university, you should consider going to a university close to home. This way, you’ll save money on accommodation and be able to stay close to family and friends. Alternatively, you can choose somewhere that has good transport links so that you can visit home easily if you do end up moving out.
Layout is an important aspect to consider when choosing the right law university. Campus universities have their buildings, lecture halls, faculties, libraries and student accommodation all in one area. This can encourage a real student community atmosphere.
Universities that do not have a strict campus layout tend to be more spread out over a town or a city.
For example, many universities in central London are made up of a number of buildings and faculties within walking distance of each other, but the university buildings are dotted between shops, restaurants and other buildings outside of the university.
This may mean there’s less of a student atmosphere, but could also encourage students to become more independent and experience of the city outside the university.
There are pros and cons to each university layout, so we suggest visiting as many as possible on their open days to get a feel for which you might prefer.
The content of the degree syllabus is a crucial factor in choosing the right university. While studying an LLB means there are several compulsory law subjects you’ll take, you’ll have the option to choose some of your modules as well.
That means it’s crucial to think about which universities offer modules that you would be interested in studying.
Think about the areas of law you might want to practise if you qualify as a solicitor or barrister, because selecting these modules will be very beneficial when applying for training contracts and pupilages.
Also think about the type of law degree you’re interested in: qualifying or non qualifying law degree? Joint law degree? There are several options to choose from.
The quality of lecturers and teaching facilities vary for each university too, so you might want to have a look at university league tables and rankings to determine which university is going to give you the best educational experience.
The facilities available at each university is another deciding factor for some students. Some universities encourage team sports more than others and have their own sports fields and gyms on campus. Others have more limited facilities located outside of the main university base.
If you are interested in drama, a lot of universities are proud of their theatres and university productions – so you might want to look into the extra-curricular facilities you will have access to.
Are you set on going to a well-respected university? If so, consider studying law at Oxbridge or a Russell Group university. The prestigious Russell Group is made up of the top 24 universities in the UK.
These universities offer competitive law courses and it’s a known fact that many law firms favour graduates from these universities when recruiting for training contracts and vacation schemes.
These are the Russell Group universities that offer law degrees:
| University | Entry Requirements |
|---|---|
| University of Birmingham | AAA - 36 IB |
| Bristol University | A*AA or A*A*B - 34 IB |
| Cardiff University | AAB - ABB - 35 IB |
| Durham University | A*AA - 38 IB |
| University of Edinburgh | AAA - ABB - 34 IB |
| University of Exeter | AAA - AAB - 34-36 IB |
| University of Glasgow | BBB - 28 IB |
| King’s College London | A*AA - 35 IB |
| University of Leeds | AAA - 35 IB |
| University of Liverpool | ABB - 33 IB |
| London School of Economics and Political Science | A*AA - 38 IB |
| University of Manchester | AAA - 36 IB |
| University of Nottingham | AAA - 36 IB |
| Queen Mary University of London | A*AA - 36 IB |
| Queen’s University Belfast | AAA - 36 IB |
| University of Sheffield | AAA - 36 IB |
| University of Southampton | AAA - 36 IB |
| University College London | A*AA - 39 IB |
| University of Warwick | AAA - 38 IB |
| University of York | AAA/A*AB/A*A*C - 36 IB |
Every law university accepts a different number of students to their undergraduate law degree courses and each law faculty varies in size.
This may be a factor for you to think about when choosing a university – you might prefer a busy course with lots of students, or smaller more intimate tutorials. It’s important to consider which will make you feel the most comfortable.
Not sure about whether university is for you? Consider a law apprenticeship!
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