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Law with History

BCL (NFQ Level 8)
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This course is available through the following application route(s)

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There is a natural affinity between the disciplines of law and history. Each is shaped by the other. Important historical events are often interlinked with contemporary legal structures. Legal reform may be prompted by the defining events of the past.

This course allows you to acquire a highly respected degree in Irish law, whilst also pursuing a passion for history and acquiring a deeper understanding of past events which have shaped our current legal system.

About This Course

There is a natural affinity between the disciplines of law and history. Each is shaped by the other. Important historical events are often interlinked with contemporary legal structures. Legal reform may be prompted by the defining events of the past.

This course allows you to acquire a highly respected degree in Irish law, whilst also pursuing a passion for history and acquiring a deeper understanding of past events which have shaped our current legal system.

First & Second Year

First year focuses on core law modules, including:

Constitutional Law • Contract Law • Tort Law In addition, you are introduced to modern European and Irish history. In second year, you will study: EU Law • Property Law • Criminal Law You will also engage with international history.

Third & Fourth Year

With a wide choice of law and history modules available, you can pursue your own areas of interest. Modules include:

Jurisprudence • The History of Public Law • Criminology • Fascism • Culture & Revolution You may also be interested in taking modules offered by our Clinical Legal Education Centre (CLEC), such as: Advocacy & Mooting • Law, Ethics & Legal Practice

You will attend lectures and tutorials, in addition to engaging in study and preparatory work. Assessment includes end-of-trimester examinations, essays and group projects.

Internship Module

Students on this degree have the opportunity to apply for an internship in the spring trimester of third year. This is credit-bearing module within a range of organisations that the school has partnered with. (Note: this is an alternative to international study)

As part of your Law with History degree you may apply to spend time abroad during your third year at one of our partner universities. Students from this programme have chosen to undertake study in universities in Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, North America and Asia.

BCL (Law with History) graduates can go on to qualify as solicitors and barristers and pursue law careers in Ireland or abroad. Graduates are also well placed to pursue careers in: • Legal research • Politics • Journalism • Academia

Relevant graduate study programmes include LLM degrees in: International Human Rights, European Law & Public Affairs, Legal History.

UCD Sutherland School of Law

Tel: +353 1 716 4110
e. law.students@ucd.ie

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules - Law with History
LAW10050 Constitutional Law: Institutional Framework of the Constitution of Ireland Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules - Law with History
LAW10190 Negligence and Related Matters Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules - Law with History
LAW10340 Contract: Formation Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules - Law with History
LAW10420 Legal and Professional Skills Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules - Law with History
LAW10060 Constitutional Law: Fundamental Rights under the Constitution of Ireland Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules - Law with History
LAW10200 Nominate Torts Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules - Law with History
LAW10350 Contract: Vitiating Factors and Remedies Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules - Law with History
LAW10360 General Introduction to the Irish Legal System Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - - Law with HistoryB) Min 0 of:
LAW10260 can be chosen as an elective
LAW10260 Criminal Procedure Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules - Law with History
LAW20330 EU Constitutional Law Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules - Law with History
LAW20370 Property Law I Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules - Law with History
LAW20390 Criminal Liability Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules - Law with History
LAW20340 EU Economic Law Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules - Law with History
LAW20380 Property Law II Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules - Law with History
LAW20400 Criminal Offences and Defences Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 0 of:
You should choose both LAW20090 and LAW20170 instead of electives to be Compliant for the Irish Legal ProfessionalBodies.
LAW20090 Company Law I Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 0 of:
You should choose both LAW20090 and LAW20170 instead of electives to be Compliant for the Irish Legal ProfessionalBodies.
LAW20170 Company Law II Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37580 Research Module 10 cr 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  10
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW20090 Company Law I Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30010 Banking Law Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30060 Equity: History, Doctrines, Remedies Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30070 Evidence - Foundations Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30090 Revenue Law: Introduction to Revenue Law Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30170 Employment Law: the Contract of Employment Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30180 Jurisprudence Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30240 Administrative Law: Grounds of Review Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30400 Matrimonial Law and Reliefs Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30440 Environmental Law and Policy Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30470 International Human Rights Law Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30610 Commercial Law Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30690 Advocacy and Mooting Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30700 The Lawyer, Professional Ethics & Legal Practice Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30730 Public International Law Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30870 Patent Law and Trademarks Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37470 Advanced International Law - The Law of Int Organisations Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37530 Financial Law of the EU Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37560 Social Inclusion Law Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37570 Insolvency Law Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37670 Copyright Law Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37700 Internet Law and Regulation Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW20170 Company Law II Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30160 Evidence - Practice and Principles Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30190 Media Law Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30230 Overview of Law Relating to Creation and Administration of Trusts Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30290 Administrative Law: Remedies for Unlawful Administrative Action Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30300 Criminology: Criminal Justice and Penology Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30310 Law of the ECHR Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30330 Employment Law: Employment Rights Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30450 Family and Child Law Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30820 Private International Law Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37430 Jury Trials Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37460 Planning Law Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37590 International Economic Law Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37600 Migration Law Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37610 Medical Law Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37620 Law and Hate Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37630 Law in the Classroom Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37680 BCL Internship Spring  30
Stage 3 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 5 of:
Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37710 Applied Legal Skills Spring  5
Stage 4 Core Modules - Law with History
LAW30550 Legal History: The History of Public Law Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37580 Research Module 10 cr 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  10
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30010 Banking Law Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30060 Equity: History, Doctrines, Remedies Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30070 Evidence - Foundations Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30090 Revenue Law: Introduction to Revenue Law Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30170 Employment Law: the Contract of Employment Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30180 Jurisprudence Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30240 Administrative Law: Grounds of Review Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30400 Matrimonial Law and Reliefs Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30440 Environmental Law and Policy Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30470 International Human Rights Law Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30610 Commercial Law Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30640 Competition Law in Practice Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30690 Advocacy and Mooting Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30700 The Lawyer, Professional Ethics & Legal Practice Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30730 Public International Law Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30870 Patent Law and Trademarks Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37470 Advanced International Law - The Law of Int Organisations Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37530 Financial Law of the EU Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37560 Social Inclusion Law Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37570 Insolvency Law Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37670 Copyright Law Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37700 Internet Law and Regulation Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30160 Evidence - Practice and Principles Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30190 Media Law Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30230 Overview of Law Relating to Creation and Administration of Trusts Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30290 Administrative Law: Remedies for Unlawful Administrative Action Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30300 Criminology: Criminal Justice and Penology Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30310 Law of the ECHR Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30330 Employment Law: Employment Rights Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30450 Family and Child Law Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30570 Contemporary Issues in Law and Politics Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW30820 Private International Law Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37430 Jury Trials Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37460 Planning Law Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37590 International Economic Law Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37600 Migration Law Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37610 Medical Law Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37620 Law and Hate Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37630 Law in the Classroom Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - - Law with HistoryA) Min 4 of:
Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
LAW37710 Applied Legal Skills Spring  5

SDG4 SDG5 SDG 8 SDG 9 SDG 10 SDG 16

 

The UCD Sutherland School of Law is a connected community of students and faculty who are committed to creating a more sustainable and equitable future for all. We work together in a culture of collaboration to support each other to thrive and achieve our full potential, in service of broader societal goals. Through our undergraduate and graduate education, research and external engagement, we aim to ensure that our students, faculty and staff thrive and contribute to sustainable well-being on our campus, in Ireland and across the wider world. Our faculty are globally recognized experts in the fields of Law and Criminology, advancing knowledge through research, engaging with government, business and civil society to enhance our world, and using their knowledge to design and offer cutting edge education within their disciplines of Law and Criminology .   

The Law degrees at UCD incorporate a diverse range of formal and informal learning opportunities for students, delivered by excellent researchers who are leading their fields globally, and embedding the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDG’s) in their educational activities where appropriate.

Law governs many aspects of our lives. It affects many of our day-to-day interactions, transactions and personal relationships, as well as the fundamental challenges which face our societies such as climate change, human rights violations and rule of law backsliding. Law students gain a deep understanding of Law and develop real-world skills in research, communication and leadership. By integrating their legal expertise with the goals of sustainable development, our graduates can significantly contribute to advancing these global objectives and creating a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.

Through learning how policy makers respond to societal challenges, students are equipped to make a difference to the world, affect cultural change, contribute to public service or corporate responsibility to advance the sustainable development goals. The curriculum for our law degrees align with many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in meaningful and impactful ways. The following are the primary areas where there is closest alignment:

  • Quality Education (SDG 4)
  • Gender Equality (SDG 5)
  • Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8)
  • Industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9)
  • Reduce Inequalities (SDG 10)
  • Peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16)

This was my top choice because it allowed me to pursue the study of law and maintain my love for history which complement each other perfectly. In first year while studying constitutional law, it was a great help to understand the historical factors that were driving change at the time. I have had the opportunity to study subjects such as Constitutional Law, European Economic Law, Nazi Germany, and European Statecraft. While the quality of teaching in UCD is fantastic, my time here has been defined by my involvement in societies. As auditor of the Law Society, I was regularly involved in the best mock trials, debates, and social events on campus.

Robert Grendon, Student

Non-EU Undergraduate Fee information can be found here.

UCD offers a number of competitive undergraduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD undergraduate degree programme. For information on Undergraduate Scholarships, please see the UCD International Scholarships webpage.

General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Law with History:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceInt LWS6
Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Full-Time
Commencing September 2024
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates
Closed
showAudience-audienceInt LWS6
Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates
Apply
showAudience-audienceEU DN600
Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Application through CAO Apply via CAO
* you can change options at the top of the page

Additional special entry route(s) to Law with History:

These options have additional eligibility requirements to cater for specific applicant cohorts. You should not apply via these routes before consulting the requirements or contacting the responsible UCD office.

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt LWS6
Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Full-Time

Commencing September 2025
Access Progression Pathway
Access Progression Pathway
Application to this Non-EU Access Progression Pathway is by invitation only. If you are not currently enrolled on an Access programme at UCD, your application will be marked as invalid.
If you are not a current Access student, but you are a non-EU applicant seeking admission to an undergraduate degree, please submit an application via the "Undergraduate Degree (Non-EU)" course type.
Apply